Ahoy there! Heading for Valencia in 2007?

BACKGROUND:

The America's Cup is the world's most prestigious sailing event. Furthermore, it is considered the oldest sporting event ever to be held in modern times - when the first modern Olympic Games took place in 1895, the America's Cup was already 45 years old! The first race was a challenge between England and the United Stated in 1851, off the Isle of Wight. America won, giving its name to this legendary sailing challenge.

Nowadays, the cup is held on a regular basis, generally every 3-4 years. The location is determined by the most recent winner. This is usually the home port of the latest winner, except in the case of the coming 2007 America's Cup, for which the Swiss "Alinghi" team chose Valencia!

Do not think that the teams sit still in the years in between subsequent America's Cups. In the buildup to the main America's Cup competition, two important series of races take place. Firstly, all the syndicates which want to challenge the previous winner, have to race for the right to do so: only one team, the winner of the Challenger Races, will go on to actually challenge the previous Cup winner.

At the same time, in the country of the winning team, various contenders may compete for the right to represent this country for the next cup. Nowadays, competing for the America's Cup is an ongoing business for which the preparation of the next event starts immediately after the previous Cup has ended. Budgets often exceed the 10 million US dollar mark; each of the 17 crewmembers is a well paid sailor, a specialist for his task and more than often with Olympic Medals in his back-pocket.

NEXT ISSUE: The America's Cup in Valencia.
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Article by Hans de Geus. Hans@visitvalencia.info