America’s Cup to make early appearance at NYC Sailor's Ball this Friday

As excitement begins to build around the 2016 America's Cup races coming to New York City next weekend, grab an early chance to snap a selfie with the actual Cup while enjoying an open bar and rubbing elbows with America's Cup sailors and New York sailing enthusiasts.

RECOMMENDED: Guide to the America's Cup in NYC

This Friday night (April 29), a week ahead of the America's Cup races, the nonprofit NY Harbor Sailing Foundation is holding their annual black tie gala to celebrate sailing in NYC, while also raising money for a kids program aimed at teaching New York kids how to sail. No word on whether Sir Ben Ainslie will be in attendance, but there will be unnamed America's Cup sailors in attendance.

The America's Cup races will be held on the Hudson the following weekend of May 7-8, and crowds are sure to be dense between Battery Park and Brookfield Place. This is the first time the America's Cup races have been in NYC since 1920, and the excitement in the sailing community and even Gothamite landlubbers is on the rise.

So if you just can't wait the week (and like a good open bar), don't miss out on this opportunity to party while raising money for a cause.