Bermuda could be in line to host a further World Series event in 2016 in the run-up to the America’s Cup, it was announced yesterday.

The Island is already scheduled to host a World Series Event next October, when teams will be based in Hamilton and do battle on the Great Sound.

But Sir Russell Coutts, director of the America’s Cup Event Authority (ACEA), hinted that a further World Series event may be held in Bermuda in 2016.

“We are still going through the course options,” Sir Russell told The Royal Gazette. “But it looks like the racing will all be taking place in the Great Sound.

“I think that is the way that the teams would want it, too. The boats are just too fast for racing within Hamilton Harbour.

“For the 2015 World Series, the teams, the boats and the teams’ village will be based in Hamilton. Whereas for the America’s Cup in 2017, the village will be up in Dockyard.”

Sir Russell spoke at an informal press conference yesterday.

Joining him was General Harvey Schiller, who serves as commercial commissioner for the ACEA, and they outlined a series of community initiatives that will be rolled out in Bermuda to help schoolchildren.

They said the programme had already proved a success in other cities that had hosted the America’s Cup and they looked forward to bringing it to Bermuda.

Sir Russell said giving the students a close-up view of what is going on is a priority for the ACEA.

“Thousands of children have taken advantage of the outreach and community schemes run by the America’s Cup,” he said.

“We have offered nine different courses previously in subjects ranging from physical fitness to maths, right through to a little bit of engineering.

“The children look at how the boats are built and it has proved very successful in the past. It’s about adding to the curriculum but also giving the children real-life experience of the processes involved.

“We are pretty excited about the work we can help with in Bermuda; it will be a major focus for us.”

Gen Schiller added: “There is a whole range of programmes and we have had a history of integration in the school system.

“We want this to happen in Bermuda and we want everyone in Bermuda to be part of this America’s Cup experience and get something out of it.

“One of the most important things about any major sporting event is the ‘leave-behind’ and how we have left the community.

“It’s not just about the sailing; we want to have added something to the education system and the structure of the country for every member of the community.

“Every Bermudian has an opportunity to be involved and we want that to happen.”