The largest sailing competition in the world
This year, Barcelona is bringing to you the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, taking place between August and October 2024. The events will happen in the Port Vell area, stretching along the coastline to Port Olímpic. The sailing world has chosen to make Barcelona their home for what promises to be one of the most intense and exciting America’s Cups in the event’s 174-year history.
America's Cup 2024
What is the America's Cup?
The America’s Cup is a yacht sailing competition that takes place every four years, and is also the oldest international sporting trophy dating back to 1851. Also known as “the race with no second place”, the America’s Cup stands as one of the hardest sporting endeavours to date. The winning boat’s home country (actually, its yacht club) gets to take the trophy home and keeps it until another competitor challenges and wins it from them. This year, it will be held in Barcelona from 22nd August to 27th October.
Logo
The 37th America’s Cup has a new logo that features a simplified ‘Auld Mug’, the trophy, and a big ‘B’, referring to Barcelona:
History of the America's Cup
The America’s Cup is the oldest sports trophy in the world. It was originally called the “Hundred Guineas Cup,” and was renamed the “America’s Cup” after a famous race in 1851 when the New York Yacht Club accepted an invitation by Great Britain’s Lord Wilton, the Commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron, to send over a boat to race against the British yachts. The America’s Cup precedes football’s World Cup, tennis’s Davis Cup, hockey’s Stanley Cup and golf’s Walker Cup.
The New York Yacht Club, one of the most prestigious clubs in the world, held the trophy for 132 years before losing it in 1983 to Australia. Since then, the Cup has only been won by teams from the United States, Switzerland and New Zealand. The current Defender of the America’s Cup is Emirates Team New Zealand, representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.
America's Cup: Facts
It is the first time that the event is being held in an urban harbour.
The race will take place 200 metres off the coastline.
2.5 million people are expected to visit the event.
The event will have an impact of €1.2 billion to the local economy, generating 18,000 jobs.
Free for the public to enjoy.
It draws 1.5 billion spectators following the competition from around the world.
150 members per team and their families to move to Barcelona ahead of the competition, with the Spanish government working on special visas for them.
The Barcelona edition must be the most sustainable and innovative.
One of the novelties of this edition is that women will compete for the first time in history from 7th-16th October.
It is also seen as the third most important sports event after the Olympic Games and the World Cup.
*Note that competition days may be altered due to wind or climatological conditions.
Men's Programme
The preliminary regattas serve as a ‘warm-up’ ahead of the Louis Vuitton Cup. The first preliminary regatta was held in Vilanova i La Geltrú from 14th to 17th September 2023. The teams then headed to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for the America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta Jeddah between 29th November to 2nd December 2023. The third and last preliminary regatta will be held in August 2024 in Barcelona.
The America’s Cup will officially start on 22nd August 2024 and will continue for approximately two months. It will consist of the following events:
The 3rd Preliminary Regatta
- From 22nd - 25th August
- More information
Louis Vuitton Cup
- From 29th August to 7th October
- 29/08 – 08/09 14:00 Round Robin 1 & 2
- 14/09 – 19/09 14:00 Louis Vuitton Cup Semi Final
- 26/09 – 07/10 14:00 Louis Vuitton Cup Final
- More information
Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup
- From 12th - 27th October
- More information
America's Cup: the teams (men)
Emirates Team New Zealand
- Holders of the America’s Cup
- New Zealand
- The corner area of Moll de les Dràssanes that leads out to the World Trade Center
- More information
INEOS Britannia
- Challenger
- United Kingdom
- Next to the Aquarium
- More information
Alinghi Red Bull Racing
- Challenger
- Switzerland
- Next to the Aquarium
- More information
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team
- Challenger
- Italy
- Southern side of the port towards W Hotel
- More information
New York Yacht Club American Magic
- Challenger
- United States
- Southern side of the port towards W Hotel
- More information
Orient Express Racing Team
- Challenger
- France
- Moll de Ponent
- More information
In over 170 years of the America’s Cup’s history, just four nations (United States, Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland) have won the trophy. The British, having challenged the most, have never won the Cup that they first initiated. Challenges by teams from Italy, France, Spain, South Africa, Germany, Japan, China and Sweden in the modern era of the Cup have, in some cases, come close but never won. It remains one of the hardest competitions to win in international sports.
