The race course layout for the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series in Portsmouth will feature:
- a mid-course reaching start, about 250 meters long
- a short downwind leg – about 750 meters long
- upwind and dowwind legs of about 1,500 meters each
- a reach of about 250 meters, to the finish line close to shore
This will give a total length of about 4,250 meters or 2.3 nautical miles.
The course may be lengthened by adding another upwind and downwind lap, which would make the total length about 3.9 nautical miles.
The video below explains how the boats sail this course, and tactics at the roundings. Note that anchored buoys will be used for the marks rather than movable boats.
NOTE: The diagram above shows the course for a southwesterly wind. The orientation will be different for other wind directions. The Race Committee will try to set up the finish line close to the VIP viewing area on shore.
Video: How They Sail the Course – What Happens at Each Mark (9:06)
The course will be a variation of the layout shown in this video. The marks are likely to be soft buoys rather than boats.