America’s Cup preliminary regatta kicks off in Vilanova i la Geltrú

The America’s Cup preliminary regatta kicked off on Thursday in Vilanova i la Geltrú, a seaside town just half an hour south of Barcelona.  

Over the next few days, the sailors from defending champions New Zealand and challengers US, Britain, Italy, France, and Switzerland will test their wits and strengths against each other in a series of races. 

Thursday sees official race practice with three races taking place that ultimately won’t count in the final scoreboard. Full racing starts on Friday, with three counting races scored on a highest points basis with the podium places for each race scoring ten, seven, and five points respectively. 

Sailors will compete in AC40 boats for this week's preliminary regattas; “pocket rockets” as event CEO and the leader of Team New Zealand, Grant Dalton, described them.

Each team will compete in the same boat, meaning each team will be working with the same level of equipment, leaving only the strengths and abilities of the sailors to make the difference at the finish lines. 

During the full America's Cup tournament taking place next year, larger vessels will be used by the teams, capable of even faster speeds. 

After Thursday’s practice sessions, competitive racing will take place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and the events will be visible from the beach and shore in Vilanova. Anybody interested in enjoying the experience will be able to do so for free, as the America’s Cup is not a ticketed event. 

The 37th America's Cup proper will be held in Barcelona from August-October 2024. 

"You don't get that appreciation when you watch on TV"

Visitors and volunteers from near and far were buzzing with excitement at the beginning of the America's Cup event in Vilanova.

Denise, a visitor who came from the UK for the event, was particularly delighted to see how fast the boats move up close. "You do not get that appreciation when you watch it on the TV screen, so actually seeing it live, is much more exciting to see how fast they go," as he said.

Her husband, Nick, also from the UK, explained that they came specifically for this event, and are looking forward to enjoying the seafood and wine that the Catalan coastal town can offer.

"We have a mate who is sailing-obsessed," Nick explains. "He is a New Zealander, he is particularly keen on the Kiwi team, and he has dragged us all down here for a four-day extravaganza." 

Anna, a former sailor from Vilanova, wanted to volunteer for the event to be able to enjoy it as close as possible. "I think the conditions are very nice, I think it is quite particular that you have the beach here, that you can see the race from there."

Chris from New Zealand, but resident of Garraf for decades, also has sailing experience and is a big fan of the Anerica's Cup. "I love the America's Cup, and I saw the opportunity to be a volunteer and I thought: 'Yes!'"

Guiomar, an America's Cup volunteer from Barcelona, used to sail when she was a child, "and it was nice to see these very speedy boats from up close.

All three will be on the boats out in the water as part of their volunteer work, putting out the marker buoys and marshaling all the spectator fleets "to make sure they do not get mixed up with the racing boats," Chris told Catalan News.