Newport is a top contender to host the next America’s Cup in 2013 but must ensure that it can complete renovations on the fort that would serve as a village-type environment for the competitors, organisers said.

Tom Ehman, a board member of the Golden Gate Yacht Club, attended a meeting of the state’s Economic Development Corporation, where he said organisers were serious about working with Newport on their proposal. But he stressed that no final decision had been made, and while meeting later with reporters, declined to identify Newport as the front-runner.

Still, he struck an optimistic tone about the Ocean State’s prospects of winning back the world’s most prestigious sailing competition, which it hosted from 1930 to 1983. He said he appreciated the statewide enthusiasm for sailing and that hosting the event could bring an enormous economic impact to tiny Rhode Island, which has 11.6 percent unemployment.

Newport, about 48 kilometres (30 miles) south of state capital Providence, has been vying with San Francisco and other locations to host the 34th America’s Cup. A venue decision is expected by 31 December.

Software mogul Larry Ellison’s BMW Oracle Racing team won back the tropohy for the United States last February when they swept Alinghi of Switzerland off Valencia, Spain. The winning team historically gets to pick the venue.

San Francisco was announced in July as the only US city under consideration to host the cup. But Newport got another shot this month when San Francisco’s bid appeared to falter because of a contract deemed too financially risky for the America’s Cup Event Authority, which has been contracted by the GGYC to run the regatta.

San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors passed a revised host agreement last week, but the GGYC hasn’t accepted it.

Ehman said San Francisco’s proposal, as written, appeared to cost too much.