America's Cup races coming to New York Harbor

Jersey City will have a front row seat for America's Cup racing when the sport returns to New York Harbor for the first time in nearly 100 years.

The international races, pitting catamarans traveling at 40 miles an hour, will be held on May 7 and 8 as part of the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series, America's Cup officials announced.

The weekend of racing will be headquartered at Battery Park City and the Brookfield Place Waterfront Plaza in Lower Manhattan, with all races finishing just off the plaza. The race was last held in this area in 1920.

Thousands of spectators are expected to watch the race, either on land along the pier or from hundreds of spectator boats on the water near the race course, officials said.