The Catalonian port of Vilanova i la Geltrú, has today been announced as the Host Venue for the first Preliminary Regatta of the 37th America’s Cup to take place in September this year.
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The event will take place over four days between September 14 –17 when the six international America’s Cup syndicates – Emirates Team New Zealand (Defender), INEOS Britannia (Challenger of Record), Alinghi Red Bull Racing (SUI), American Magic, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA), and Orient Express Team (FRA) – will race each other in AC40 one-designs.
Vilanova i la Geltrú is situated 45 kilometres southwest of the America’s Cup host city, Barcelona, in Spain’s Catalonia region and the event marks the official start of racing in the 37th America’s Cup cycle.
The opening event will feature a mix of both fleet and match racing on a racecourse right outside the port’s entrance and will be the first time the current crop of America’s Cup teams will race against each other – albeit racing in identical 40-foot one-design AC40s rather than in the full-sized custom designed AC75s to be used to contest the 37th America’s Cup in 2024.
“The Port of Vilanova i la Geltrú, is perfectly set up to host the first Preliminary Event of AC37 with everything in such close proximity to the race course,” said America’s Cup Event CEO Grant Dalton. Racing will be just metres from the port entrance and prime viewing places will be offered from the La Daurada alongside huge public areas for a great fan village.
“The magnificent facilities of Pendennis Vilanova and Vilanova Grand Marina will serve as the technical area which will host the team bases and their AC40’s and, of course, we will be proud to align with the Club Nàutic Vilanova as the local yacht club for the event.”
Currently, four of the six America’s Cup teams have received their AC40s. Emirates Team New Zealand have two, with the British, American, and Swiss squads currently with one apiece.
Another piece of the 38th America’s cup jigsaw puzzle slotted into place today, with the announcement by American Racing Challenger Team USA that double Olympic gold medalist Giles Scott had been retained as the syndicate’s sailing director for AC38.
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