The first phase of construction of Oracle Team USA’s base at Royal Naval Dockyard has been completed.

Construction workers have poured the concrete slab that will support the boat shed where Oracle’s 62ft and 45ft catamarans will be housed when they arrive on the Island.

Oracle officials remain optimistic that the project will be completed on time and plan to be operating from their Bermuda base “in about six weeks”.

Jimmy Spithill, the Oracle skipper, said: “We’re looking at the beginning of May for sailing in Bermuda.

“It’s really important to get the base up and running by then, and I’m sure the guys in Bermuda are working as hard as they can to make that happen for us.

“From our side, all of the guys are really looking forward to getting over there and getting set up with their families in our new home.

“It’s an exciting time.”

Oracle’s base, which was approved by the Development Applications Board this month, will take up about 7.2 acres on the northern side of the South Basin dock at Dockyard.

Included on the site will be four new buildings to house boats and sails, two tents, seven containers, a 160ft crane, an ancillary building to house fibre-optic infrastructure and two floating docks.

An existing structure on the property will be adapted into shower and toilet facilities.

Oracle is the defender of the 35th America’s Cup, which Bermuda will host in June 2017.

The Island will also host a World Series event featuring modified wing-sail AC45 catamarans from October 16 to 18.

All racing will take place in the Great Sound.