Forum de Cup In Europe

The burble of 'will they - won't they' continues around Little Marina Green in San Francisco. The latest is whether or not there will be a European tour next year for the AC-45s, and if there is, just which venues will be used, or will it be deleted from the schedule and allow the 'serious' players to devote more time to their campaigns in the AC-72s.

Currently ACWS regattas are scheduled for Venice and Naples in the early northern hemisphere summer and maybe there could be one in the Aegean Sea, but rumour surrounding these proposed events would indicate that early flight bookings should be cancelled.

The World Series - which is raced in standard platform AC45s - will reconvene in April next year with two regattas in Italy. Negotiations are rumoured to be taking place for a third regatta in New York in June, before the teams make the step up to the AC72s for the big show, beginning with the Louis Vuitton challenger series in July.

The best sailors in the world will return to Naples, Italy from April 16-21 for the first America’s Cup World Series event of 2013.

Naples originally hosted the America’s Cup World Series in April 2012, drawing over 500,000 spectators on site, with the racing on the water highlighted by a spectacular debut from the Italian Luna Rossa Challenge team, who won the fleet racing and finished in second place in the match racing.

“We are very happy to be returning to Naples for our only event in Europe in 2013,” said Stephen Barclay, the CEO of the 34th America’s Cup. “The people of Naples turned out in force to celebrate the America’s Cup and the Luna Rossa team in 2012 and we anticipate even more enthusiasm for the 2013 edition.”

“We have worked hard alongside our partners to ensure the city will host the America’s Cup World Series again,” said Mario Hubler, the CEO of ACN, the administrative body charged with securing and running the event. “Now we have to roll up our sleeves and, in collaboration with the America’s Cup organizers, ensure that the races of 2013 will be an even greater success than those of last April.”

The America’s Cup World Series features up to 11 of the top sailing teams in the world, racing on cutting-edge, wingsail catamarans that demand the best from the crews. The competition takes place extremely close to shore, on short, confined racecourses, making for dramatic race action for spectators and sailors alike.

ORACLE TEAM USA, the home team in the United States, charged with defending the America’s Cup in 2013, is currently leading the 2012-13 series.

Following the April event in Naples, Italy, the 2012-13 America’s Cup World Series will culminate with two events in the USA at the end of May. Full details of the American events will be released shortly.