The local sailing community responded to unconfirmed reports that Bermuda will host the 35th America’s Cup with cautious optimism yesterday.

The Associated Press, citing an anonymous source with knowledge of the situation, broke the news that the Island has won the bid over San Diego, its rival challenger, to host the next instalment of the Auld Mug in 2017.

But rather than pop the champagne corks in celebration, some of local sailing’s most influential figures kept their feet planted firmly on the ground, choosing instead to wait until the America’s Cup Event Authority make an official announcement on the host venue on December 2.

Peter Shrubb, past commodore of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and America’s Cup umpire, said: “I’m not really in the know as much as other people, so I don’t know if it’s a legitimate article or not.

“The only thing that I know is that an announcement is to be made on December 2.

“I haven’t heard that there will be any advanced news released before the December 2 announcement because of this report that has been made.

“If it happens, it would be great for Bermuda. But let’s not pop the champagne just yet.”

Somers Kempe, the serving RBYC commodore, was equally as cautious to the AP report that has spread across the globe via the internet like wildfire.

“My gut feeling is that we have something to celebrate, but I’d rather wait until December 2,” Kempe said.

“People have obviously been talking about it, but an anonymous source is an anonymous source.”

Glenn Astwood, who was a member of Bermuda’s 1988 Olympic sailing team, also questioned the legitimacy of the AP report.

“I think that the article may be a bit premature and we do not know if it is legitimate or not,” Astwood said.

“The article is encouraging, but we do not know if it is legitimate or not.

“Russell Coutts [director of the America’s Cup Event Authority] has yet to make an official announcement. So I guess we’ll just have to wait for the official announcement to be made on December 2.”

Eugene “Penny” Simmons, the Bermuda Sports Hall of Fame sailor and eight-times International One Design world champion, added: “The report sounds fantastic and all that, but, as far as I’m concerned, we have got to wait for the official word.

“Everybody who has seen these articles is saying ‘wait a minute ... it’s not quite a done deal yet’.

“We hope it comes about. But until we hear it from Russell Coutts and the boys in the know, we can’t go singing our praises and jumping up and down yet.”

America’s Cup officials have scheduled a news conference in New York to announce the venue selection.

If successful in their bid to host the next America’s Cup, the oldest trophy in international sport, it will be the first time an American defender will hold the event outside the United States.

Dr Grant Gibbons, the Minister for Economic Development, is spearheading Bermuda’s bid.