The Catalonian port of Vilanova i la Geltrú, has been announced as the host venue for the first preliminary regatta of the 37th America’s Cup. Racing will take place over four days between 14-17th September 2023 in the AC40.

All racing will be broadcast free-to-air through a dedicated America’s Cup television production. Organisers say the regatta will offer a first glimpse of what can be expected when the youth and women’s America’s Cup races begin in earnest in September and October 2024 in Barcelona. This will be the first time the AC40 fleet will race each other over both fleet and match-racing courses.

“The port of Vilanova i la Geltrú, is perfectly set up to host the first preliminary event of AC37 with everything in such close proximity to the race course,” says America’s Cup event CEO Grant Dalton. “Racing will be just metres from the port entrance and prime viewing places will be offered from the La Daurada alongside huge public areas for a great fan village. The magnificent facilities of Pendennis Vilanova and Vilanova Grand Marina will serve as the technical area which will host the team bases and their AC40s and, of course, we will be proud to align with the Club Nàutic Vilanova as the local yacht club for the event.”

The strict one design class measurement in the fleet of AC40s will see the boats equally matched and the winner will be decided on sailing technique and foiling race-craft. It will give the world a first opportunity to see the America’s Cup elite teams in action and provide an opening narrative and indication of where each team is at in this America’s Cup cycle.

MIN recently reported that the British AC test boat caught fire after a double capsize. The incident happened in early February 2023, while on the water during a test day in Palma Bay, Mallorca in Spain.

Main image of Vilanova i la Geltrú courtesy of Stuart Pearce/YachtShot.

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