The AC45 catamaran flying above the water at speed in the Great Sound will be “a sight to behold”, according to Iain Percy, the multiple Olympic gold medallist and world champion.

It was announced yesterday that Bermuda will host an America’s Cup World Series event, featuring the AC45 catamaran, from October 16 to 18, 2015.

Percy, who is team manager of America’s Cup challenger Artemis Racing, said: “I think a world series event in Bermuda is really great and hopefully for the Island it’s a taster for the America’s Cup.

“The Great Sound is a perfect venue for these kind of boats and we are very excited about Bermuda and it’s going to be a great event.

“It’s a good time of the year, Bermuda is a great place to sail and hopefully this is a catalyst for getting more and more people out on the water.

“These events are short and sweet and people love them.”

The foiling version of the one-design AC45 is a smaller cousin to the AC72 used in the America’s Cup in San Francisco last year.

Powered by a highly efficient wing-sail, the catamaran lifts out of the water, riding on hydrofoils which reduce drag and increases speed.

“The America’s Cup boats and World Series boats are spectacular and the speed which they go and the closeness of the races are really a sight to behold,” said Percy, who competed in last month’s Argo Group Gold Cup in Bermuda.

“To be able to see these boats can open your eyes in the most stunning ways to what’s available within the sport.

“The boats are spectacular to watch and they excite people all around the world. I think it’s going to be an incredible boost to the sailing in Bermuda to see these boats in person.”

The America’s Cup World Series is the first stage of competition in the America’s Cup and begins next summer.

It runs for two seasons in 2015 and 2016 before the America’s Cup qualifiers, play-offs and finals to be held in 2017.

Featuring all of the America’s Cup teams, the circuit is an early opportunity to put points on the board that carry forward into the next stage of the competition.

Overall ranking position in the World Series determines the starting points score of the teams in the America’s Cup qualifiers in 2017.

Several more World Series events will be added to the calendar as hosting agreements are finalised and subject to the unanimous consent of the teams.

“As a team, we are hoping to host one as well in Sweden, so we are negotiating on that,” said Percy, who is from Southampton, England.

Bermuda and San Diego are the remaining candidates to host the 2017 America’s Cup.

The host venue is expected to be announced next month.