Portsmouth: Home team crowned victors at Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series
Billed by many as the favourites heading into the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series, Portsmouth, the Land Rover BAR team delighted home supporters when they were crowned winners.
Skipper Sir Ben Ainslie, wing trimmer Paul Campbell-James, runner David 'Freddie' Carr, trimmer Nick Hutton and bow/tactician Giles Scott scored one win and one second place on Day 1. Unfortunately, gale force winds on Sunday forced the abandonment of racing and cancellation of the Day 2 programme.
However, the home team had secured the victory and, 164 years after the very first America's Cup racing was held on the Solent, it was the British boat which took the win.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge awarded Sir Ben Ainslie and crew with the winners' 'Victory' trophy and each competing team with an 'Endeavour' trophy at the prize giving, which was hosted by Davina McCall.
The Royal couple also visited team bases at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, which had played host to the six America's Cup teams, and met key individuals who brought the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series to Portsmouth, including Sir Keith Mills, chairman of the event, Jeremy Rigby, commander of the Portsmouth Naval Base, and Cllr Donna Jones, leader of Portsmouth City Council.
The four-day event attracted huge spectators numbers to the event village, which included a free waterfront festival arena packed with family attractions, and a fanzone arena with live stage appearances from sailing stars, plus a series of spectacular aerial displays from acrobatic stunt teams.
Leslie Greenhalgh, event director, said: "The event showcased what an increasable spectacle the America's Cup can deliver to Portsmouth. We were delighted with the visitor figures and would like to thank everyone that attended and supported the event. Whether it was giving the sailors a huge welcome on Thursday, braving the rain on Friday or enjoying the perfect champagne sailing conditions on Snday - the spectator support made a huge difference."
He added: "The plans for next year start tomorrow and we are already looking forward to 2016."
