In 2003 Valencia had an honour to organize a great sporting event, the status of which can be compared with the World Football Championship or the Olimpic Games. It was the American Cup Yachting Regatta. It is the oldest yachting competition in the world. The first competition of the American Cup can be considered the regatta of 1851. It consisted mostly of the British vessels. That time the only American vesel named “America” became a winner. That is why the yachting regatta is known as the American Cup. It is the most prestigious competition in the world.
When the Swiss team Alinghi won the 31 American Cup they had the right to organize the next competition in Europe. That was for the first time in the history of this prestigious competition. But the main problem was that Switzerland is not a naval country. The contest among the European countries was organized and 70 cities took part in it. At this contest Valencia won the opportunity to become the capital of the 32 American Cup.
2007 year became the year of triumph for Valencia. More than 100 000 people came to watch the competition of the world leading yachtsmen. The City Port of Valencia had been reconstructed especially for the start of the American Cup and was named the American Cup Port. The most beautiful building of the Port is the Regatta Pavilion constructed according to the project of the famous architect David Chipperfield. The housing rental prices in Valencia went up greatly.
12 teams from the USA, Italy, Sweden, France, Switzerland, New Zealand and China took part in the competition. The favourite teams were Alinghi, that was the winner of the previous Cup, BMW Oracle Racing and Emirates Team New Zealand. French and Italian yachtsmen had also great chance to be winners. But as it was expected the great struggle started between two teams from Switzerland and New Zealand.
There is no doubt that the 32 American Cup is one of the most dramatic and thrilling competitions in the history of the American Cup. During the regatta the leaders were constantly changing their positions and it was impossible to predict the winner. The last race was decisive. 100 m before the finish the team from New Zealand all of a sudden outran Alinghi. And when it seemed to everybody that the Cup would go to Wellington Alinghi did their best and became the winner. They outran Emirates Team New Zealand for only one second!
Valencia triumphed and eexulted together with the Swiss. That is because the American Cup will be held in Valencia again in 2009. This is the guarantee of great attention to Valencia and consequently of the best advertising campaign in the sphere of tourism.
