37th America's Cup Barcelona 2024

WHAT IS THE AMERICA'S CUP?

The America's Cup is considered the world's most important sailing competition. It is also the world's oldest sporting event (1851), and predates the modern Olympic Games, which began in 1896.
It is an international competition between sailing clubs from different countries, who vie with each other to secure the famous silver cup. The winning team keeps the trophy until it is challenged by another team and has to defend it in a new regatta.
It is named the America's Cup after the schooner America, which won the first regatta.

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PARTICIPATING TEAMS AND BASES

Six teams will be taking part in the 37th America's Cup:

• Emirates Team New Zealand (New Zealand), the current holders of the title, will be representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and defending the title.
• INEOS Britannia (United Kingdom), the Challenger of Record – the team that will set the parameters for the first race against Emirates Team New Zealand.
• Alinghi Red Bull Racing (Switzerland)
• Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (Italy)
• American Magic New York Yacht Club (United States)
• Orient Express Racing Team (France)

All the bases for the participating teams will be located in the Barcelona Port Vell area, along with the America's Cup race village.
The bases for the women's and youth teams will be in the Port Olímpic.

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DID YOU KNOW...

• The American team won the first America's Cup in 1851, and held onto the trophy for 133 years, until 1983, when Australia made a successful challenge and the Americans lost the competition for the first time.
• There is only one winner. This brings to mind what is possibly the most famous quote associated with the America's Cup. When the British team had lost the first competition to the American schooner, Queen Victoria asked Which is second?, only to be answered, Ma'am there is no second.

BOATS

The boats used in the competition are AC75s, which include the latest technology, including foils that lift the boats out of the water, and attain speeds of over 50 knots (almost 100 km/h). This explains why they are known as the Formula 1s of the sea.
The Women's and Youth America's Cup events and training sessions will use another class of boat: the AC40, the younger brother of the AC75.
For the first time, the support vessels will be sustainable and powered by hydrogen.

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WHAT'S NEW AT THE BARCELONA AMERICA'S CUP

You'll be able to follow the regattas, free of charge, from the beaches between the Port Vell and Port Olímpic, just 200 m away from the boats. There will also be a race village in the Port Vell along the Moll de la Fusta, connecting people to the boats, team bases and the event. Admission is free.
This year's competition will also include the Youth America's Cup and, for the first time in the history of the competition, the Women's America's Cup, both of them using smaller, AC40 boats. The twelve teams in these two categories will be based at the Port Olímpic.
A Spanish crew, SailTeamBCN, will also be taking part and competing in the Women's and Youth competitions. For the first time, a behind-the-scenes documentary series will be filmed to showcase the day-to-day lives of the teams and their progress throughout the competition.

COMPETITION

The 37th America's Cup will begin on 22nd August 2024. It will consist of different events, leading up to the America's Cup Match, or final duel, in October. From summer 2023, you'll be able to see the impressive boats training just metres from the city's beaches.
From 14th to 17th September 2023, the port of Vilanova i la Geltrú will be hosting the men's preliminary regatta on class AC40 boats.
The preliminary regattas are held in preparation for the Challenger Selection Series, which decides which team will go forward to face the defenders, or current holders of the cup, Emirates Team New Zealand. The unique format of the America's Cup means that the defendant automatically has the right to compete in the America's Cup Match final, while the challengers hold a series of regattas to decide the best team who will face the New Zealanders.
The Youth America's Cup and the Women's America's Cup will feature representatives of the six AC syndicates with six guest teams. Only six of them will qualify for the Final Series, and the two best teams will compete in the final to decide the winner.
The regattas will start in the Port Vell and end in the Port Olímpic or Port Fòrum (depending on the wind conditions). The public will be able to follow the regattas from the city's beaches, free of charge. There will also be designated viewing areas along the route to ensure nobody misses out on the action. A unique opportunity to see these extraordinary boats, known as the Formula 1s of the sea, perform at their peak.

CALENDAR/SAVE THE DATE

Save the following dates for the America's Cup and don't miss out on a single detail of the competition.

2023

• April-September: Team bases being built in the Port Vell and subsequent training sessions that people will be able to see from the city's beaches, which provide a natural viewing point along the coast. They will also be able to watch the boats leaving the port.
• 14th-17th September: Preliminary regatta in Vilanova i la Geltrú.

2024

• 22nd August: America's Cup opening ceremony.
• 23rd August: Start of the last preliminary regatta, with all the teams competing for the first time on board their AC75s.
• Late August to early September: Challenger Selection Series, to decide the team who will face the current defender of the cup – Emirates Team New Zealand.
• 12th October: Start of the America's Cup Match. A competition of thirteen regattas, which will pit the current holders of the trophy – Emirates Team New Zealand – against the winning team of the Challenger Selection Series. The first team to win seven points will be the winner of the 37th America's Cup, and the defender of the 38th.

EXPERIENCES TO ENJOY THE AMERICA'S CUP AND BARCELONA

An event as special as the America's Cup, in a city that loves the sea and sport as much as Barcelona, is worth enjoying to the full. Check out the experiences that will help you discover Barcelona and make the most of the city and this spectacular sailing competition, and choose the one that best suits your interests. You'll be spoilt for choice!

WHY BARCELONA?

Barcelona is a city with long-standing experience in hosting top-level sporting events. It has proved its expertise in organising three world-class sporting events: the America's Cup, the World Cup and the Olympic Games.
Barcelona is considered the capital of the Mediterranean, not just because of its prime location by the sea, but because of its history, culture and influence in the Mediterranean region. This city has been an important sea port since ancient times, and has played a key role in trade and culture in the Mediterranean.
Barcelona's maritime past, and its links to the sea, which can be found in its food, culture and popular traditions, date back more than a thousand years. Barcelona offers a wide variety of nautical activities and has almost 5 km of beaches that can all be reached by public transport. Its fishermen's guild is still active today and holds a daily fish auction and supplies the city's restaurants, and those in the Barceloneta in particular, with fresh fish. It is known for its high-level nautical and repair and refit services.

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