America’s Cup to race on Lake Michigan

For the first time in America’s Cup history, sailors will race on freshwater as part of the qualifying event, the Louis Vuitton World Series.

The America’s Cup will race in Bermuda in 2017. The Chicago races will take place in Navy Pier next summer from June 10-12, allowing the the high-performance 45-foot foiling catamarans to race by at more than 40 mph close to shore. Navy Pier is also celebrating its centennial in 2016.

Oracle Team USA is the defending America’s Cup champion. Team principal Larry Ellison grew up in Chicago and studied at the University of Illinois and the University of Chicago. Team member Matt Cassidy lived there for five years before relocating to Bermuda this spring.

Click for more information about the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Chicago event.