Queensland fights to become venue for America's Cup World Series

by Greg Peake on 25 Jun 2014 Americas Cup World Series - Yachting Queensland’s Board feels it is an appropriate time to inform the Queensland sailing community of work that has taken place behind the scenes to attract the Americas Cup World Series (ACWS) to Queensland.

Negotiations started with a Yachting Queensland Board Member on a private visit to San Francisco delivering a letter from the Yachting Queensland Board to the Americas Cup Event Authority.

After tracking down the America’s Cup Event Authority in San Francisco to convey their interest, Yachting Queensland Board Members and staff have engaged in numerous conversations with prominent figures of the Americas Cup Event Authority and relevant Team Management.

'The objective is simply to place Queensland at the forefront of the event organiser’s pile of possible new locations,' stated Yachting Queensland President Ken Hurling.

'We only need a few more people to agree and with a bit of luck we could actually make it happen.'

Hurling also said that such an opportunity would be of huge benefit to sailing in Queensland.

This is certainly true if previous figures are anything to go by, as peak crowd numbers on the shore of several of the 2012-2013 ACWS venues were in excess of 100,000.

There are also the demands of teams to be based at training and competition venues for sometimes months at a time.

The economic impact for Queensland is estimated to be in the hundred millions, which is an accomplishment that could help promote sailing to Queensland’s population and also promote the value of Yachting Queensland and its efforts.

‘The Sunshine State’ as the ACWS venue also makes perfect sense when considering the main America’s Cup Challenger of Record is Hamilton Island Yacht Club and Olympian skipper Matthew Belcher – a Queensland club and a home-grown hero.

Yachting Queensland has also had several high level discussions with the Queensland Government’s Tourism and Events department and the Premier.

Work is being done on educating these officials on the finer points of hosting large scale sailing events, while possible venues and external event organisers and promoters are being investigated in preparation for the possible outcome of being successful.

The Protocols for the next round of the Americas Cup have just been released which includes information that the ACWS will continue in the AC45s with the possibility of foiling.

For now Yachting Queensland will continue to make head way on this opportunity that would change the game of promoting our sport in Queensland and dramatically increase the awareness of sailing as both a highly competitive sport and an enjoyable recreational activity.