With just a few days to go before the ‘regatta of the year’, PR2 Naples, starts on the glittering, picturesque Bay of Naples, the Official Race Village is taking shape at pace. A stroll down the tree-lined Via Francesco Caracciolo with its outstanding views across to the Italian islands of Procida and Ischia, with Capri in the far distance, shows just how much the City of Naples is committed to the America’s Cup.
It’s a hive of activity with scaffolding being erected on the beach for the massive LED broadcast screens and down the lungomare, the main stage that will be the epicentre of the regatta is rapidly taking shape. The Race Village opens every day at 11am (CEST) with the main presenters being on stage from 12pm (CEST) ahead of the sailing fly-bys that each team will conduct just off from the breakwater. It promises to be a daily spectacle with each team’s ‘battle song’ playing loud from the sound system – come and cheer your team loudly!
Racing starts at 2pm (CEST) with three races per day on race days (25-27 inclusive) and these will be broadcast on the big screens that are dotted around the Race Village and down the Via Francesco Caracciolo that will be fully pedestrianised for the duration of the regatta. Spectators may also wish to listen to the ‘America’s Cup Radio Station’ which brings the commentary even further to life – QR codes on all the totems will promote this exclusive service.
After racing, the dock-in show begins – hosted on the main stage by America’s Cup presenters Jesse Tuke and Rachele Vitello. It’s always a fun show as the duo welcome to the stage one sailor from each team – nine sailors in total – and every day, the sailors come with team merchandise to throw out to the crowd and are always happy to sign autographs and meet the fans. Not to be missed.
On the subject of merchandise, there will be two Official Merchandise stores in the Race Village and these are always popular with fans looking to stock-up on the latest team and event merch. These concessions get busy and there are crowd control measures in place so if you see a short line, be sure to jump in before it gets too busy at the peak times of the day!
Down on the beachfront, the Italian Sailing Federation will be present with the Foil Academy, the Para Sailing Academy, and its sailing school activities, offering a program dedicated to innovation, outreach, inclusion, and introduction to sailing. The Foil Academy will hold demonstrations featuring foiling boats, including the WASZP, Switch, Birdyfish, and WingFoil, alongside educational activities and STEM workshops focused on the physics of flight and the principles of hydrodynamic lift.
The Para Sailing Academy will offer on-water trials open to people with disabilities onboard Hansa 303 boats and with the support of federation instructors specialised in para sailing. This initiative is dedicated to inclusion and to providing an accessible and inclusive way to experience the sport of sailing.
A space will also be dedicated to the sailing school, featuring RS Feva boats, which will offer young children and school students their first direct experience with sailing, allowing them to take to the water. Rounding out the program will be 3D viewers and immersive virtual reality stations, open to everyone, offering the public an engaging experience and bringing people even closer to the world of sailing.
Out on the rocks that guard the city from the sea, viewing platforms are being erected whilst the structures for the multiple concessions and activations are being built down the Via Francesco Caracciolo leading down to the main stage. Take a stroll down the leafy promenade and you will find concessions such as Ferrarelle for the finest mineral waters, Kimbo for outstanding coffee and Caputo – the most renowned and internationally recognised Neapolitan flour producer – alongside delicious sweet offerings from Scaturchio and Pasticceria Pintauro.
The food court itself is well advanced with a selection of food concessions available at the west end of the Race Village where spectators can find a wider offer from a number of pedigree pizza stalls and shops selling local food ready to go; and there are stalls offering fried food, cured and raw meat, as well as local cheese and wine combinations.
Inspiring the next generation is something that the America’s Cup is committed to and with the European Week of Sport (EWOS) and its byline of #BeActive, the Race Village will host multiple activations for parties of schoolchildren in the NextGen27 and EWOS areas with advice and inspiration on healthy living and an active lifestyle. Furthermore, ministerial and government agency activations will be in place throughout the Race Village including Sport e Salute, the Coastguard and the Campania Region.
After racing, there will be DJs and live local music acts through to the Race Village closing times (see graphics) so fans can dance the evening away after a thrilling day of racing.
The Race Village is free-to-all and open on Thursday 24th September when the Official Practice Racing will be taking place ahead of the regatta starting on the 25th September at 2pm (CEST)
Naples. Be there.
