America's Cup at Cowes Week 2010

Type: Sporting Event

One of the sporting world’s oldest rivalries will be rekindled this summer when Britain takes on the United States in a rerun of the first America’s Cup sailing race in 1851.

Sir Keith Mills, Team Principal of TEAM ORIGIN, has invited the America's Cup holders, BMW ORACLE Racing, to Cowes Week (31st July – 7th August) this summer to compete in a match race tournament that will involve a race clockwise around the Island over the historic original course that saw the birth of the America's Cup in 1851.

In that summer of 1851, fourteen British yachts raced a visiting US yacht called ‘America', clockwise around the Isle of Wight. The American yacht won. Her owners were awarded a silver ewer, which became, and continues to be to this day, one of the world's leading sports trophies - the America's Cup.

The 1851 Cup - a new trophy created for this event will bring together some of the world's greatest sailors at the world's largest sailing regatta and re-ignite and build interest in match racing in large yachts in British waters again.

The newly crowned Defender, led by four times America's Cup winner Russell Coutts, will be tested at Cowes against a world class British team led by three times Olympic Gold Medallist, and TEAM ORIGIN Skipper, Ben Ainslie. "We relish the idea of taking on the Defenders in our home waters. The complex tides and winds of the Solent are always challenging even to a team that has raced here a thousand times before. But the opportunity to show our home crowds what we are up to and what we are about is fantastic. We have a busy season in 2010 but The 1851 Cup will surely be the jewel in the crown for us."

Ashore, public and guests will have the chance to mingle with the two teams at The 1851 Cup Village on Cowes Parade and get close to the two America's Cup race boats used in the competition. The boats will be moored in front of the Royal Yacht Squadron and will be in full view for all to see.

Dates

Opening 31/07/2010 - 07/08/2010

Road Directions

From East Cowes ferry, second exit at roundabout onto Well Road, turn right onto York Avenue and straight onto ferry road to the floating bridge to West Cowes.
From Fishbourne ferry, B3339 (Fishbourne lane), A3054 to Newport, A3020 to West Cowes.
From Yarmouth ferry, A3054 to Newport, A3020 to West Cowes.

Public Transport Directions

From Ryde Catamaran/Hovertravel: No. 9 bus route to Newport and change to No. 1 to West Cowes.
From Yarmouth ferry: No. 7 bus route to Newport and change to No. 1 to West Cowes.
For further bus information please contact Southern Vectis at www.islandbuses.info/ or +44 0871 200 2233 (bus times) / +44 01983 827000 (head office).