Portsmouth: Impressive spectator figures for the first year of the America's Cup

Sailing fans from the Solent, the UK and around the world travelled to Portsmouth at the end of July to enjoy the high-octane America's Cup action. The Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series boasted impressive attendance, attracting close to 250,000 visitors to the city over the four days.

The event, which was the first America's Cup to be held in the Solent since the historic first race back in 1851, attracted over 25,000 spectators on the water alone, and close to 110,000 within the Southsea common site.

There was also huge support from the event village, which included a free waterfront festival arena packed with family attractions and a fanzone arena with live stage appearances from sailing stars, plus some spectacular aerial displays from acrobatic stunt teams.

British fans came out in huge numbers to support home team Land Rover BAR as they made a winning start to their 35th America's Cup journey. Sir Ben Ainslie, team principle and skipper, Land Rover BAR, said: "In my sailing career, I've never seen anything like it. The amount of people that came out on the water, on the shore line, supporting the event and supporting us as a home team.  All of us as a team were completely blown away."

Sir Keith Mills, chairman of the Series, said: "On behalf of the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series, Portsmouth, we would like to thank all the spectators that came from around the world to be part of this iconic sailing event. Despite the weather, the event delivered, and the Saturday was a particular highlight. The America's Cup teams delivered spectacular racing on the water, and home team Land Rover BAR's winning the event making it extra special."

Sir Keith added: "In addition to the amazing atmosphere created by the spectators, the feedback from our corporate partners and the media in attendance has been very positive – and this is despite losing an event day due to the extreme weather on the Sunday.

"We will be providing a full event economic and media impact report to highlight the benefits of the event to the Portsmouth area, and the initial results are hugely positive reading. We are now straight into planning mode for next year's event, scheduled to be held between July 21-24, and there is little doubt that the America's Cup is now a must-attend race on the British sporting calendar."

Despite the weather on Sunday July 26, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge braved the elements, meeting the contestants and presenting the prizes to the competing teams.

Earlier in the day, the royal couple showed their support for the event and the British America's Cup team when they met youngsters from the 1851 Trust, the official charity of Land Rover BAR and the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series, Portsmouth event, which seeks to inspire and engage a new generation through sailing and the marine industry.