The Swedish port of Gothenburg on Wednesday announced it will be staging 2017 America’s Cup qualifying races next year.
Gothenburg’s inclusion in the AmCup World Series comes 24 hours after the English south coast city of Portsmouth announced they would be staging two of the warm up races for yachting’s most prestigious prize.
Gothenburg, home to Swedish America’s Cup team Artemis Racing, plays host to a warm-up for a competition first staged in 1851 on the weekend of August 28-30.
Iain Percy, Artemis Racing’s team manager, said: “It’s super exciting to announce that the America’s Cup World Series is coming to Sweden next year.
“It will provide a great opportunity for Artemis Racing to showcase our sport and our America’s Cup program.”
Fredrik Loof, a three time Olympic medallist and tactician for Artemis Racing, added: “There is an incredible momentum within the group right now, and we hope that the Swedish public will be out in force to cheers us on.
“We’re really looking forward to showing them what we can do next August.”
The overall ranking position in the America’s Cup World Series will determine the starting points score of the teams in the America’s Cup Qualifiers in 2017.
For the 35th AmCup, teams will be sailing newly designed AC45 catamarans, described by British sailing great Ben Aislie, who is heading the British team, as “faster and even more exciting than the previous generation”.
Racing in Gothenburg will take place either on the Gota River close to the city centre, or at Langedrag, and the race village will be located in Frihamnen.
The last edition of yachting’s blue riband in 2013 produced a remarkable comeback from US holders Oracle, who were trailing 8-1 behind New Zealand before prevailing 9-8.