America's Cup 2024, or the oldest yachting race, will take place in Barcelona this year

This year, an event will take place in Barcelona that this city has never experienced before (and will certainly be remembered long after its end): America's Cup, the oldest yachting race in the world. 

America's Cup race in Barcelona - still undelivered in the background Sagrada Família

The official name of the whole event is Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup and the number of course refers to the current year and Louis Vuitton is the name of the main sponsor.

On this extraordinary occasion, to Barcelona many fans and lovers of this attractive race will come, but there will also be a lot of accompanying events, performances and shows. 

What you will learn next in the article: What is the America's Cup? - Race rules - This year's program - Competition teams - Where to watch - Map - Tickets and experiences

What exactly is the America's Cup?

• The America's Cup is the world's most prestigious and oldest yachting race (or also sailing). The first competition from this series took place already in 1851 near the English Isle of Wight.
• Over the years, the race was most often held in the USA, but several times also in Australia, New Zealand, England and in 2007 and 2010 even on Spanish territory, in Valencia. Barcelona is thus only the second European city where the America's Cup will take place.
• The race is held every 3-4 years and this uniqueness makes it the most prestigious event that every yachtsman wants to participate in.
• The unofficial motto of the race is the saying "There's no second," meaning there is no such thing as second place. That sums up this race perfectly. 
• The title refers to naming the first ever winning ship in this race (so not on the name of the state)

The winner's cup contested in the America's Cup race

What are the rules and how does the race work? 

From the beginning, the race has clear rules: there is one defending champion in the America's Cup (defender) and challengers who would like to take the title from him challenger.

As part of the qualifying race only challengers compete against each other, and the best of them then goes to the finals against the defending champion, where they compete for a predetermined number of victories. The entire process of eliminating individual competitors is called the Challenger Selection Series, but it is more often referred to as the Louis Vuitton Cup. This according to the eponymous, long-standing and also main sponsor, the luxurious French clothing colossus with the LV monogram. 

It's herself the rules have been enshrined in a document called Deed of Gift for more than 150 years, which describes the basic framework and rules of the race. In addition, each new year begins with negotiations between the defender and the main challenger regarding the specific rules for that year: what vessels will be used, what the exact race format will be, etc. 

In the race, teams sailing on technologically loaded AC75 catamarans compete against each other

The race course is usually guided around buoys in the open sea and the first team to reach the specified number of victories becomes the winner. In Barcelona, ​​everything will run along the coast, thanks to which it will be possible to watch the competitors directly from local beaches, harbor and seaside promenades. 

What will be raced in Barcelona? Meet the AC75 racing catamaran

The AC75 yacht was introduced for the previous year's America's Cup races and it is certainly a technological unique that pushed the boundaries of modern yachting! 

It is a single-keel yacht made of carbon fibers, which seems to float above the surface with the technology of double folding wings (foil). Thanks to minimal drag, such ships can reach speeds of up to around 50 knots, which is approximately 93 km/h. 

All yachts of the AC75 type are fast, maneuver well, have top-of-the-line control technology on board, but also require a relatively large crew. In order for everything to work like the proverbial Swiss watch, you will find an experienced team of 11 people on board who have to coordinate their movements in seconds. And since there's always something going on, an exciting spectacle full of speed, adrenaline and tension awaits you until the very last moment. 

Why the America's Cup is not just any sailing race...

The America's Cup is far from just about sporting performance, but also about the latest technologies, innovations and design. That's because the individual racing boats—mostly various types of top-of-the-line racing catamarans and monohulls—still need to stay on top in order for the challengers to beat the defenders (or vice versa). could gain a competitive advantage in the race. 

Racing yachts off the coast of Barcelona - they are in the background Torre Glóries

America's Cup 2024 program in Barcelona

The America's Cup races take place in Barcelona from August 22 to October 27. During this period, 5 racing events will take place: 

• Barcelona Preliminary Regatta: 22-25 August – a preparatory race for the entire series, where the teams will test their AC75 racing yachts

• Louis Vuitton Cup: August 29 - October 7 - main qualification for the race final

• Unicredit Youth America's Cup: 17-26 September – youth yacht race

• Puig Women's America Cup: 5-13 October – women's team yacht race

• Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup: October 12–27 – finals of the entire race

In addition to these events, the virtual America's Cup E-Series v computer game AC Sailing.  

Competition teams participating in America's Cup 2024

He is participating in this year's race 6 teams from different corners of the world:

1. Emirates Team New Zealand (New Zealand, defending champion)
2. INEOS Britannia (Great Britain)
3. Alinghi Red Bull Racing (Switzerland)
4. Luna Rossa Pirelli Prada Team (Italy)
5. NYYC American Magic (USA)
6. Orient Express Racing Team (France)

How and where to watch America's Cup 2024?

• If you are right in Barcelona, ​​there is nothing easier than walk to some of the places from which you will have a good view of the sea, where the races will take place. 
• The racing village will be built in of Port Vell along Moll de la Fusta. Here all the competition teams will have bases, facilities and here they will moor their ships. Here you will find the main stage and several giant screens. Free entry, limited number of people.
• Main zones for fans will be on Pl. Del Mar (map) in the quarter Barceloneta (just a few steps from Sant Miquel beach) and the other one not far from Bogatell beach. Here you will find giant screens, accompanying events and plenty of food and drink stalls. Free entry, limited number of people. 
• Best places to watch of the America's Cup 2024 are on Pl. Rosa del Vents, in the Olympic port (Port Olímpic) and on the beaches of Sant Miquel, Barceloneta and Somorrostro (information about beaches + map). The attached map below will tell you much more. 
• Options are also available watch the races directly from the water surface: you can rent a charter boat or use special offers cruise ships Las Golondrinas, which will bring you closer to the bases of individual teams or to the races themselves.
• But the best footage will be provided by online broadcasts. Even the organizers themselves recommend that you arrive at the venue equipped with a phone and ideally a power bank, open for example official Web or channel on Youtube and they watched everything there during the race. 

Map of important locations for the 2024 America's Cup in Barcelona

A map showing the race village, team bases and race viewing locations (magnify)

Tickets, accompanying exhibition, AC37 Club, America's Cup 360º Card

Now let's take a quick look at the information about entrances and tickets: 

• as I wrote above, races you can watch for free, either in person or online
• if you want to know more about the race, in the premises of Imax Port Vell (map), just a few steps from the racing villages is located, America's Cup Experience Center, which is unusual multimedia exhibition past, present and future of this unique race. Here you can learn everything important in an engaging interactive form. The entrance fee is €15; tickets are available online >>
  
• if you really want to enjoy the race, you can buy an entry to the AC37 club, which is official hospitality program from the race organizers. From €500 you can enjoy the race on giant screens, professional commentators and unlimited food and drink from Barcelona's best chefs and restaurants, more informations. 
• se special America's Cup 360º Card you can enjoy many experiences associated with the race, for the price of €200 you have: 

  • Helicopter flight + minivan transfer to the heliport

  • Sailing Las Golondrinas around the bases of the individual teams

  • Guided guided tour of the embankment and racing village

  • Entrance to the America's Cup Experience exhibition center

  • Exclusive benefits and discounts
    view more information + buy >>> The

As part of the America's Cup 360º Card, you can also take a helicopter flight and see everything important from a bird's eye view