Event organizers have arrived today to celebrate Naples’ successful bid to present the America’s Cup World Series, an event that will welcome the best sailors in the world to Italy – an excellent yacht charter destination, in April 2012 and May 2013. The race village will be in Bagnoli, a western, seaside district of Naples that is going through important changes. The America’s Cup World Series events should accelerate and contribute to that process.
2011-2012 America’s Cup World Series Dates Released - Credit Gilles Martin Raget
Paolo Graziano, President of Naples Industrial Union and CEO of ‘ACN srl’, the NewCo in charge of the event, said: “Naples is in the process of renewing its image. To do this, you must set high targets and the America’s Cup World Series is the perfect event for us. The two events we have secured will bring resources to Naples and draw international media attention. This agreement is an important step to re-launch Naples and the Region of Campania.”
A consortium of authorities has been aligned to deliver the events, including the Region of Campania, the Province of Naples, the City of Naples and Unione Industriali Napoli. All parties are looking forward to spectacular sailing at two events that will deliver a high impact for the city of Naples. The event will give the Italian public, which has enjoyed a passionate history with the America’s Cup over the past 20 years, an opportunity to watch the world’s top sailors compete in the state-of-the-art AC45 wing-sailed catamarans.
The April 2012 event will be the first time the high-tech boats will be raced in Italy. Richard Worth, Chairman of the America’s Cup Event Authority (ACEA), said: “We are very supportive of how the city is planning to use the America’s Cup World Series to help drive the regeneration of the district of Bagnoli. All of the local authorities have demonstrated a deep passion for the City of Naples and in bringing the events to the region. We are confident that Naples will deliver outstanding America’s Cup World Series events, attracting many thousands of visitors to the city, to the benefit of the entire region.”
The first AC World Series – Naples is scheduled for April 7 to 15, 2012, while the dates in 2013 will be one month later, from May 11-19. The 2013 event is currently scheduled to be the final AC World Series stop before the teams head to San Francisco for the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America’s Cup Finals, meaning the champion of the 2012-2013 AC World Series season will be crowned in Naples.
The AC World Series features tight, short race courses designed to deliver close racing for the fans on shore as well as the online and TV audiences. The innovative regatta format includes a mix of speed trials, head-to-head match racing, and all-out fleet racing with 9 identical AC45s on the line. These events provide the fans the only opportunity to see all of the America’s Cup competitors racing together.
The forerunner to the next generation of America’s Cup boats, the AC45 wing-sailed catamaran is the official boat of the AC World Series. While capable of closing speeds over 35 mph, the AC45 remains nimble enough to handle the tight, tactical race courses planned by America’s Cup Race Management (ACRM).
Quotes:
Luigi de Magistris, Mayor of Naples: “The rebirth of Naples and its image will be helped by the two America’s Cup World Series events. It will be an extraordinary occasion for the city that not only represents a major sporting event, but will also be a driving force for economic development. It will promote employment and investment, tourism and trade, allowing the image of Naples to take off internationally.”
Luigi Cesaro, President of the Provincia di Napoli: “The America’s Cup is an extraordinary event that will help us return to the ‘ordinary’. It has to be the start, not the end, for us to aspire to become a Mediterranean capital. A change of gear and way of thinking, to re-launch an area where lack of agreement has often affected development.”
Stefano Caldoro, President of Regione Campania: “We offer the best race course in the world for this exciting sporting event. This is a great success for Naples and (the region of) Campania. A result of formidable team work that will benefit the whole of the city and the region. With these initiatives we will also re-launch our image across the world. The challenge is on.”
Riccardo Marone, Bagnolifutura President: “I believe that the America’s Cup World Series regattas in 2012 and 2013 are a great opportunity for the area’s development because they will allow us to unlock the necessary European funding to complete ongoing public structural operations in Bagnoli as well as to open the site of the first part of the urban park.”