The UniCredit Youth America's Cup
The UniCredit Youth America’s Cup is where the next generation of talent will be uncovered for the world’s longest-running international sporting trophy.
The competition will begin the fleet racing on Thursday 17 September 2024. The opening qualification rounds will see a total of eight races completed for both groups and the top three teams from each group will progress into the Final Series of four races to decide the top two boats. Thursday 26th September is the scheduled day for the Youth America’s Cup Final and will see the two top teams go head-to-head.
Schedule
- From 17th - 26th September
- More information
Puig women's America's Cup Barcelona
The Puig Women’s America’s Cup is set to be one of the undoubted highlights of this year’s America’s Cup in Barcelona, and the line-up for this prestigious event is now complete.
Schedule
- From 5th - 13th October
- More information
Women & Youth Teams
All six of the confirmed entries for the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona are fielding both UniCredit Youth & Puig Women’s America’s Cup teams. They will represent their respective confirmed clubs from New Zealand, Great Britain, USA, Italy, Switzerland and France. The six remaining teams come from Spain (Royal Barcelona Yacht Club), The Netherlands (Royal Netherlands Yacht Club & Royal Maas Yacht Club), Canada (Royal Vancouver Yacht Club), Germany (Kieler Yacht Club 3.V & Norddeutscher Regatta Verein), Sweden (Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club) and Australia (Cruising Yacht Club of Australia).
The boats
AC75: America's Cup boat
AC40: Youth, women & training
Where to watch
From 22nd August to 27th October, Port Vell & Port Olímpic are the places you want to be to catch all of the live action.
The six America’s Cup teams’ bases are located in the Port Vell area and the UniCredit Youth & Puig Women’s teams are in Port Olímpic. The main activities will take place in the Race Village along Moll de la Fusta, and the race course is located just outside the port entrance breakwaters. There are two fanzones that are located in Plaça del Mar and Bogatell.
Plaça Rosa del Vents, Port Olímpic, and the beaches of St Miguel, Barceloneta and Somorrostro are also good viewing options. The regatta course will be set up in front of the beaches of Sant Sebastià, Sant Miquel, Barceloneta and Somorrostro.
Race Village
- Moll de la Fusta (capacity for 9,500 people - 25,000 square metre)
- Entertainment, culture and good food
- Fridays & Saturdays from 22nd August - 27th October, between 12 noon and 10pm
- Free of charge
- More information
Fan zones
- Plaça del Mar and Bogatell
- Giant screens and food options
- Every day from 22nd August to 27th October, between 12 noon and 10pm (the Bogatell Fan Zone will stay open until 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, while it will be open until 3am during the La Mercè festivities)
- Free of charge
- More information
Spectator
- Plaça de la Rosa dels Vents and Port Olímpic
- Plaça de la Rosa dels Vents: Great views of the teams when they are going in and out of the port before and after racing
- Port Olímpic: A perfect place to watch the race
Online broadcasts
- Website America's Cup
- Youtube America's Cup
- Facebook America's Cup
- betevé
- TV3
- TVE
- Eurosport
How to get there
If you are travelling on foot, by bicycle or public transport, access to the area will be guaranteed. This also goes for the people living in Barceloneta.
Bus Nàutic service
The Bus Nàutic service is provided by the Port of Barcelona. A new maritime connection has been introduced between the quays of Moll de Drassanes and Moll de Llevant to improve mobility between the port and the city.
- From 7am - 7pm, every 15 minutes
- Journey time: 10 minutes
- €1.90 per trip
- More information
By bike
Bicycle and personal mobility vehicles are guaranteed access to the area. They can use the new bicycle lane on Passeig de Joan de Borbó or other cycling routes, such as the bicycle lanes on Carrer de la Marina, Passeig de Picasso, Avinguda de les Drassanes, Avinguda del Paral-lel, Passeig de Colom and Carrer del Doctor Aiguader.
In regard to the Bicing service, there will be two virtual stations in the area on the days with the maximum flow of visitors. These are special, signposted locations where Bicing users will be able to leave their bicycles easily and safely, increasing the station anchorages by 200 and 250 places.
