Peter Shrubb, the rear commodore of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, will be among the team of umpires at the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Bermuda.

The ISAF-certified umpire/judge will serve as an umpire’s assistant in and around the Great Sound over the next two days.

“There are a group of five or six umpires that are doing all of the World Series events and then the America’s Cup,” he said.

“One of those members was unable to come to Bermuda this weekend so I’m filling in as an assistant to the umpires team.

“I will be on the water on one of the umpire boats assisting the umpire to make sure he can focus on his job properly and keep him out of trouble in terms of traffic on the water.”

The event will be the first time that Shrubb has been involved at this level since he officiated at the 2007 America’s Cup in Valencia when Alinghi, the Swiss defender, were the holders of the prestigious “Auld Mug”.

Much has changed since Alinghi’s successful defence of the oldest trophy in international sport against Team New Zealand, the challenger, at the 32nd America’s Cup.

“The difference today is probably about 40 miles per hour for starters,” Shrubb said.

“The boats in Valencia were monohulls and didn’t go anywhere near the speeds these AC45 catamarans go.

“You have to be more alert in your surroundings and keep and eye on what’s going on all around.

“In terms of the umpiring, we still apply the rules as you do at any other sailing event only slightly differently.

“We have what we call the booth where two umpires watch the boats’ positioning through GPS tracking.

“They see one side of the coin and then we on the water see of other things that they may miss.”

Shrubb, who heads up a local committee in charge of all international regattas, was last week appointed as chief umpire of medal racing at next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro — his second straight Olympic assignment having officiated at the 2012 London Games.