Sailing News

And the 34th America’s Cup goes to …

San Francisco has been selected as the host venue for the 34th America’s Cup. An official celebration event will be hosted in San Francisco on January 5th, event location details to be announced.

“We sought a venue that fulfills our promise – to showcase the best sailors in the world competing on the fastest boats,” said Richard Worth, Chairman, America’s Cup Event Authority.  “And hosting the America’s Cup in San Francisco will realize that promise.“

“We thank Mayor Newsom, Board President Chiu, Supervisor Mirkarimi and all of the Board of Supervisors, the staff at City Hall and the Port Authority, Mark Buell and San Francisco America’s Cup Organizing Committee, and all who have worked so diligently on securing the bid,” Worth continued. “We look forward to working closely with City of San Francisco over the coming months to create a world-class America’s Cup event, and a large and lasting beneficial impact on the City.”

San Francisco officially won the honor of hosting the 34th America’s Cup in 2013 after a brief showdown with Newport over the past two weeks. The event will purportedly inject over $1 billion dollars into the state’s economy, in addition to creating thousands of jobs. Newport’s roots as a yachting community run deep, as does its rich tradition of hosting the America’s Cup. Before 1983, which was the last America’s Cup to be held here, Newport hosted the event for 50 years. Bringing back the America’s Cup, which is an internationally acclaimed and prestigious sporting event, would have impacted the entire Newport community, so it’s no surprise that many local business owners were disappointed to hear the news. Likewise, Newport residents, many of whom recall fond memories of past America’s Cup races, are disappointed as well. Here’s what some Newport and Aquidneck Island residents said: “It’s unfortunate. It would have been good for Newport and they deserve it.”? – Robert Sahms, Portsmouth Resident “I used to have a restaurant on Goat Island called Marina Pub. I can remember the day of the last race of the 1983 Cup, when Dennis Conner was at the helm of the Liberty. If he lost then all was lost, I thought. On the special board at my restaurant, I wrote ‘Give me Liberty, or give me DEBT.’ It has been that way since the Cup left. The Cup summers were such a lucrative time and it just hasn’t been the same since it left.” – Greg Gamon, Newport Resident “I’m sorry that it isn’t coming here. I feel it would have brought some jobs. I would have liked to see it here.” – Marian Royer, Portsmouth Resident “The America’s Cup would have undoubtedly helped our economy. The America’s Cup should be coming back here — San Francisco doesn’t need the event; they always have major events, so I don’t see that having the America’s Cup would feel as important to them. It belongs back in Newport. I was pretty young the last time it was here, but I do remember that I was out on a boat and everyone was really into it. At the time, I didn’t quite understand why everyone was crying when it ended. Since then, the sailing community has dropped. It just isn’t what it used to be and I think bringing the Cup back would bring some sailing roots back as well.” – Chef Tyler Cullen, of Norey’s Restaurant on Broadway