Countdown to America's Cup World Series Portsmouth
IslandStats.com
A day after www.islandstats.com reported that Sir Ben Ainslie plans to make the Americas Cup 2017 a one and done for Bermuda we now bring you a release written by Mikaela Pearman, Communications, ACBDA.
This weekend marks the one-year anniversary of the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series. It all kicked off in Portsmouth last July and has since visited Gothenburg, Sweden, Bermuda, Muscat, Oman, New York and Chicago. Later this year, the boats will race in Toulon, France and Fukuoka, Japan.
Portsmouth is certainly one of the higher profile events given the Cup was first raced in British waters in 1851 and the enthusiasm for the sport in the UK. It's also an important event for Bermuda, and here's a few reasons why.
With the royals in attendance, it is expected all eyes will be on America’s Cup this weekend. Prince Phillip, Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton will all be in attendance over the course of the weekend. Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh will meet the Land Rover BAR team and tour the base.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will join spectators for the final day of racing. The Duchess is the Royal Patron of ‘The 1851 Trust’, the official charity of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Portsmouth.
All this adds up to lots of media exposure for the America’s Cup and ultimately for Bermuda.
Outside of #RacetoBermuda, the social media campaign raising awareness and excitement for next year's main event, LandRover BAR's #bringthecuphome might be the biggest 'movement' in this event for the 35th America's Cup. It references Sir Ben Ainslie's quest to return the Auld Mug to Britain for the first time since they lost it to the schooner America in 1851. They love Sir Ben, a four-time Olympic Gold medalist, in the UK and the team's lead supporter is held in pretty high regard too - Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. Britain will be showing up and tuning in to this event and that is good for Bermuda.
