Jersey City will have a front row seat for a America's Cup racing when it returns to New York Harbor for the first time in nearly 100 years.
Jersey City will have a front row seat for America's Cup racing when the sport returns to New York Harbor for the first time in nearly 100 years.
The international races, pitting catamarans traveling at 40 miles an hour, will be held on May 7 and 8 as part of the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series, America's Cup officials announced.
The weekend of racing will be headquartered at Battery Park City and the Brookfield Place Waterfront Plaza in Lower Manhattan, with all races finishing just off the plaza. The race was last held in this area was 1920.
Thousands of spectators are expected to watch the race, either on land along the pier or from hundreds of spectator boats on the water near the race course, officials said.
"The Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series is a celebrated homecoming for the America's Cup, which was held in New York for 50 years, representing the sport's first 13 challenges," said Sir Russell Coutts, Chief Executive Officer of the America's Cup Event Authority. "When America's Cup sailing returns in May, spectators will witness the latest, exciting iteration of the sport -- an awe-inspiring blend of athleticism, technological advancement and keen awareness of nature."
Teams representing the United States, New Zealand, Great Britain, Sweden, Japan and France are expected to vie in up to six races for points that count toward the final competition for the 35th America's Cup in Bermuda next year.
Beyond the Brookfield Place Waterfront Plaza, fans can watch the races along the Hudson River waterfront, from Battery Park City north toward Pier 25 on the Manhattan side, and in New Jersey from Liberty State Park.
"The New York Harbor and waterfront parks on both sides of the Hudson River are sailing's version of nature's perfectly created stadium," said Commercial Commissioner Harvey Schiller. "The harbor's ability to bring fans so close to the action is what made New York the mecca of sailing 100 years ago and an ideal home for the America's Cup more than a century ago.
"It is an honor to bring this competition back to where it began and we expect fans to be equally thrilled when they see these boats racing across the harbor."
Here's a schedule of events planned so far.
