Naval commander speaks of cup delight

Sailing teams are keeping their boats at the base’s new jetty, which will be used to support the navy’s new state-of-the-art carriers once they arrive in the city.

The navy is also providing on-water marshals and the Royal Marines are providing the landing craft for the America’s Cup trophy to be transported on.

Speaking to The News, Commodore Jeremy Rigby said: ‘It was made very clear to us when it was first mooted that the America’s Cup World Series would come to Portsmouth, that the only way it would succeed was if we could make the naval base available for visiting teams.

‘It’s absolutely clear that this event is a good thing for the UK, as a maritime nation, and a good thing for Portsmouth.’

Cdr Rigby says yesterday’s skippers’ press conference is also proof that this year’s World Series will be a greater success than the 2015 regatta.

He said: ‘We can see already that it is going to be better.

‘People are now more understanding of the event, what is being talked about, the hits on the Queen’s Harbour Master webpage have been significant.

‘It’s going to be a really positive couple of days for Portsmouth, as well as for the south coast and the UK. The sea is in our veins, we are the home of the Royal Navy.’