Two Olympic sailors who arrived yesterday as part of the Newport Bermuda Race have offered their support for Bermuda’s bid to host the America’s Cup.

Brother and sister Laurie and Silja Lehtinen had only been on the Island a short while, but were supportive of Bermuda as a venue for the final rounds of the 2017 regatta.

Silja, a world champion and bronze medallist in the women’s Elliot 6m class at the 2012 London Olympics, said: “We’ve just arrived, but what we’ve seen has looked great. We’re hearing only good things about Bermuda anyway, so it seems like it would be the perfect place.”

Her brother, Laurie, who skippered Finland into tenth place in the Men’s 49er Class at the 2012 Olympics, asked: “Why not?”

“I’ve been here for 12 hours, but so far it looks good. It’s warmer here [than in San Diego] so I’d choose Bermuda,” he said.

Other sailors in the Newport Bermuda Race expressed unequivocal support for the Island winning the chance to host over San Diego and Chicago, but others said they were a bit perplexed at why a venue outside of the United States was being considered.

Strolling the docks of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club yesterday, sailors paused to give their thoughts to The Royal Gazette on Bermuda’s bid. While most agreed the potential sight of the 72-foot catamarans cutting through the Island’s turquoise waters would certainly be one to behold, others scratched their heads over why Bermuda was being considered when Oracle Team USA has the chance to host the regatta in hometown waters.

“I think it’s interesting. It’s not America, which makes it interesting. That’s sort of the biggest thing,” said Dirk Johnson, who arrived yesterday aboard Carina. “If the Americans are hosting it, why isn’t in America? I understand they are trying to figure something out with European TV, trying to broadcast it live. I think that’s why the location is so ideal, but I don’t exactly know where they’re going to race. Is the harbour big enough? I think it’s a really good idea broadcasting it on live TV for the Europeans, but I’m a little on the fence about it not being in America.”

However, Sam Cargill aboard Matador said Bermuda would make the perfect venue for the event.

“[Bermuda] would be absolutely the best place for it. It’s a centre for racing and you’ve got a long history of great [sailing] talent coming out of Bermuda. Many [Bermudians] have been associated with this race for many, many years, so it would be a wonderful place for it. I can’t imagine a better host country. It doesn’t need to be in the bay area any more and it’s more of an international race anyhow, so it should probably be [held in] some place like Bermuda.”

Aboard Avra, Leo Vasiliev, opined that by hosting the event in a destination like Bermuda organisers could be narrowing down the scope of who could afford to come and watch the race.

“It’s a great venue, absolutely,” said Mr Vasiliev. “It may make the event a little more exclusive though, in terms of travel and places to stay and airfare. We pulled in yesterday and there were no rooms at the Hamilton Princess.

“You do host the Gold Cup and this is obviously Bermuda’s big event, the Newport Bermuda race. I think you’d have a good handle on it.”

Meanwhile, Scott Miller aboard Resolute, said: “I do think it would make a good venue. Winds are good here, and it’s a great sort of spectator venue to come to, a great destination, so I think it would be fantastic.”

One Chicagoan, however, would not be drawn into offering his support. Asked what Chicago can offer that Bermuda can’t, Jarrett Altmin responded: “Pizza? I’m kidding. Nothing, other than the fact that it’s in the US and it’s called the Americas Cup. So that doesn’t hurt. It’s a huge media market too. But I’m obviously biased, we’d love to see them in Chicago.”