Brits getting ahead of themselves with plans for an America's Cup centre

With the 2017 America's Cup still more than a year away, the Brits are already planning what to do if they win it – and return the historic trophy to the country where it was made.

The News Portsmouth. By Miles O'Leary,

The man in charge of the Portsmouth’s sailing spectacle has announced a bold bid to provide a permanent ‘world-class’ event sports base to serve as the UK’s official home for the historic competition.

The lucrative move has been proposed by Sir Keith Mills as his Team Origin events team begin talks with the city council to hold more World Series-style qualifiers in the city after the finals of the competition in 2017 in Bermuda.

‘If we win the America’s Cup, we need a permanent home. So we have been working with the council, looking at different options. We have a permanent base for Sir Ben Ainslie’s team, but we need a permanent base for the event,’ Sir Keith told The News.

The News can reveal ‘several’ sites across Old Portsmouth, Southsea and Gosport are being considered to create the ‘super facility’, where competitors would be based.

Stadium-style seating could also be built into the attraction overlooking sailing action across the Solent and activities around the theme of the America’s Cup would be laid on for visitors during future World Series events. That would include the next America’s Cup final should Sir Ben Ainslie’s British side win next year as choose Portsmouth to host the event.