Marseille's Olympic sailing events will not be the only international nautical competitions to take place in the Mediterranean this summer. The 37e The America's Cup will be held in Barcelona from 22 August to 27 October, with the New Zealanders having decided to put their title back on the line. in Europe. This is the first time since the 2007 and 2010 editions were held in Valencia, Spain. In the face of competition from other coastal cities, it was Barcelona that came out on top, thanks to a number of assets including its accessibility, its hotel offer and the size of its marinas, not to mention the size of its stretch of water and its wind conditions.
" For the first time, a regatta will be for women onlythe Women's America's Cup, after the one dedicated to young skippers, the Youth America's Cup, created in 2013, which brings together mixed crews aged between 18 and 25." Leslie Ryan, Event Director of the America's Cup Event (ACE), the company organising the Barcelona event, is delighted. And she adds: " The races will take place from 2pm to 4.30pm due to wind conditions and will be visible free of charge from the beach, which is no more than 300 metres from the regatta area between Port Vell and Port Olimpic." .
France's return to the America's Cup
Created in 1851 and the oldest sporting challenge in the world, this America's Cup promises to be a sporting event with six teams taking part: Team New Zealand (New Zealand), America Magic (USA), Luna Rossa (Italy), Alinghi (Switzerland), Britania (Great Britain) and Orient Express Racing Team (France), in the name of this luxury brand relaunched by the Accor, title partner of the French team. Registered with the Saint-Tropez Yacht Club and christened on 29 May in Barcelona, the AC75 is a revolutionary boat, capable of reaching speeds of 52 knots, or 100 km/h, with skipper Quentin Delapierre at the helm.
Eight people make up the crew of this Formula 1 of the seas, which has the particularity of being keel-less and equipped with foils, which means that you don't have to change sides every time you change tack. Stephan Kandler, co-director of the French challenge, hopes to " Bringing the America's Cup to France for the first time" The only countries to have won the silver trophy so far are the United States, Australia, Switzerland and New Zealand.
Organisation at the helm with à la carte offers
ACE is offering companies a range of hospitality packages to help them get the most out of the event. These include a selection of hotel accommodation, but above all access to the House of AC37, a convivial lounge area at the entrance to Port OlimpicThe marina will be the base camp for the boats and teams of the Women's America's Cup and Youth America's Cup. A former Olympic port for the 1992 Olympics, the marina has been completely renovated for the occasion, and new buildings have been added, including the Race Village, which will be open from midday to 11pm and will host daily entertainment, including on non-racing days.
The House of AC37 will be open from 12.30pm to 7pm, offering gourmet food prepared by Catalan chefs and the chance to follow the races from its position facing the race course and the start/finish line. Experts will be on hand to explain race issues and tactics. Packages are available by the day (from €500/person), for access to one of the competitions over several days - the most expensive, unsurprisingly, being the America's Cup - or even for the entire duration of the event. Offers of private tours of Port Vell, boat hire and the chance to board partner boats in various categories are also part of the package on offer for following the regattas.
Immersive experiences for the French challenge
Orient Express Racing Team (OERT) is not to be outdone, boasting a private lounge in Port Vell that companies can privatise from June to 21 August, from 7.30pm to 11pm, for a cocktail party (for 200 people) or a sit-down dinner (for 80 people). As a bonus, a member of the team will present the team and the challenges of the America's Cup. Without having to hire the entire space, group packages are also available for groups of 10 or more (at €300 excl. VAT/person). Until the start of the preliminary regattas on 21 August, 3-hour guided tours of the technical base will also be available, with a behind-the-scenes look at the sailing simulator and a cocktail reception. The full-day version of this programme is rounded off with a trip out to sea to watch the AC40 (the Youth and Women's America's Cup boat) or the AC75 in training, with commentary from an expert.
Then, during the various regattas from 22 August to 27 October, the Premium and Gold day packages include, for the former, access to the pre-race preparations and the start of the AC75 in the morning, a cocktail at lunchtime, live coverage of the races on a screen with commentary from members of the French team and nautical specialists, not forgetting free access to the race simulator. The big plus is that the second edition replaces the follow up from the lounge with regattas lasting 2h30. aboard the official ENRW hospitality catamaran positioned on the edge of the sailing area. This 70-person capacity yacht can also be hired out for a 2-hour sunset cruise with music, tapas and a friendly drink.
Last but not least, the Ultimate Experience will offer an immersive experience at the heart of the Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robins regattas scheduled for August 29, 30, 31, 1er3, 4, 7 and 8 September. The catamaran will be replaced by the Orient Express Racing Team's hydrogen-powered support boat, which has been authorised to sail within the race perimeter and will therefore be able to follow the AC75 in the best possible conditions.
