America's Cup in Valencia
Valencia again hosted the 33rd America's Cup in February 2010 having also
been the venue in 2007.
On three occasions
before 2007 the city had served as the training base for Spanish teams which
challenged for the America's Cup. However, 2007 was the first time the race had
been held in Europe.
This Mediterranean city with a population of around 760,000 is an ideal choice
of venue thanks to a first class infrastructure for such an event and reliable
weather conditions including an almost certain summer sea breeze which provides excellent sailing conditions. Sailing
took place very close to the
shoreline so spectators were able to
follow the action from the beach and breakwater with viewing capacity for over a
million people.
In the Port of Valencia the America's Cup village
includes upto 12 team bases and a superyacht pier which
stretches 250m into the centre of the basin with berths for 60 boats.
Major work on the Canal and breakwater for the 2007 event allowed boats to reach the race area
within a mere 15 minutes of leaving the team base in the Port. You can see
exactly how Valencia Port was transformed on the
America's Cup Website.
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