Log In | Register
SAN DIEGO — The new America's Cup World Series will begin later this year with regattas in Portugal, England and San Diego.
They are the first regattas in the buildup to the 2013 America's Cup on San Francisco Bay.
Organizers also announced early Friday that a total of 15 teams from 12 countries have entered the 34th America's Cup, including defending champion Oracle Racing of San Francisco. The entry period closed at midnight Thursday. Of the 14 challengers that have entered, 12 have been validated while the remaining two teams will be checked against the qualifying requirements. Seven of the teams have publicly announced their challenge.
"It is time to go racing," regatta director Iain Murray said in a statement.
The ACWS circuit this year will be contested in 45-foot, wing-sailed catamarans. A 72-foot version of the fast cat will come online next year.
The first regatta will be held Aug. 6-14 in Cascais, Portugal, followed by one in Plymouth, England, Sept. 10-18.
The San Diego regatta will be held sometime between mid-October and early December.
San Diego hosted three America's Cup regattas from 1988-1995.
"The race course on San Diego Bay will amaze fans from around the world when they see the power and speed of the new wing-powered AC45 multihull racing yachts," said Troy Sears, an official with Sailing Events Association San Diego.
The choice of Plymouth is interesting, considering that a British syndicate announced in October that it wouldn't challenge for the America's Cup because the format and timetable weren't viable.
The race that gave birth to the America's Cup was held in England in 1851. The schooner America beat a fleet of British ships around the Isle of Wight to claim what is now the oldest trophy in international sports.
America's Cup official Richard Worth said the initial ports that were chosen for the ACWS allow spectators to watch the racing from shore.
