America’s Cup 2015

25/07/2015 Demelza Craven

The America’s Cup – A Successful Start

It is the oldest international race in the world. The most famous of all nautical competitions. Featuring the worthiest sea legs and the most pre-eminent boats. We are talking about The America’s Cup! This weekend six international teams will flock to Portsmouth, ready to go head to head in the world’s 35^th occasion of the competition. It is a day that will go down in sporting history for Great Britain, as it is the first time they have hosted the competition since 1851.

Of all the sporting trophies, the America’s Cup is considered one of the very hardest to achieve. It is named after an exceedingly special boat called America. In an around the island race off the Isle of Wight it triumphed against Britain’s very best vessel and thus the America’s Cup was born. But the question on everyone’s lips is “Could this be Britain’s year!?” with a very strong team, captained by Sir Ben Ainsley, England is in with a serious chance.

Described by the BBC as like ‘Formula 1 on water’ the race will make for a breath taking sight. The slender frames of 45ft catamarans will skim along the face of the ocean as though floating above it, in a wash of white horses the boats should reach impressive speeds of up to 50mph. The five person crafts will see their crew leaning from the sides, millimetres from the water’s edge, in a display of incredible skill and seamanship.

It will be a weekend of maritime magnificence for all seafaring enthusiasts. Friday will enjoy preview races but it will be Saturday when the real racing gets underway. Sunday is known as ‘super Sunday’ with the finale and deciding of the winner. So, if you’re not already, get yourself down to Portsmouth, for the taste of sea air, the feel of ocean spray in your face and yachting at its very finest.