Cascais. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
by Stephanie Martin
At a press conference at Casa de Santa Marta on Monday, Cascais, Portugal was confirmed as the first venue for the inaugural America’s Cup World Series (AC World Series). The event will be held from the 6th to the 14th of August, and will feature both fleet and match racing.
Carlos Carreiras, Mayor of Cascais said: “It is a great honor for Cascais to hold this event. Cascais, located on the Estoril Coast, is a premier tourism destination, and our waters are considered to offer some of the best yacht racing in the world. We are looking forward to a superb event.”
Cascais. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
This fashionable seaside resort is known for its beautiful conditions on and off the water, featuring a mild climate with sandy beaches, a rich architectural heritage and a number of elegant shops and restaurants,excellent accommodation and premier golf courses.
Cascais also hosts annually several international premium events Including numerous World and European yachting championships over the years, such as the ISAF worlds in 2007 which gathered all the Olympic classes, proving once again their outstanding organization ability.
Cascais is the perfect town to host the thousands of AC World Series spectators anticipated to watch the first race of the America’s Cup World Series competitors onboard their AC45s.
“Cascais provides us with the perfect setting to initiate the AC World Series and begin this new series in style,” said Richard Worth, Chairman, America’s Cup Event Authority (ACEA). “It was our goal to select AC World Series venues that would provide an exceptional experience for both our teams and our fans, and Cascais delivers on that promise.”
Cascais. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
The AC World Series will start later than previously announced to enable the number of new challengers who were just being accepted at the close of entries on March 31 to receive and sail their AC45 prior to the first AC World Series event.
America's Cup
