America’s Cup World Series Kicks off in San Diego Bay

Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Contact: Dale Frost (619) 686-6461

Emirates Team New Zealand Wins Port Cities Challenge in America’s Cup World Series

The competition for the America's Cup World Series in San Diego starts today, Wednesday, November 16, and concludes on Sunday, November 20.

The races follow this past weekend's Port Cities Challenge, in which Emirates Team New Zealand won on Sunday, November 13, 2011. The Port Cities Challenge was the warm-up sailing races for this week’s America’s Cup World Series on San Diego Bay.

The Port Cities Challenge trophy—a stainless steel scale model of an AC45 catamaran under sail—was presented to winning skipper Dean Barker by Port Commissioners Lee Burdick and Dan Malcolm after last Sunday’s final race.

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“The America’s Cup World Series is an exciting event that offers the public free close-up views of some of the world’s fastest boats and supports the Port of San Diego’s vision and commitment to activate the waterfront,” said Commissioner Malcolm.

The Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier, at 1000 N. Harbor Drive (map), serves as the headquarters for the America's Cup World Series. The America's Cup Village, featuring food, merchandise, exhibits and entertainment, will be housed on North Harbor Drive, between Broadway and Navy Piers.

The close-to-shore fleet races will offer the public free close-up views of some of the world's fastest boats.

The San Diego leg of the America’s Cup World Series is supported by Sailing Events Association San Diego, which promotes major sailboat racing events in San Diego for the benefit of the local economy. The Port of San Diego has contributed $316,000 to assist in launching the San Diego event.

The America’s Cup World Series has already been held in Cascais, Portugal and Plymouth, England. The America’s Cup Event Authority is the organizer of the America’s Cup World Series, a professional circuit that brings America’s Cup-level racing to port cities around the globe.

During the Port Cities Challenge, five of the nine boats competing represented each of the Port Districts's five member cities: Imperial Beach, Coronado, Chula Vista, National City and San Diego.

In the competition between cities, Chula Vista, represented by second-place Oracle Racing, with skipper James Spithill (USA), finished first, claiming bragging rights as the fastest Port District city. Chula Vista was followed by National City, represented by Artemis Racing (Sweden); Coronado, represented by Team Energy (France); San Diego, represented by ALEPH (France); and Imperial Beach, represented by Team Korea.

The award ceremony was held at the Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier.

Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox, Imperial Beach Mayor Jim Janney, National City Mayor Ron Morrison and San Diego City Councilman Kevin Faulconer were elected officials from Port District member cities who joined sailing teams, event organizers and spectators at the award ceremony.

Chuck Nichols, chairman of the board of Sailing Events Association San Diego, thanked the Port of San Diego for helping to sponsor the event.

“How important is the Port of San Diego’s support for this event? It’s as important as the wind and the water,” said Nichols.

Throughout the past weekend—rain or shine—thousands of sailing enthusiasts gathered at the Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier, and along the North Embarcadero and Harbor Island to watch the high-speed, action-packed catamaran races.

The results of the Port Cities Challenge are as follows: first place, Emirates Team New Zealand; second place, Oracle Racing, with skipper James Spithill (USA); third place, Artemis Racing (Sweden); fourth place, Team Energy, (France); fifth place, ALEPH, (France); sixth place, Team Korea; seventh place, Oracle Racing, with skipper Russell Coutts (USA); eighth place, Team China; and ninth place, Green Comm Racing (Spain).

The Port of San Diego was created by the state legislature to manage San Diego Bay and surrounding waterfront land in December 1962. The Port has been responsible for $1.7 billion in public improvements in its five member cities.