Americas Cup Valencia
The America's Cup is the most prestigious regatta in the sport of sailing, and
the oldest active trophy in international sport, predating the FA Cup by two
decades and the by 45 years. The sport attracts top sailors and yacht designers
because of its long history and prestige as the "Holy Grail" of yachting.
Officially known as the oldest trophy in sport the America's Cup actually
outdates the modern Olympic games. The trophy itself was originally known as the
100 Guineas Cup. The race was held for the first time around the Isle of Wight
and was known as the Royal Victoria Yacht Club regatta. The very first winner of
the original race was a boat crewed by the New York Yacht Club called "America"
and as an ode the trophy has been known as the America's Cup. Later, as a
declaration of friendly competitive spirit, the trophy was given to the New York
Yacht Club as a gesture of goodwill by way of a "Deed of Gift". In this way, the
race became a perpetual challenge cup. Herein lies the noble tradition of the
America's Cup. Challengers are invited to compete for the cup.
The America's Cup regatta is a challenge-driven yacht series that currently
involves a best-of-nine series of match racing (a duel between two boats). Since
the 1992 match, the regatta has been sailed with the International America's Cup
Class (IACC) sloop, a monohull boat that has an average length of about 75 feet
( 23 m ). Any challenger who meets the requirements specified in the Deed of
Gift, which governs the regatta, has the right to challenge the yacht club that
holds the Cup.
Since 1983,Louis Vuitton has sponsored the Louis Vuitton Cup as a prize for the
winner of the challenger selection series (which was inaugurated for the 1970
match).
The America 's Cup is a race between the winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup and the
current holder. If the challenging team wins the cup, the cup's ownership is
transferred from the defender's yacht club to the winning team's yacht club.
In the Port of Valencia the America's Cup village includes upto 12 team bases
and a superyacht pier which stretches 250m into the centre of the basin with
berths for 60 boats. Major work on the Canal and breakwater for the 2007 event
allowed boats to reach the race area within a mere 15 minutes of leaving the
team base in the Port. You can see exactly how Valencia Port was transformed on
the America's Cup
Of all the work which took place in Valencia it was the land reclamation in the
Dársena to create the team bases which was the most impressive fete. According
to the America's Cup Website, "over 700 000 tonnes of gravel have come in by
truck to be used as fill, while more than 20 000 cubic metres of concrete will
be poured to finish the ground for the bases. In total, nearly 4-million
kilograms of steel girders have been ordered for this massive construction and
land reclamation project in the Port."
The teams involved in the race are based in their own purpose built Formula 1
style paddocks in the inner harbour area. Valencia's reliable climate and
maritime tradition make it ideal for a sailing event of this stature. From a
sailing point of view, Valencia's harbour meets all the requirements needed to
make it one of the best sailing courses in Europe. It boasts regular sea breezes
most of the year and the predictability of this breeze, known as the 'Garbi' by
the locals, greatly helped Valencia's cause when it was bidding for the race.
The America’s Cup Port includes two marinas – around 750 places all together –
plus a super-yacht marina in the heart of the port – 42 places. The security is
tight so you need not worry. What’s more – every time the 32nd America's Cup
teams leave their bases for a race they will have to sail through the marinas.
And then you can tag along after them. There will be a 200 metres perimeter
around the 32nd America's Cup racing area, which is close enough for a good
view. Contact the Port to make your booking for a place in the marinas. If you
are late don’t worry – there are plenty more marinas in and around Valencia, you
can find many of them on the internet.
The 32nd America's Cup teams bases are stationed right in the heart of the
America's Cup Port, in full view of the public. Every time the teams go out to
see they will pass very close to the crowds, for a good cheer.
The port will provide internal transport (aquabus to cross the waters, tram,
bicycle rental), plenty of information points with maps to take away, medical
facilities, America's Cup spectator boats and concerts / events.
There are three pedestrian entrances to the America's Cup Port, marked with in
"I" information Point on the map - one on the beach, one behind it in Paseo
Neptuno, and one at the end of the Avenida del Puerto (the main entrance). They
are very visible, due to a bright orange pyramid tent outside each entrance.
