©Jaime Reina/AFP
Victorious !
Members of the BMW ORACLE Racing team will visit the USS Midway and the Maritime Museum on North Harbor Drive with their new prize, the America’s Cup, in hand. They successfully challenged New Zealand, the defenders of the 33rd America’s Cup Race on February 14th.
If you’re a regular on the waterfront in San Diego, you’ll remember the days when the BMW ORACLE Racing trimaran rested in the marina located near the Convention Center. She left us last December and headed to Valencia, Spain, for final preparations for the America’s Cup Race.
Come greet the returning champions on the San Diego Bay today!
Fast forward to last week, when BMW ORACLE Racing reclaimed the America’s Cup, the first time for the US since 1995. San Francisco’s Golden Gate Yacht Club is the new home port for the team, and is now the 28th American Defender of the America’s Cup.
The trophy will be on display on board the USS Midway this Sunday beginning at 4 pm, and ceremonies will begin at 5 with San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, representatives of BMW ORACLE Racing and local community leaders in attendance. Afterward, BMW ORACLE team members and their new prize will board the America.
The Maritime Museum’s schooner America is a replica of the vessel sailed by the New York Yacht Club, the first winners of the international yacht race in 1851, and namesake of the trophy. The America will carry the team across the bay to revisit the Cup’s former home, The San Diego Yacht Club. As it passes the Maritime Museum, they will be saluted with cannon fire.
Local boaters have been invited to join a flotilla accompanying the America, led by the tall ship Californian as they travel to the San Diego Yacht Club. The participating museums are inviting the public to these events, offering free entrance. Admission to the USS Midway Museum will be free of charge beginning at 3 p.m. The Maritime Museum is offering free admission from 4 to 5:15 pm for anyone wishing to see and hear the cannon salute. At press time, the Maritime Museum still had tickets available to sail with the Californian or the Pilot boats as they escort the America across the bay!
The Port of San Diego is offering free parking on the Navy Pier on February 21 beginning at 3 pm. However, visitors are encouraged to use public transportation to arrive at the waterfront.
Sailors respect tradition, and they haven’t forgotten the role that San Diego has played in the history of this race. The San Diego Yacht Club defended the America’s Cup in three challenges between 1988 to 1995, after it reclaimed the cup from Australia in 1987. Since then the cup has changed hands a number of time before finally being reclaimed by the US just last week.
BMW ORACLE Racing took their victory after their second challenge race, to win the best of three. After an easier victory in their first race, the second was much closer, with the lead passing between the US Team and the Swiss boat Alinghi several times before winning by more than 5 minutes. Jimmy Spithill, 30 year old skipper & helmsman for BMW ORACLE Racing, is the youngest skipper in the history of the America’s Cup. (We hear he recently bought a house here in San Diego… Welcome home!)
©Jose Jordán/AFP
