Naples is counting down the days to PR2, and along the Bay of Naples the transformation is impossible to miss. With racing just days away, the Official Race Village is taking shape at pace along the tree-lined Via Francesco Caracciolo.
Scaffolding is going up on the beach for the massive LED broadcast screens. Down the lungomare, the main stage, the heart of the regatta, is rapidly coming together.
The Race Village will open daily at 11am (CEST), with presenters taking the stage from midday ahead of each team's sailing fly-by off the breakwater. Each team's "battle song" will blast from the sound system as they pass, and organisers are encouraging fans to turn up and cheer loudly.
Racing gets underway at 2pm (CEST), with three races scheduled on each race day, 25 to 27 September inclusive. These will be shown on big screens scattered through the Race Village and along Via Francesco Caracciolo, which will be fully pedestrianised for the duration of the event. Spectators keen for more detail can tune into the America's Cup Radio Station, accessible via QR codes on totems throughout the site.
Once racing wraps up, the dock-in show takes over the main stage, hosted by America's Cup presenters Jesse Tuke and Rachele Vitello. One sailor from each of the nine teams joins them, usually bearing merchandise to toss to the crowd, and there's always time for autographs and meeting fans.
Merchandise hunters have two official stores to choose from within the Race Village. These get busy fast, and crowd control measures are already planned, so anyone spotting a short queue would do well to jump in before the rush.
Down on the beachfront, the Italian Sailing Federation is running a full programme built around innovation, outreach, inclusion, and introducing people to sailing. The Foil Academy will run demonstrations on foiling craft including the WASZP, Switch, Birdyfish and WingFoil, paired with educational activities and STEM workshops exploring the physics of flight and the principles of hydrodynamic lift.
The Para Sailing Academy will offer on-water trials for people with disabilities aboard Hansa 303 boats, supported by federation instructors specialised in para sailing. The programme aims to give people an accessible and inclusive way to experience the sport.
There's also a dedicated space for the sailing school, using RS Feva boats to give young children and school students their first direct experience of sailing on the water. Rounding things out are 3D viewers and immersive virtual reality stations open to everyone, designed to bring the public closer to the world of sailing.
Out on the rocks shielding the city from the sea, viewing platforms are being erected. Further along, the structures for concessions and activations are rising steadily down Via Francesco Caracciolo toward the main stage.
Walking the promenade turns up some recognisable Italian names. Ferrarelle for mineral water, Kimbo for coffee, and Caputo, the internationally renowned Neapolitan flour producer, all have a presence, alongside sweet treats from Scaturchio and Pasticceria Pintauro.
The food court at the western end of the Race Village is well advanced. Expect pedigree pizza stalls, ready-to-go local food, fried food, cured and raw meats, and local cheese and wine combinations.
The America's Cup has made a point of engaging younger audiences at this event. Working with the European Week of Sport and its #BeActive campaign, the Race Village will run activations for schoolchildren through the NextGen27 and EWOS areas, offering advice and inspiration on healthy living and an active lifestyle. Ministerial and government agency partners including Sport e Salute, the Coastguard and the Campania Region will also have a presence throughout.
After racing each day, DJs and live local music acts will keep the Race Village going until closing time, giving fans somewhere to dance the evening away after a thrilling day of racing.
Entry to the Race Village is free. It opens on Thursday 24 September for Official Practice Racing, ahead of the regatta proper starting on 25 September at 2pm (CEST).
