A self-confessed landlubber, even Premier Michael Dunkley can’t help but be excited by the fact that Bermuda could host the America’s Cup.

And with each passing day Mr Dunkley becomes more and more convinced the Island is the best place to host the 2017 contest.

“Nobody would have believed we would have got this far, and I am convinced Bermuda is the best place,” he said.

With the days slowly ebbing away before a final decision is made between Bermuda and San Diego, Mr Dunkley said he could feel the excitement on the Island building.

The entry deadline for teams has come and gone, and while there has been no official word from organisers, challengers from New Zealand, Sweden, France, Italy and the UK, each paying a $1 million fee, are understood to have signed up to take on Oracle Team USA.

“There is a lot of excitement in the community — I’m not even a sailor and I’m excited,” Mr Dunkley said.

The potential boost to the Island’s economy that hosting the event would bring is hard to calculate, but the Premier said that wherever he goes he gets questions from people about the possible financial windfall it would bring.

“People are trying to temper their enthusiasm because they don’t want to be disappointed,” he said. “The excitement will rapidly build — as I circulate and talk about the America’s Cup, I get many questions asked. There is a lot of excitement out there.”

All the benefits that hosting the event would bring makes tempering expectations difficult, especially as Mr Dunkley has been able to witness first hand how impressed the Oracle team have been with Bermuda as a location.

“We have people coming to the Island looking at what we have to offer, and teams are continuing to pay attention [to us],” he said.

With San Francisco setting a high bar as hosts last year, both Bermuda and San Diego have a lot to live up to. “Bermuda would certainly take that up another level, and we would be delighted to work with them [Oracle] to make that happen,” said Mr Dunkley.

In line with bid leader, Education and Economic Development Minister Grant Gibbons, Mr Dunkley said that work would need to be done around the Island, especially in Dockyard and Hamilton Harbour, to be ready to host the races.

“We would be able to get everything done in time, I’ve no doubt about that,” Mr Dunkley said. “It’s just some changes in infrastructure that would be required.”

While Government kept its cards close to its chest in the initial stages, the Premier has promised to be much more open about an event he said will benefit the Island as a whole, and needs the whole the community to buy into.

“As we go through this process, we will be very open with the public to let them know what has to be done so we can get the buy in, and support, as we go forward, because this is a community initiative that benefits all of us,” he said.

Even if the Island ultimately does finish as a runner-up to San Diego, who have hosted the race three times previously, in 1988, 1992 and 1995, doing so would automatically land Bermuda some preliminary races. On their own these would be a valuable money-spinner, but Mr Dunkley isn’t interested in second place.

“Our intention and goal is focused on being successful overall,” he said.

The America’s Cup is one of the oldest trophies in international sport and attracts high-spending crews and spectators wherever it is held.