2023-09-17 18:19:40
Vilanova i la GeltrúThe weather has put a damper on the preliminary regatta of the America’s Cup sailing these days in Vilanova i la Geltrú. Despite the fact that this Sunday was a good day of sailing, in which the fans of this sport were able to enjoy themselves for a long time, when the time came for the grand finale the wind disappeared. A bitter aftertaste for a day that was going well until then, which has allowed those who do not know much about this discipline, to have a first test of a competition with a large following on an international scale, as demonstrated by the hundreds of journalists accredited from different countries. A first meeting in which the Americans of the American Magic prevailed, as they had finished first in the qualifying phase.
The port of Garraf was chosen for this first preliminary regatta of the 27th America’s Cup. An independent pre-tournament for the big event, which will arrive in Barcelona in the summer of 2024, first with the qualifying phase between five boats to see who will challenge Team New Zealand, the current champion, for the title in the final in October . The oldest competition in world sailing has scheduled three preliminary regattas, the second of which, by the way, will be in Saudi Arabia in January. These preliminary races, which allow the teams to draw conclusions, have never been held. Some, like the Americans, good. Others, like the British, bad.
The meeting between Vilanova and Geltrú, however, did not quite work because of an uncontrollable element: the weather. A thunderstorm fell on Friday and there was no wind on Saturday. Of the eight scheduled pre-final regattas, only five were completed in the end, three of which today, Sunday, when the weather was perfect until 5pm. In the previous regattas, the six teams have been adding points to a general classification in which the two best placed in the final. They have been the reigning Cup champion, Team New Zealand, and the American Magic of New York. But the final has not been done. First, a technical problem with the New Zealanders has postponed the start. And when he wanted to do it again there was no wind. The prize, therefore, went to those from New York, who had scored more points in the previous five regattas.
The meeting in Vilanova, which began with a demonstration of a hundred residents against the meeting, has in the end filled the coast with curious people, passionate about the sea and some supporters of the six teams, especially people from New Zealand and Italy . Visitor figures much lower than those expected next summer in Barcelona, of course. Some of the visitors, in fact, suffered on Friday the problems that the people of Villanova know well enough with the Renfe trains and arrived late. That if they arrived in Vilanova, as some stayed in Sitges. Sunday everything worked as it should. The local authorities have been present trying to strike a balance, as some Vilanovina councilors have visited the ship of the NGO Open Arms, present in the port of the city, after meeting with the private sponsors, the president of the Spanish Olympic Committee, Alejandro Blanco, and representatives of the State. Also there was the Swiss but Italian-born tycoon Ernesto Bertarelli, the manager of the Swiss Alinghi team. The one responsible, in fact, that Switzerland, a land without sea, always has competitive boats that have already won the Cup twice. The presence of followers like him has caused street closures and a strong security device in the port area, of course. If some Vilanova residents have suffered because of this device, others have enjoyed a festive atmosphere that has allowed Vilanova’s restaurant sector to make August. Or extend it, in this case.
Sportingly, the format was attractive, with preliminary races of all against all at the same time. Ineos Britannia disappointed with a very weak performance, while Italy’s Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli failed to reach the final, as it had hoped to do. Nor has Alinghi Red Bull Racing, from Switzerland, been able to do so, punished by a technical problem that has left them out of the last regatta. The positive surprise was the Orient Express France Team, from France, the last team to arrive, the one that had had the fewest days to train. And they finished third. This first win allows the Americans to position themselves as great rivals for Team New Zealand, although there is still a long way to go until 2024. And indeed, then they will be racing a different boat. The best sailors in the world competed in the event these days, including 14 Olympic golds, 60 world titles, 10 America’s Cups won and 36 participations, all sailing with AC40s, monohulls with hydrofoils of 11, 90 meters in total length of four crew, different from those that will be seen in action in the America’s Cup, the AC75, of 22.90 meters in length and more crew.
The great festival of Catalan skating
Before the AC40 regatta, the port of Vilanova i la Geltrú has experienced the great festival of Catalan sailing. Nearly 200 boats of this type took part in two regattas on Saturday and Sunday, with a route from Club Marítim Cubelles to Vilanova i la Geltrú and vice versa. It was the first time in history that this class of boat, born nearly a hundred years ago in Badalona and that sails without a rudder, experienced a race with so many participants. The winner was Quim Esteba, from Club Nàutic Tamariu, who was proclaimed the winner of the exhibition regatta after taking two second positions in the days of Saturday and Sunday. The 19-year-old Berta Suau, from Club de Mar Calafell, was the winner in the female category.
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