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America's Cup Race sails to San Francisco
San Francisco gets the nod to host the 34th Annual America’s Cup Race. The decision announced Thursday took Rhode Island out of the running and dashed hopes of having the America’s Cup return to its Newport roots. Although some of the wind has been knocked out of the states sails there is a bit of a silver lining. Rhode Island will be a primary site for the America’s Cup pre-regattas.
In response to the news The Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation issued a statement Thursday, which says in part, “Rhode Island has been identified as a primary site for the America’s Cup pre-regattas, a series of qualifying races leading up to sailing’s premiere championship event. Russell Coutts, CEO of BMW ORACLE Racing, personally notified Keith Stokes, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, of the decision last night and he again this morning reiterated the team’s desire to host races in Newport.
While we are disappointed to learn that Newport is no longer under consideration to be the host city for the final America’s Cup race, we are confident that we will ultimately play an important role as a venue for the challenger races that will be held in the two to three years leading up to the final race,” said Governor Donald L. Carcieri. “It was clear from the BMW ORACLE visit to Rhode Island last week that the team appreciates Newport’s storied America’s Cup history and tradition, and they recognize that we have significant infrastructure in place. We will continue to promote the assets and advantages that Newport has to offer. We congratulate San Francisco, and look forward to being a part of the 34th America’s Cup races.
Hosting the challenger series races is a great opportunity for Rhode Island to continue its long tradition of America’s Cup racing. The pre-regattas will showcase Newport on the world stage and provide a significant economic boost to Rhode Island,” said Keith Stokes, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation. “We congratulate San Francisco on its selection. “Newport will allow a perfect bookend to the 34th running of the America’s Cup by offering to run preliminary America’s Cup Regattas in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Rhode Island is engaged at the highest levels to pursue these preliminary regattas.
Starting in 2011, BMW ORACLE Racing anticipates holding six or more pre-regattas in each of the years leading up to the 34th America’s Cup finals, which will be held in 2013 or 2014. The pre-regattas create an opportunity for Rhode Island to build a world-class sailing facility that will put the state in the forefront to host other premier sailing competitions.
In an e-mail message last evening to Keith Stokes, Russell Coutts said: “We continue to develop an AC34 event plan that includes six or possibly more pre-regattas each year (2011, 2012 and possibly 2013 if the Match ends up in 2014). Newport will be given top priority for any such regattas in the USA assuming this is of interest to you and your venue team. We hope it is, and please let me know.
We are grateful for Rhode Island's strong support,” said Tom Ehman, BMW ORACLE Racing’s head of External Affairs. “The work already done by the Governor's team, headed by Keith Stokes, bodes well for hosting an America’s Cup pre-regatta. The level of enthusiasm and experience we saw last week in Newport underscored that the spirit of the America’s Cup is alive and well in the Ocean State.'
For more information about the America’s Cup Race and the decision to pick San Francisco over Rhode Island click here.
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