Pictures: Behind the scenes of the America's Cup World Series

Who's your dream skipper? YBW asks some of the thousands of racing fans at the America's Cup World Series in Portsmouth to pick their favourite. Are you in the pictures?

There was a carnival atmosphere, as tens of thousands of fans gathered at Southsea Common in Portsmouth to watch the America’s Cup World Series racing on 23-24 July 2016.

As expected, there were plenty of Land Rover BAR supporters.

Watch highlights of the two days of racing

Many were wearing the team’s official T-shirt and hat, while others waved flags to show their support for the British challengers.

Crowds at America's Cup World Series Portsmouth 2016

The crowd cheer on the teams

But amongst those cheering for Sir Ben Ainslie and his crew, there were plenty of fans backing the defender of the America’s Cup, Oracle Team USA, and the other challengers, Artemis Racing, Groupama Team France, Emirates Team New Zealand and Softbank Team Japan.

Naturally, the racing on The Solent was the main focus, with the crowds filling the seafront.

Some staked their spot minutes after the gates opened, setting up chairs and putting up flags to show their allegiance ahead of the racing action.

As the crews came ashore ahead of racing, fans lined the route to the main stage in the Race Village to get an autograph or take a selfie with their sailing hero.

Franck Cammas at Americas Cup World series portsmouth 2016

Fans cheer as the skipper of Groupama Team France, Franck Cammas comes ashore

Royal guests, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also got a rapturous welcome, when they appeared on stage on Sunday afternoon to present the prizes.

Earlier in the day, the Prince William and Kate Middleton toured the Land Rover BAR base before taking a seat on board the team’s support boat to watch the racing from the water.

They, along with Sir Ben Ainslie, walked around the Race Village ahead of the awards presentation, much to the delight of the crowds.

We spoke to some of the racing fans, and asked them which famous sailor, dead or alive, they would pick to skipper their dream America’s Cup boat.

Who would skipper your dream America’s Cup boat?

Claire and Dave, Leeds, sail a Starlight 39

Dream skipper:

Dave: Sir Peter Blake

Claire: Sir Frances Chichester

Irene, Gosport, used to sail a clipper ketch

Dream skipper: Sir Russell Coutts

Thomas, Toulouse, France, sails a Beneteau First 31.7

Dream skipper: Tom Slingsby

Kath, Chester, sails a K6

Dream skipper: HRH Duke of Edinburgh

Miles, 13, Hampshire, has returned to England after living aboard on an Endurance 37 for the last seven years.

Dream skipper: Louis Sinclair

Geoff and June, Wiltshire, used to sail a 50-foot ketch

Dream skipper: Sir Thomas Lipton because with the modern technology available now he might have a better shot at winning the America’s Cup for Britain.