America’s Cup Trophy Coming to San Diego

Thursday, 18 February 2010
Contact: John Gilmore (619) 686-7206, (619) 341-5684

A brief window of opportunity to see the America's Cup trophy is coming to San Diego Bay.

The America's Cup will be on public display at the USS Midway Museum beginning at 4 p.m. on Sunday, February 21. The display of the silver cup, yachting's oldest and most coveted prize, is part of BMW ORACLE Racing's USA Victory Tour to welcome the cup home to the United States after a 15-year absence.

A public ceremony will follow aboard the USS Midway Museum at 5 p.m. that includes San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, representatives of BMW ORACLE Racing and local community leaders.

After the ceremony, BMW ORACLE team members, carrying the America's Cup, will board the San Diego-based schooner America, a replica of the vessel that first won the America's Cup for the U.S. in 1851.

Local boaters are invited to join the flotilla that will accompany America across the bay to the San Diego Yacht Club, once home to the America's Cup. The Maritime Museum of San Diego's tallship Californian will escort America across the bay.

As America passes near the Maritime Museum along the Embarcadero, two Napoleon cannons will be fired. The museum is offering free admission on February 21 from 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. for anyone wishing to see and hear the cannon salute.

In support of the celebration, the USS Midway Museum is offering free admission on Sunday, February 21, beginning at 3 p.m. The Port of San Diego is offering free parking on the Navy Pier on February 21 beginning at 3 p.m. However, visitors are encouraged to use public transportation to arrive at the waterfront.

After BMW ORACLE Racing swept the 33rd America's Cup match off Valencia, Spain, on February 14, the cup and victorious team returned to the United States and began the Victory Tour on February 19 in San Francisco, home of the Golden Gate Yacht Club and the cup's new home.

The BMW ORACLE Racing team trained in San Diego in 2008 and 2009, maintaining a headquarters on San Diego Bay behind the San Diego Convention Center and testing its trimaran in the light winds offshore of Point Loma.