The Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series returned to New York during May 6-8. This marks the first time since 1920 that a world-class sailing event had been held in New York City, and over 100,000 spectators lined the banks of New York’s Hudson River to watch the spectacle. The Series is a sequence of races throughout 2016, and is the first stage of competition leading up to the actual America’s Cup race, which takes place in Bermuda in June 2017.
The racing teams faced some headwinds, or, really, a lack thereof: Saturday’s racing was cancelled due to lack of wind, and Sunday’s conditions weren’t ideal, either, resulting in racing being paused throughout the day. Because of the unpredictable weather, crews were forced to get creative and races were either tight or scrapped altogether, with Saturday’s races being designated “substitute” races.
On Sunday, the stops and starts resulted in a surprising performance from Emirates Team New Zealand, whose boat’s hull was punctured and their rudder stuck to the starting buoy. After one of the crew members jumped into the Hudson River to unhook the boat, they were off, clinching an unexpected win.
Points accrued throughout the regattas will be tallied at the end of the Series, the winner of which will take on Oracle Team USA in Bermuda. The Series continues in Chicago from June 10-12, which will be the Series' first freshwater course in its history. The main viewing will take place at the landmark Navy Pier and attendees will get to watch Teams USA, Sweden, New Zealand, Great Britain, Japan, and France vie for a win wihile sipping on libations from the on-site Dark n' Stormy Bar or Beer Garden. Should you need a little something extra, VIP hospitality packages ensure private viewing areas, which includes on-water spectating. The Elite Hospitality Package is priced at $1,250 per person, per day for Saturday and Sunday's races, and also allows access to the VIP Rooftop, Water Ring, and Hospitality Lounge.
