What a day! The 35th America’s Cup kicked off in Bermuda in spectacular fashion with a truly Bermudaful day on, and off the water at the America’s Cup Village today (Friday May 27th).

As soon as the ribbon was cut to the America’s Cup Village, with a helping hand from 12-year-old America’s Cup Endeavour graduate Ocean Archeveal, thousands of excited spectators poured into the site as the anticipation and wait for the 35th America’s Cup was finally over.
 

© Ricardo Pinto
 

© Ricardo Pinto

Among the spectators was Oscar-winning Hollywood royalty and Bermudian Michael Douglas who was on hand to take part in the official Roof Wetting Ceremony in Club AC, the America’s Cup’s premium hospitality. Then, he and three-time Grammy Award winning entertainer Wyclef Jean took to the water ahead of an action-packed first day of racing on the Great Sound with the first six races of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers.
 

© Ricardo Pinto

Back on land, Wyclef Jean had the packed America’s Cup Village up on their feet as he got the party started with a high-energy performance on the Main Stage.

As the sun went down over the Great Sound, the crowd were treated to an incredible Opening Ceremony that was ushered in by Grant Gibbons, Bermuda’s Minister of Economic Development, and Bermuda’s Premier Michael Dunkley, who gifted ORACLE TEAM USA Founder Larry Ellison a portrait of Dockyard as a memento of the 35th America’s Cup in Bermuda.
 

© Ricardo Pinto

Then it was time for Bermudian musical legend Gene Steed to take to the stage to really kick off proceedings.

He was joined by the band of the Royal Bermuda Regiment, H&H Gombeys and Gombey Evolution, Live Wires and the cast of “Proud to be Bermudian”, with their vibrant colour, sound and spectacle helping to give a reflection of a truly Bermudian celebration in the home of the 35th America’s Cup.

The six America’s Cup teams were then introduced to the crowds before the America’s Cup itself appeared on the stage, to a backdrop of a spectacular fireworks display in the skies over the America’s Cup Village, bringing to close a truly spectacular first day of the 35th America’s Cup
 

© Ricardo Pinto
 

© Ricardo Pinto
 

© Ricardo Pinto

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