America's Cup to visit former Cup home in Newport, RI

by Jane Eagleson

BMW ORACLE Racing, the American winners of the 33rd America's Cup, will bring the oldest trophy in international sport to Newport, Rhode Island, on Thursday, July 1, 2010.

The iconic trophy will be on show at open-to-the public events.

Rhode Island, host to 12 of the 33 America's Cup regattas from 1930 to 1983, and home to the America's Cup Hall of Fame, will welcome the trophy and team representatives at a day of events celebrating both the heritage and future of the America's Cup.

The Cup will be on public display in downtown Newport in the morning and Fort Adams State Park in the afternoon, and viewing is free of charge.

A "Cup Victory Luncheon" will be held at historic Fort adams to benefit Sail Newport, Rhode Islands's non-profit, public sailing center. A highlight of the day will be BMW ORACLE Racing's presentation to Rhode Island-area junior sailors, free of charge, at Fort Adams following the luncheon.

The presentations will be emceed by Tom Ehman (USA), BMW ORACLE Racing External Affairs and former Newport resident, and include design coordinator Ian Burns (AUS), sailing team member Brad Webb (NZL), and design team members and Newport-area native Scott Ferguson (USA).

"BMW ORACLE Racing is proud to be the first American winner since 1992," said CEO Russell Coutts, the most successful skipper in the event's history. The win is a culmination of a 10-year quest by team owner Larry Ellison and San Francisco's Golden Gate Yacht Club.

"As we look to the future with the 34th America's Cup it is important to revel in and respect the America's Cup's history and tradition of people, places and innovation. Newport, RI, played a huge part in shaping the heritage of sailing's pinnacle event," Coutts said.

"The 1983 series catalyzed interest in the Cup around the world, including many of our current team. However, when his fellow countrymen won off Newport that year, James Spithill, our Australian skipper and the youngest ever to win the Cup, would have only been four years old!

"The America's Cup is an event which transcends sport. BMW ORACLE Racing and GGYC are driving forward with Larry Ellison's vision to reach new, wider and broader audiences. The Cup will be modernised into a more compelling and engaging competition, based on transformed television output," said Coutts.

The America's Cup, first contested in 1851, currently resides at the Golden gate Yacht Club in San Francisco, the home club of BMW ORACLE Racing. Only two other American yacht clubs have held the trophy - New York Yacht Club and San Diego Yacht Club. SDYC lost the Cup to Team New Zealand in 1995, the last time the America's Cup was held in the United States. In 2003 the Swiss-based Team Alinghi won the Cup from New Zealand. On February 14, 2010, off Valencia, Spain, BMW ORACLE Racing defeated Team Alinghi 2-0. Intensive planning for the next edition os underway, with the finals expected in 2013 or 2014 at a venue to be determined by the American team.

BMW ORACLE Racing