Boaters are encouraged to come out in force and show the Island in its best light during next month’s sailing races.

The Louis Vuitton America’s World Cup Series is taking place between October 16 and 18.

The more boats and the bigger the spectacle the better, according to America’s Cup chairman of water operations, Ralph Richardson, although he added that safety would be paramount.

The best place to view the racing will be outside Two Rock Passage, Hawkin’s Island and Spanish Point.

Spectators on the water will have the opportunity to line up along the edge of the racecourse but must not enter it under any circumstances.

The area is to be patrolled by the Bermuda Police Service, the Royal Bermuda Regiment and marshal boats.

All boaters are required to tune their marine radios to channel 72, which will broadcast announcements related to safety and other matters connected to the racing.

“Providing the winds are right there will be two great places to watch from — one is around the racecourse itself but then, for the second race each day, there will be a finish in Hamilton,” Mr Richardson said. “The first race in the morning is going to finish just outside of Two Rock Passage, then the racecourse gets extended all the way into Hamilton, which means it is bound by the same rules as the racecourse itself, which is strictly going to be enforced.

“From Friday afternoon at noon, all of Hamilton Harbour inside Two Rock Passage is going to have a five-knot no-wake zone, meaning you have to travel slowly.

“It creates a little bit of an issue for those who want to see the finish in Hamilton in the afternoon — if they stay too long they won’t be able to nip in. We recommend that after the first race, there is a brief period of 20 minutes when people can leave their position and make their way slowly into Hamilton.”

Registration is required to secure a spectator spot on the water and any craft smaller than 50 feet can do so for free.

So far, 500 boats have registered and it is hoped if enough people come out then Bermuda could beat the 2,200 boats Portsmouth attracted during its races.

Adam Barboza, the project manager for America’s Cup Bermuda, said: “We want to make sure people have a great experience but also be safe.

“The America’s Cup catamarans do 35 to 40 miles per hour and they are sailboats so there is no reverse — they can’t just stop.

“The other key things beside the wake is that we want to encourage people to anchor outside of the racecourse area rather than try to follow them up and down the course. The best option is to find a spot and anchor.

“We want everyone to register so we have a handle of how many boats will turn up — we need to know how many course marshals we need. They are there to usher people into a spot and to ensure that one, they are safe, and two, that the racecourse is safe for the racers.

“There will be a simulcast broadcast of the coverage on FM radio through Bermuda Broadcasting so people can [listen] from home as well.”

Spectators on land can watch the races from the fan zone at number one car park, where there will be activities, big screen TVs, and onshore commentators.

Mr Richardson said: “Very few people who come out that day will have seen anything like it before — the America’s Cup has become an extreme sport that has broader interest even for those who have never sailed before.”

On the race days — October 17 and 18 — the first races start at 2pm and the second races at 2.55pm, for a 3.20pm finish.

• To register your boat, visit www.islandtourcentre.com. Spaces on vessels taking out members of the public can also be booked through the organisation.