Smaller Than Expected Field To Compete In SF America's Cup

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— America's Cup organizers released the names Thursday of the teams that will participate in the 2013 race on San Francisco Bay. It turns out to be a much smaller group than expected.

Race organizers said whether it's 11 teams, as predicted or five, as is now, the reality is that the cup will still present an awesome show for the Bay Area.

Sweden, Italy, New Zealand and Korea will compete against the Cup's defending team — Oracle Team USA. But neither France, the United Kingdom, nor China will be here.

America's Cup CEO Stephen Barclay said it's all about the money.

KCBS' Jeffrey Schaub Reports:

"Without a doubt the economic climate is pretty challenging. That's probably one of the main reasons that there are four challengers and not 11," Barclay said.

This year a week of world-series sailing events will take place in August and another in October on the same waterfront. The events will be previews for what lies ahead next summer. In 2013, hundreds of thousands of people are expected to line San Francisco's waterfront to watch the prestigious yachting race. That race begins July 4, 2013 and should last five weeks.

No previous cup race has offered a close up shoreline view like the city by the bay. America's Cup is the oldest continuous sporting competition in the world.

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