There will also be safe parking spaces for bicycles and PMVs in closed, supervised enclosures. There will be four differentiated spaces with an approximate capacity of 100 vehicles each. They will be located in the areas around Plaça del Mar, the Biomedical Research Centre, Port Olímpic and Platja del Bogatell. They will be in service throughout the competition.
By car
Ajuntament de Barcelona will set up Park and Ride car parks and free shuttle buses, making it easy to leave cars and reach the competition area.
America's Cup e-Series
Introducing the America’s Cup e-Series, the newest addition to the esports calendar that brings the excitement and precision of competitive yacht racing to the virtual world. Played on AC Sailing®, the ultimate sailing simulation videogame created by the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, this inaugural season promises to be a nail-biting experience for even the most seasoned players.
The championship will commence on 31st July, leading up to the on-the-water action, and culminate in a Grand Final event in Barcelona on 28th September, where eight players will go head-to-head to be crowned the first-ever America’s Cup e-Series champion.
Cultural regatta
The Cultural Regatta is the schedule of activities running parallel to the America’s Cup sailing competition in Barcelona. Featuring cultural, artistic, food, science and entertainment activities, it invites all city residents to learn about and enjoy one of the leading sporting events in the world.
Some sixty entities, institutions and facilities will be offering more than 200 activities before, during and after the America’s Cup.
Highlights
- The Port Olímpic becomes a Mercè Festival venue.
- The ceremony for the Match Race Final from the 37th Louis Vuitton America’s Cup will be one of the most significant moments of the Cultural Regatta.
- From 30th August to 20th October, the Race Village will be a window onto Barcelona’s artistic creativity, with over 24 free performances of music and folk culture on weekend evenings.
- During the America’s Cup, Barcelona will be hosting the largest ever exhibition regatta for ‘patins de vela‘ (Catalan catamarans).
- A chance to watch a traditional Habaneras concert.
- Classical music concerts will take place on the beach.
Museums, libraries and culture
With the America’s Cup taking place in the city this year, Barcelona’s museums, libraries and cultural facilities are awash with ideas and activities to immerse visitors in the world of seas and oceans.
Exhibitions, talks, discussions, shows and family activities invite you to explore the technology behind sailing regattas, the challenges faced by coastal cities, the work of female sailors, the best maritime literature and so much more.
Port Olímpic, a new city space
The Port Olímpic will get its first use as a venue for La Mercè this year, offering a free daytime programme of cultural and recreational activities in September and October, complementing the women’s and young people’s regattas operating out of the Port Olímpic.
The Gastronomic Balcony will open on the Moll de Gregal quay. This is a new dining area where visitors can sample a wide variety of high-quality culinary offerings, all unique to the Barcelona culture.
Gastronomy, commerce and markets
Enjoy the finest cuisine at the Cultural Regatta!
New Zealand, Great Britain, Italy, France the United States… Tast de la Rambla 2024 offers a range of dishes from the twelve countries taking part in the 37th Louis Vuitton America’s Cup.
There are also fairs and activities with gastronomy, commerce and crafts in El Born and Barceloneta, a special edition of the Poblenou Wine Festival, fish and seafood tastings at the markets and a newly created America’s Cup cocktail for people to enjoy at the city’s cocktail bars.
Sports & Education
In a key year for sailing and nautical activity, the America’s Cup becomes a sport and training opportunity.
Barcelona wants the passion for water sports and the seas to reach everybody, with programmes such as “Viu la vela” to foster sailing among children in the city. Or like the Pavelló Blau project, created with the aim of promoting the seafront as Barcelona’s leading outdoor sports area.
In the educational field, numerous training initiatives are promoting the nautical sector and the blue economy for a professional career.
Experience Barceloneta, Experience Ciutat Vella
Ciutat Vella and Barceloneta are the operational centre of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup and will play a special role in these months of hosting cultural, artistic, food and entertainment activities.
Barcelona’s maritime neighbourhood, the city’s fishing neighbourhood, brings the power of its history to the Cultural Regatta, along with its traditions and history. A sea culture expressed through exhibitions, popular festivals, routes and all sorts of artistic activities.
