I think my first memories of the America’s Cup were from childhood, watching the news and being a little confused about stories of close races, steely eyed crews battling the southern ocean and controversial keel designs on these huge yachts on seas and oceans the other side of the World. Up until recently it still felt like it was an event that happened far from here, glimpsed on TV, racing in exotic locations on distant waters. With the news of the new Ben Ainslie Racing headquarters to be located and built in Portsmouth about a year or so ago, all of a sudden, this race, this event really started to capture my attention. Could the UK win the oldest international sporting trophy, with a team based in Portsmouth? Back in the waters where the race began?

No longer will these elite teams sailing ‘formula one’ yachts built from cutting edge designs, technologies and materials feel so distant, as the 35th Americas Cup event began to arrive in the city over recent days in readiness for the racing long weekend next week. On Twitter it has been hard to miss the photos from local people of the Land Rover BAR AC45F flying on training sails in the Solent. In recent days our local team has been joined by New Zealand and other teams out on the Solent, with the 45 foot long catamarans flying at speeds of 40 mph all just 50 metres offshore. Our historic dockyard home to the yachts from all corners of the Earth and our city home to the first stage of the cup. Now the stages and stands are being built, the flags are up and in a matter of days the racing will begin! Check below for the detail list of all the America’s Cup events happening in the city.

We’re happy to also announce that Strong Island Clothing Co will be at the America’s Cup race village, be sure to drop by and say hello and check out the huge new summer range of tees. More details on this soon.

Thursday 23rd July

The America’s Cup officially begins on Thursday 23rd July, with Southsea Common, Old Portsmouth and the Solent alive with activity all starting from 9am in the morning. You’ll be able to see the crew and craft prepare for the day’s racing in No. 1 Basin at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard in the morning before the race village on Southsea Common opens at 11am. The day’s events are as follows:

• – 9am to 11am: The race teams and boats get ready in the Naval Base – come and view in the Historic Dockyard
• – 10am: Race Village opens on Southsea Common and the day
• – 11am: The America’s Cup ‘trophy’ arrives in style
• – 11:15am to 12:30pm: Moth racing and kitesurfing displays
• – 12:30pm: The Official Parade of Sail leaves the Royal Navy base and escorts the race fleet out to the race course area in front of the race village on Southsea Common
• – 12:45pm to 2:30pm Official Parade of Sail and exhibition sailing by the race teams
• – 3pm: Skippers come ashore
• – 3:15pm: Official press conference & presentation of skippers in Fanzone Arena
• – 5pm: Day programme ends
• – 6:30pm: Evening programme opens
• – 7pm to 7:45pm: Official Opening Ceremony
• – 8pm – 10pm: South Coast Proms concert featuring The Massed Bands of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines

Friday 24th July

Friday sees streaks of colour on both the Solent and the skies above, with the day dedicated to speed. See below planned activities for the day and evening:

• – 9am to 11am: The race teams and boats get ready in the Naval Base – come and view in the Historic Dockyard
• – 10am: Race Village opens on Southsea Common and the day
• – 11am to 12pm: Moth racing and kitesurfing displays
• – 12:10pm to 12:30pm: Red Arrows Aerial Display
• – 12:30pm: The race boats leave the Royal Navy base and are escorted to the race course area in front of the race village on Southsea Common
• – 12:45pm to 1:20pm: Race boats tuning up before practice racing with live MC commentary
• – 1:30pm to 3pm: Practise starts and two practise races
• – 3:15pm: Skippers come ashore
• – 3:30pm: Media mixed zone with skippers in Fanzone Arena
• – 5pm: Day programme ends
• – 6:30pm: Evening programme opens
• – 7:15pm to 9:30pm: South Coast Proms concert featuring The Massed Bands of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines

Saturday 25th July

On Saturday sailing gets serious and points are won or lost with the full official racing of the 35th America’s Cup kicking off. The evening also sees Portsmouth Live! with music on the big stage down on Southsea Common:

• – 9am to 11am: The race teams and boats get ready in the Naval Base – come and view in the Historic Dockyard
• – 10am: Race Village opens on Southsea Common and the day
• – 10:30am: RNLI helicopter display
• – 11am – 1230: Moth racing and kitesurfing displays
• – 12pm: Red Bull Matador Aerial Display
• – 12:30pm: The race boats leave the Royal Navy base and are escorted to the race course area in front of the race village on Southsea Common
• – 12:45pm to 1:20pm: Race boats tuning up before racing with live MC commentary
• – 1:30pm to 3pm: Two offical America’s Cup World Series Races
• – 3:15pm: Skippers come ashore
• – 3:30pm: Skippers in media mixed zone in Fanzone Arena
• – 4pm: Blades Aerial Display
• – 5pm: Day programme end
• – 6pm: Evening programme open
• – 7pm – 11pm: Portsmouth Live! Saturday day concert featuring Spandau Ballet, WetWetWet, McBusted and Carly Rae Jepsen

Super Sunday 26th July

Sunday is guaranteed to be ‘super’ – a fantastic finale to the event where the overall winner will be decided through what is sure to be some nail biting racing. As ever a full programme on entertainment on shore and on water and then an amazing prizegiving gala event to end it all. The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge are set to join huge crowds on Sunday to view the racing play a key part in the finale prizegiving event too. See below planned activities for the day and evening: See below planned activities for the day and evening:

• – 9am to 11am: The race teams and boats get ready in the Naval Base – come and view in the Historic Dockyard
• – 10am: Race Village opens on Southsea Common
• – 10:30am: RNLI helicopter display
• – 11am to 12:30pm: Moth racing and kitesurfing displays
• – 12pm: Trig Aerial Display
• – 12:30pm: The race boats leave the Royal Navy base and are escorted to the race course area in front of the race village on Southsea Common
• – 12:45pm to 1:20pm: Race boats tuning up before racing with live MC commentary
• – 1:30pm to 3pm: Two offical America’s Cup World Series races
• – 3:15pm: Skippers come ashore
• – 3:30pm: Skippers in media mixed zone in Fanzone Arena
• – 4pm: All skippers and sailors to main stage in Waterfront Festival Arena
• – 4:15pm to 5pm: Gala prizegiving event in main stage in Waterfront Festival Arena
• – 6:30pm: Spitfire Aerial Display

These times are subject to change.

Tickets for the America’s Cup are still available HERE.

Waterfront Festival Arena – Free ticket required for day entry.
10am to 5pm Thursday/Friday/Saturday.
10am to 6pm Sunday.

Fanzone Arena – Paid ticket required for day entry.
10am to 6pm Thursday/Friday/Saturday.
10am to 6:30pm Sunday

Fanzone Arena tickets are on sale across all four days Thursday 23rd – Sunday, July 26, which will also give access to the Sunday prizegiving. All current Waterfront Festival Arena (free) ticket holders will also be able to watch the prize giving show.

Portsmouth Live! Music night – Paid ticket required for entry.