This year the America’s Cup World Series will be in Newport, RI, June 26-July 1, offering a great travel opportunity for New Englanders.
The America’s Cup takes place in San Francisco in 2013, but there’s a series of exhibition races called the AC World Series leading up to the main event. Next up in the U.S. is Newport, marking the first time the brand new AC45 catamarans will be raced on the East Coast of the U.S. As part of the Newport World Series, the city will unveil the waterfront America’s Cup Village for fans at Fort Adams.
The new format of America’s Cup racing allows East Coast fans the first chance to get up-close-and-personal with the world’s best sailors on the fastest boats. The AC Village will offer a host of activities for fans, including a Moët & Chandon Champagne bar, a Napa Valley Vineyards wine garden, in addition to a selection of locally sourced food and beverage concessions that reflect Rhode Island’s abundance of farm-fresh cuisine.
Background: Nearly 160 years old, the America’s Cup is the oldest trophy in international sport. The America’s Cup has evolved into one of the world’s leading sporting competitions – featuring the best sailors on the world’s fastest boats, the newly unveiled wing-sailed AC45 and AC72 catamarans.
Newport has a long history with the America’s Cup and has hosted the event twelve times, beginning in 1930. This summer marks the return of an America’s Cup event to Newport, as the city hasn’t hosted since 1983.
Traveling to Newport:
Easily accessible from New England, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. via car, train, or plane, Newport is an ideal coastal destination for summer travel. Newport offers a blend of hotels, inns, motels, and bed and breakfasts. Aside from watching the America’s Cup sailing, Newport offers a wide variety of activities for visitors, including tours of the famed Newport Mansions and more.
Upcoming America’s Cup Events:
April 7 – 15, 2012: (Naples, Italy) America’s Cup World Series May 12 – 20: (Venice, Italy) America’s Cup World Series June 26 – July 1, 2012: (Newport, RI) America’s Cup World Series August 21 – 26, 2012: (San Francisco OR New York) America’s Cup World Series October 4 – 7, 2012: (San Francisco) America’s Cup World Series April 16 – 21, 2013: (Venice, Italy) America’s Cup World Series May 14 – 19, 2013: (Naples, Italy) America’s Cup World Series July 4 – September 1, 2013: (San Francisco) Louis Vuitton Cup (America’s Cup Challenger Series, determines who faces ORACLE Racing in the finals) September 7 – 22, 2013: (San Francisco) America’s Cup Finals (ORACLE Racing vs. the winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup)
About the America’s Cup World Series:
The America’s Cup World Series is an extreme experience – cutting edge wing-sailed catamarans flying at speeds over 30 miles per hour; short, sharp, intense races on courses squeezed into the Bay to ensure close action; and a mix of fleet and match racing, to test the abilities of the best sailing teams in the world. While the World Series has no bearing on the America’s Cup, it’s a fun way to create on-the-water excitement for both the teams and the fans – kind of like the Spring Training of sailing! The World Series continues in Newport, Rhode Island this June/July and in San Francisco in August.
About the America’s Cup:
Nearly 160 years old, the America’s Cup is the oldest trophy in international sport. The America’s Cup has evolved into one of the world’s leading sporting competitions – featuring the best sailors on the world’s fastest boats, the wing-sailed AC45 and AC72 catamarans. The new America’s Cup World Series begins its inaugural season August 2011. In the summer of 2013, the 34th America’s Cup begins with the Louis Vuitton Cup July 4-September 1, followed by the America’s Cup Finals September 7-22. For more information, visit www.americascup.com.