The full event schedule for the 35th America’s Cup in Bermuda in 2017 has been confirmed, outlining the calendar of almost five weeks of world-class sailing action, starting on May 26 and finishing on or about June 27.

The opening race will be race one of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers between the defender, Oracle Team USA, with two-times Cup winner Jimmy Spithill and his crew looking to start in style against Groupama Team France, led by French superstar Franck Cammas.

Racing will begin at 2pm Bermuda time and will be the first time the America’s Cup Class yachts and their sailing crews engage in full competitive action. The ACC race yachts are wing-sail, cutting-edge catamarans that foil above the water at tremendous speed, designed and created by each of the six America’s Cup teams racing for the oldest trophy in international sport.

All the races will take place on the Great Sound, a perfect stage for the stadium-style racing that is now a core feature of America’s Cup racing.

Sir Russell Coutts, chief executive officer of the America’s Cup Event Authority, gave his thoughts on the fantastic range of events that lie ahead, and the perfect stage Bermuda offers for the 35th America’s Cup. “I’m sure everyone associated with the 35th America’s Cup is as excited as I am to be able to announce the schedule for 2017,” Coutts said.

“We are looking forward to seeing fierce competition as the event kicks off with Oracle Team USA against Groupama Team France as the first race of the day, followed by more exciting racing for all our America’s Cup fans and followers. It will be a fantastic spectacle.

“All the America’s Cup teams now know who they will line up with in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers, allowing them to plan their race strategies for each of their double round-robin races. One thing that is certain is that nobody can predict who will come out on top. That uncertainty, especially having seen how all the teams are so closely matched, shows why interest in the America’s Cup is growing so quickly worldwide.

“Bermuda is gearing up for what I believe will be the greatest America’s Cup ever and, with Bermuda’s beautiful Great Sound as the stage for the 35th America’s Cup, we have the perfect location for a truly iconic, world-class sports event. We also have a range of exciting support events which will combine to make this an unmissable five weeks of sailing action, including the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup, which will showcase the best national youth teams from around the world racing in AC45 foiling catamarans, currently taking centre stage in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series.

“In addition we have the America’s Cup Superyacht Regatta and the America’s Cup J Class Regatta, featuring the most spectacular superyachts afloat today and some of the most famous America’s Cup yachts of old, all racing on the turquoise waters of Bermuda. The combination of all these elements add up to why I firmly believe this will be the greatest America’s Cup ever.”

Read the full article by The Royal Gazette

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