For the first time since 1920, the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series returns to New York City in 2016. Baroque Yachts has all the details about the race, which will take place on 7 & 8 May
The NYC America’s Cup event is one of six that are planned to take place during 2016. All will feature thrilling, high-speed competition provided by six teams featuring the best sailors in the world who will compete for points to take them through to the final competition, the 35th America’s Cup, which will be held in 2017.
The 2015 America’s Cup was a close contest that was finally won by the New Zealand team with Peter Burling at the helm. He was the youngest in the fleet, and led his team to victory over the current champion, Oracle Team USA, headed by Jimmy Spithill and the famous Land Rover BAR team led by Olympic hero Ben Ainslie.
With such a close call for the other two teams, the competition is likely to be close and the New York event is expected to be quite thrilling. As New Yorkers are renowned sports fans, one can expect a huge crowd, and the racing will be at the top of its game.
The Louis Vuitton America’s Cup will also be held on two other continents, in Europe in mid-September followed by another race in Asia in the middle of November.
Two additional Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series events are anticipated to complete the calendar, likely in Europe in mid-September and in Asia in mid-November. But the New York event is the most historic, as America’s Cup racing was initially held in New York harbour and surrounds for half a century. From 1870 right up to 1920, New York was the base for the America’s Cup. Then, in 1930, the competition moved to Newport, Rhode Island and remained there until 1983, when the US finally lost the Cup.
Since then, the America’s Cup has taken place all over the world, including Perth, Australia, San Diego, USA, Auckland, New Zealand, Valencia in Spain and San Francisco, USA. The 2017 America’s Cup will take place in Bermuda.
AMERICA’S CUP DETAILS FOR 2016
Muscat, Oman – February 26-28, 2016
New York, USA – May 6-8, 2016
Chicago, USA – June 10-12, 2016
Portsmouth, UK – July 22-24, 2016