Bring it on, Portsmouth!

Land Rover BAR aboard HMS Victory © Harry KH / Land Rover BAR

The Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series returns to Portsmouth this weekend – the place where it all began a year ago with a resounding home town victory for Land Rover BAR. Ben Ainslie and his team will be aiming to repeat last year's performance and go into the final two events of the season (France in September and Japan in November) as Portsmouth winners and overall leaders.

The action kicks off on the 22nd July with practice racing, and runs through to Super Sunday on the 24th July. Land Rover BAR head into the event lying in second overall after a win at the 2016 season opener in Oman, and a strong second in Chicago a month ago. The team are just 10 points behind Emirates Team New Zealand, and level with Team Oracle USA, the defender of the 35th America's Cup.

The team will be supported on the water on Friday by HRH Prince Philip, in his role as Admiral of the Royal Yacht Squadron, the team's challenging yacht club. On Sunday, the Land Rover BAR crew will once again be cheered on by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; the Duchess continuing her long-term support for the team as Royal Patron of their official charity, the 1851 Trust.

This year the event will include a brand new Race Village, home of a special Kids Zone, Tech Zone and Team Zone with lots of interactive activities for all ages. The Land Rover BAR 'Tech Tent' will include features drawn from the team's Tech Deck and Education Centre to showcase some of the incredible technology from the team and partners.

The Tech Tent features will include Stable Flight – an interactive game using Oculus Goggles to create a virtual reality experience where users steer the boat and adjust the hydrofoils to get the fastest speed around two different courses. There's also Step On Board – a chance to experience the adrenaline rush of being a guest racer board 'T2' with an immersive 360 video experience.

Fans can also get their photo taken in the line-up with Ben and the Land Rover BAR sailing team, get a look at the brand new Land Rover BAR app, sign up for a Tech Deck and Education Centre visit, and personalise your very own team kit.

Official merchandise will also be available at the team's pop up shop at Hotwalls Studios, Portsmouth's brand new waterside retail venue, just a stone's throw from the team's base. You can also head down to Gunwharf Quays to take the drive of your life with Land Rover's 4x4 driving experience. Whilst you are waiting, step on board our test boat and try our 360 sailing experience.

Thoughts ahead of the racing

Ben Ainslie, Skipper and Team Principal: "The guys are really fired up for this event. It's the last time we get to race on home waters before next year's America's Cup so it's really important for us to put on a good show in front of our home crowd. Last year's Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series in Portsmouth was an incredible event.

"There were over 250,000 spectators over the long weekend and we were able to come out on top, which for us as the home team was an awesome result. As a new team we always want to put down that marker to show we can sail these boats well, and can perform at the top of this table. We really want to get some of those bonus points going into the America's Cup next year."

Paul 'CJ' Campbell-James, Wing Trimmer: "The highlight of last year was coming down the last reach here in Portsmouth, hearing the crowd cheering as we came into the finish. That is something we are all looking forward to this year, hoping we can get that many spectators out watching again, it was absolutely unbelievable."

David 'Freddie' Carr, Grinder: " We've been racing and sailing these boats for a year now and everybody is at the same world class level, always pushing so hard off the start line and into the first corner. I think the racing will be as close as we have ever seen it here in Portsmouth. I think Chicago was amazing but this is going to be another step on."

Matt 'Catflap' Cornwell, Grinder: "Portsmouth is like Bermuda in some ways in that you get a bit of whatever weather is rolling through, not so much a sea breeze venue but it is usually the gradient wind which makes the conditions. Whatever is coming through, we could easily have a lot of breeze, it could be very light – so we will see what we get."

Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Leaderboard after 6 events:

1. Emirates Team New Zealand, 295
2. Land Rover BAR, 285
3. ORACLE TEAM USA, 285
4. Artemis Racing, 262
5. SoftBank Team Japan, 259
6. Groupama Team France, 234

Land Rover BAR Portsmouth line up:

Ben Ainslie - Skipper and Team Principal
Paul Campbell-James - Wing Trimmer
David 'Freddie' Carr - Runner
Nick Hutton - Trimmer
Ed Powys - Bow
Matt Cornwell – Runner/ Bow
Jono Macbeth - Sailing Team Manager
Jo Lees - Boat Captain
Ian Pattison - Shore support
James Chapman – Rib driver and Shore support
Ian Boag - Shore support
Ben Williams - Lead Strength and Conditioning Coach / Safety support
Rob Wilson - Coach
Luc du Bois - Performance Analysis