Impact on the city on Barcelona
The America’s Cup is similar in scale and style to the 1992 Olympic Games. With over €120 million invested to transform Barcelona’s port ahead of the 2024 America’s Cup and generating more than 18,000 jobs, this event provides a incredible opportunity for the Catalan nautical sector.
The Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup leaves the city a legacy that will definitively foster the potential of the Barcelona and Catalan shoreline.
Barcelona Nautical Capital Foundation (FBCN in Catalan), formed by all the public administrations as well as the Port of Barcelona, the Chamber of Commerce, Barcelona Tourism and Barcelona Global, is the body coordinating legacy projects in various fields, including sport, education, science, sustainability, technology, marine culture and the blue economy, which are being accelerated thanks to the event.
With projects like the decarbonisation of recreational boats, which aims to position Catalonia as a European leader in electrifying vessels, and the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference, marking a crucial moment for celebrating successes and establishing shared priorities for the future of oceanic sustainability, the Foundation aims to make Barcelona and Catalonia global leaders in the nautical sector.
Barcelona will become the first city in the world to host the three global sporting events with the most audience: the Olympics, the football World Cup and the America’s Cup. But unlike other editions of the America’s Cup, Barcelona’s plans do not include the construction of new infrastructures, but rather the modernisation and transformation of existing ones, a city model that leads to a sustainable impact on the host city’s economic and urban development sectors.
Barcelona’s blue economy
Port Olímpic, a new city space
Port Olímpic is being reborn this year as a totally renovated, accessible and sustainable city location. It offers a new venue, with extensive areas for strolling and relaxing next to the Mediterranean, connected to the city’s beaches and Passeig Marítim.
The Port Olímpic will become home to the city’s first blue economy hub. This project will transform the port into a business activity centre specialised in nautical services, innovation, technology, circular economy and marine sustainability.
The port’s entire transformation is characterised by a firm commitment to sustainability. A good example of this is the large photovoltaic pergola that will cover the energy requirements of Port Olímpic and other nearby facilities. It will also serve the ultra-rapid charging points for electric boats, which will position Port Olímpic as a leader in sustainable sailing.
Port Olímpic has also promoted the formation of a bio-regeneration reef in order to foster the regeneration of the seabed around Barcelona and its biodiversity.
Port of Barcelona
The most significant change is taking place in the city’s old port, Port Vell, which is already the headquarters of the six teams competing in the America’s Cup.
Port Vell is undergoing an unprecedented economic, environmental and social transformation. This includes the modernisation of the Moll de Pescadors quay, transferring cruise-ship and ferry operations, the redevelopment of the Moll Oriental quay’s storage facilities and the final stage of opening the Nova Bocana to the public, with the new Rambla del Trencaones and the Mirador building.
The Port of Barcelona is also a leader in decarbonisation, in order to progress towards the goals set out by the United Nations, with a clear commitment to the electrification of quays and the self-production of renewable energies, with a view to the fuels used by vessels in the future. The aim is to become a centre for producing, distributing and consuming 100% green energy.
Technology, science and education
Another legacy the America’s Cup will leave behind is the roll-out of an optic-fibre network from Plaça del Mar in Barceloneta to Port Olímpic, along with the development of a pioneering, state-of-the-art 5G network for the city’s shoreline, as well as accelerating the roadworks transforming La Rambla and Via Laietana.
With regard to culture and science, the Blue Pavilion project, the reinforcement of the ´Experiencing Sailing´ (Viu la vela) programme to foster sailing and nautical sports, and the future Barcelona Maritime Technology Park are major legacy projects.
Demonstrations
With all of the positives this event will bring to the city, there is of course a few negative knock-on effects that we mustn’t skip over…
The increase in people who are coming to Barcelona specifically for the America’s cup, has also come with an increase in every-day goods, traffic levels, fishing prices. Residents in the old Barcelona seafront neighborhood of Barceloneta are also worried about the negative impact this influx of people could have, in what is already a very popular area for tourists.
Lastly, despite Barcelona striving to become a more sustainable and ecologically responsible city, this event has had a negative impact on the climate, due to the high levels of CO2 emissions from the teams’ travel.
Add a comment