Newport Picked as Final Stop of America's Cup World Series

Newport will once again get to enjoy and benefit from the America's Cup experience.

It was announced today that the city will be the final stop of the 2011-2012 America's Cup World Series. The decision comes after much effort by Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee’s leadership and the collaboration of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, Department of Environmental Management and Department of Administration.

“Newport and Rhode Island have strong historical ties to the America’s Cup, dating back to 1930,” Gov. Chafee said in a release. “Narragansett Bay, one of our state’s most spectacular assets, provides a perfect natural venue, and the ongoing infrastructure improvements at Fort Adams make Newport the ideal host for the final stop of the AC World Series. This exciting event will be a tremendous boost for the Rhode Island economy and continues the relationship between Newport and the America’s Cup.”

The nine-day event is scheduled to run between June 23 and July 1, 2012.

In addition to being the first American host of the high-tech AC45 wing-sailed catamarans in 2012, Newport will also have the honor of seeing the first AC World Series circuit champion crowned. The highlight of each AC World Series stop is the spectacular, winner-takes-all, fleet race on final Sunday, where teams put points on the board to take the overall title, so the final race on Sunday, July 1, in Newport could be the ultimate decision maker for the AC World Series champion.

Current plans call for holding the racing inside the Newport Harbor, with the start/finish line just off the shoreline and spectator access along numerous points on the waterfront. 

“Newport is the cradle of the America’s Cup sailing, so we’re very pleased to bring the AC World Series to the city that first exposed the Cup to the world,” Richard Worth, Chairman, America’s Cup Event Authority, said in a release. “We are building upon that rich history through this new professional circuit to accelerate the global appeal of the America’s Cup.”

U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse released the following statement regarding today’s announcement that Newport will host the final stop of the America's Cup World Series in 2012:

“Rhode Island is the true historical home for the America’s Cup, and I’m glad that these World Series races will be taking place in our beautiful City by the Sea," Whitehouse said. "The arrival of the America’s Cup World Series races next year will be a great boost to our state’s economy, with the tourism and revenues it creates.”