VILANOVA i LA GELTRU FOR THE FIRST REGATTA OF AC37

It will be the first time that the competitors for the world’s oldest continually contested international sporting trophy will go head-to-head, competing in equally matched AC40 yachts that all the teams have been training on in the run up to the 37^th America’s Cup in Barcelona in 2024. These are the boats that will also be used for the Youth & Women’s America’s Cup and have proven to be the most exciting new foiling class in the world with speeds recorded, to date, in excess of 50 knots.

The town of Vilanova i La Geltrú will be abuzz with spectators and America’s Cup fans, all eager to get a glimpse of the world’s finest foiling sailors as they engage for the first time in both fleet races and one-on-one match racing just metres off the harbour walls. Racing will be viewed on a free-to-air, live global broadcast and through America’s Cup media channels. Vilanova i La Geltrú will be the epicentre of the racing that is some of the most anticipated in the lead-up to the America’s Cup itself in Barcelona in September and October 2024.

Teams from New Zealand, Great Britain, Switzerland, Italy, USA and France will contest the preliminary regatta and speaking about the event, Grant Dalton, CEO of AC37 Events, is grateful to the port of Vilanova i La Geltrú saying: “Our goal has always been to spread the positive message of the America’s Cup around Catalunya and the rest of Spain, whist also engaging with fans globally.”

“In selecting Vilanova i La Geltrú as the venue for the first preliminary regatta on the road to AC37 in Barcelona, we found the perfect local partners and our thanks go to Pendennis Vilanova who are providing spectacular marine facilities both on and off the water for the teams and visiting super yachts, to the impressive waterside La Daurada complex for providing the world-class AC Club hospitality facilities plus the AC media centre and to the Club Nautic de Vilanova who are the hosting yacht club and providing working space for the event organisers and officials.”

“This is a major undertaking for the town of Vilanova i La Geltrú and we are very grateful for their positive engagement throughout this process – it’s now our turn to repay their support by delivering world-class racing and the widest possible media and fan engagement.”

Work has been underway on the delivery of the regatta since the formal announcement in March 2023 with ACE working closely with the local partners.

Pendennis Vilanova: The superyacht refit and maintenance facility in Vilanova i La Geltrú, part of UK Pendennis Group, will be the base for the team operations and crane in/out area as well as berthing for the AC40s. They are providing 15,000m2 of space, yard facilities and support, plus the berthing for the AC40s. Speaking about the involvement of Pendennis Vilanova, Mike Carr, the company’s Executive Chairman said: “The whole team at Pendennis Vilanova are extremely proud to be involved in the 37^th America’s Cup. Being able to support an event of this caliber and facilitate bringing it to the heart of our Vilanova community for all to enjoy is truly a privilege.”

La Daurada: The fabulous waterside restaurant and nightclub facility, La Daurada, are providing this space to the America’s Cup to use as the main AC Club hospitality space, the media centre facilities, parking in front of the space and a secondary facility, the chic La Marabanda beach club – famous for its Mediterranean cuisine. Domingo Hernández, the General Manager of La Daurada is excited about the event, saying: “For our city to host the 37^thAmerica’s Cup preliminary regatta is a very important milestone.  And, especially for us, it’s an enormous satisfaction to have decisively contributed to making this historic opportunity happen, joining the project by providing our fully equipped 10,000m2 facility. La Daurada is located in a privileged site, on the seafront, facing the racecourse. We are very proud of ACE’s trust in us to become the official venue for the AC Club hospitality and Media Centre, in which more than 80 national and international media will work during the event.”

Club Nàutic de Vilanova: The primary yacht club facility in Vilanova i La Geltrú has been working with ACE across all aspects of the event from the on-water volunteering, charter support boats, berthing and providing all of the working spaces for ACE and Regatta officials as well as the Main Operations Centre. Jaume Ballbé, the President of Club Nàutic Vilanova is extremely proud that his club is hosting the first preliminary regatta, saying: “For Club Nàutic Vilanova the fact of being one of the venues of Port de Vilanova i la Geltrú that will host the America’s Cup, represents a great leap in our prestige. We will be one of the few clubs in the country that have participated in such a global impact competition.

At this stage it also recognises the investment made at the Club Nàutic facilities which started in 2015 following the renewal of the Ports de la Generalitat concession. The America’s Cup is the most important sailing competition in the world, therefore, being able to participate in the organisation of this event, besides of being a great honour, it’s an opportunity to be able to boost our sailing activity. The Club Nàutic Vilanova, as per its original foundings, is driven by the promotion of sailing and its values, being able to organise the America’s Cup will allow us to push forward with our promotion of the sailing, not only in the city but in the entire territory.”

Teams will de-camp from their bases and summer training in Barcelona and head down the coast to Vilanova i La Geltrú early in September ahead of racing and will erect temporary bases to crane out and house their AC40 yachts.

The America’s Cup is coming to Vilanova i La Geltrú and is set to be spectacular.