Kiwi sailors rub shoulders with celebrities during America's Cup

Oscar winning actor Michael Douglas was taken for a spin by Sir Russell Coutts on the opening day of the Louis Vuitton America's Cup racing in Bermuda last month. Photo/ACEA

Kiwi sailors have been rubbing shoulders with celebrities throughout the America's Cup campaign. Dean Barker even took Michael Douglas on a guided tour.

Singer Wyclef Jean and small-screen stars of the Real Housewives of Potomac have also visited Bermuda, which is hosting the biggest sailing event of the year.

However, it's unclear who will be in town ahead of this weekend's final between Team New Zealand and Oracle.

The first race kicks off Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, Barker took Douglas on a tour of SoftBank Team Japan's base just before the Cup kicked off.

"I had the nicest opportunity to visit the America's Cup base at the Dockyard and it is unbelievable what they've got going on here," the Wall Street actor told Bernews.com.

Barker, Team Japan's CEO and skipper, showed him the foiling technology that enables the boat to reach speeds of more than 80km/h.

"We're very lucky to have Michael say hello at the base after sailing today. Next step is to get him on the water."

Meanwhile, Sir Russell Coutts, who is the America's Cup Event Authority CEO, also appears to be on good terms with Douglas after taking him out on a powerful chase boat during the opening day of racing, Forbes.com reported.

"This America's Cup is the most important, most extravagant, and greatest event that has ever been in Bermuda in my lifetime," Douglas said.

"Having a chance to be that close and personal with the boats was a real treat."

Douglas also told Forbes.com he's working on the sequel to 1990 cult movie Flatliners with Kiefer Sutherland.

TV chat show host Chelsea Handler is also in Bermuda and says she's into the America's Cup and the combatants "big time".

"They all can sail, I love being on the water this is a total match for me," she said.

"I can't sail myself but I want someone to sail for me and I also like the way they all look."

The stars of the American TV show The Real Housewives of Potomac also visited SoftBank Team Japan's base.

The show's most recent episode was entitled Welcome to the Bermuda Triangle and featured the cast venturing from Maryland to Bermuda on a holiday, the Royalgazette.com reported.

Several of the women also took a ride on the SoftBank Team Japan boat, and others went jetskiing.