We Rhode Islanders have waited a long time to welcome the America's Cup back to Newport, so it's been exciting to watch the razor-like sails of the AC45s appear in the harbor off historic Fort Adams.
The boats and their containers started arriving last week. Over the last several days they have made their way to Fort Adams in preparation for the final leg of the inaugural America's Cup World Series.
Eight crews from six countries will compete including Emirates Team New Zealand, Team Korea, Artemis Racing (Sweden), Energy Team (France), two Italian boats from Luna Rossa Challenge and two Oracle Team USA boats. The races start June 26th and conclude on Sunday, July 1st.
Fort Adams is the staging area for these high-tech catamarans and their teams of racers, engineers and owners. Each boat has it's own tent just off the docks where an enormous crane lifts and lowers them in and out of the water. Right now you can sneak in quietly on your bike, but this weekend things will be more formal with ticket sales, spectator events and corporate entertaining.
Unlike traditional America's Cup races which took place off shore, these races will happen inside Narragansett Bay allowing spectators to get very close to the action. The best sailors in the world will whiz by in state-of-the-art AC45 wing-sailed cats marking the first time these amazing vessels have competed on the east coast. It's really something to see as they make hair raising turns tipped up on a single pontoon.
And that's not all.
As the America's Cup boats take their leave the Tall Ships will pull in right behind them for a July 6 - 9, 2012 visit. After that, of course, it's the Classicial Music Festival, the Newport Jazz Fest and the Folk Fest. Believe it or not, there are still some fabulous luxury rentals available!
There's nothing like a Newport summer, but this one is shaping up to be very special.