The America’s Cup World Series

The America’s Cup is the world’s most prestigious sailing competition. November 12-20, the America’s Cup World Series makes its way to San Diego, after a 15-year absence from the United States. Don’t miss your chance to see this famous competition!

The oldest international trophy in sport, the America’s Cup has only been captured by four nations in its 160 year history. With advances in technology and shipbuilding, this year’s race is definitely worth seeing, as the world’s most adept sailors unites and race aboard remarkably fast catamarans.

Schedule of Races

November 12-13: Port Cities Challenge. A preliminary series consisting of three fleet races each day. Racing is scheduled to start with a warning signal at 1305, local time. The first race each day will be 40 minutes, the second and third will be 18 minutes. The Port Cities Challenge Trophy will be awarded at the conclusion of Sunday’s racing at the winning Teams’ Base Camp.

November 14-15: Team practice, no scheduled races.

November 16: San Diego Match Racing Championship. Three seeding fleet races, followed by two Speed Trial runs, where the teams hurl their AC45s down the track in an attempt to log the fastest time over a set distance.  Racing will begin at 1pm.

November 17: A full day of match racing. The teams will be paired up according to their seeding from the previous day and face off in an attempt to advance to the Semi Final.

November 18: Semi Final day at the Match Racing Championship, with the top four teams advancing out of the Qualifiers, battling for a position in the Final.

November 19: Saturday sees the winner of the San Diego Match Racing Championship decided in a best of three duel, starting at 1pm.

November 20: Super Sunday begins with two more Speed Trial races, followed by the winner takes all 40 minute fleet race for the San Diego Fleet Racing Championship.

Watch the Action!

Aside from its United States absence, this year’s America’s Cup is also a unique experience in that it takes place in San Diego Harbor, just meters from the shore. This makes the race very accessible and easy to watch from multiple points around San Diego Harbor. Watch the competition from Harbor Island or the America’s Cup Village at the USS Midway and Broadway Pier. The AC Village will feature ongoing commentary, live footage on the big screen, and entertainment!

Have lunch and watch the action at one of San Diego’s many waterfront restaurants. Anthony’s Fish Grotto, The Fish Market and Top of the Market or C Level and Island Prime. Details here.

If you want to be on the water, several nautical companies are offering guided charters in and near the San Diego Bay during the races. Next Level Sailing offers a variety of scheduled tours during the races on board one of their 80-foot International America’s Cup Class (IACC) racing yachts — Stars & Stripes / USA 34, and Abracadabra / USA 54,  plus a magnificent replica of the original 139-foot yacht “AMERICA” that started the America’s Cup racing tradition back in 1851.

Stars & Stripes Sail USA 11 offers public sails aboard their yachts during the races from noon until 3pm every day except November 19. USA-11 was used by Dennis Conner in his 1995 campaign as a trial horse and then sold to the US Virgin Islands America’s Cup Challenge to be used in the 2000 America’s Cup races. Fun Cat Sailing is hosting daily Catamaran charters on the “Tigress.” This BIG CAT offers an unrivaled, fast, smooth ride, with generous deck space for relaxing. Beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks included.

Flagship Cruises is having a Races Over the Bay Spectator Cruise on November 19 and 20 from 1-4pm to watch the final races. Cruise along the bay during the America’s Cup World Series while having drinks, snacks, and watching live footage of the race. If VIP treatment is what you seek, Hornblower has a variety of hospitality packages about their Inspiration Hornblower. Enjoy drinks, food, and premier viewing of the races!

Transportation

For car parking, a pay lot is a block away from the Event Village and there are coin meter spaces on the adjacent street. However, get there early to avoid getting shut out. Safer options could be to use bikes, pedicabs or taxis, or drive to a San Diego Trolley station and take the train to the downtown station a couple of blocks away. Details here.

View Map Here

Want to play a game?

Q: Where can you experience a fast, smooth catamaran ride, with generous deck space for relaxing?

Find the answer here.