It is only after an exciting 7th race and a dramatic ending that Alinghi won this precious point and win the match 5-2. Switzerland becomes the third country after the United States and New-Zealand to have won and defended successfully the America’s Cup.
Despite the 5-2 in favour of the Swiss Team, it was the closest scoreline since the advent of the America’s Cup class. The fight for the auld mug lasted till the last second of this final race : an exciting duel between two teams more than prepared to fight for their dream. In this last race, 4 lead changes took place with a finish that will stay in the memory and the history of the America’s Cup for a long time.
Going further the sporting result, this 32nd America’s Cup saw a sweeping change. Because it took place in Europe, people’s interest for the event grew during the 4 years of preparation to achieve in an impressive record.
For Michel Bonnefous, the CEO of AC management, the event organiser : “ This first America’s Cup in Europe has been a big step forward for the oldest and most prestigious sporting prize. When Alinghi won the America’s Cup in 2003, we had a vision for what the next event should be like”.
One of these biggest changes was the fact that now the organisation of the Louis Vuitton’s Cup and of the America’s Cup is linked.
The 2nd big change was the four years of sailing in the Louis Vuitton Acts organised prior the Louis Vuitton’s Cup that took place in 4 sailing venues : Valencia, Marseille, Malmö-Skane and Trapani.
But it’s Valencia who got the right to host the 32nd America’s Cup. A real boost for the city thanks to the creation of Port America’s Cup : a venue with room for 12 team bases around a central basin, Superyacht facilities, a Marina for over 600 boats, the Veles and Vents facility and the AC park with its 23 restaurants, bars and cafés, over 30 interactive areas, 3 giant screen areas to watch the racing, a concert facility….enabling the local economy to profit from the organisation of the cup.
Here are some figures :
Total visitors To Port America’s Cup in Valencia : 5.7 million visitors
With a one-day record of visitors in Port America’s Cup on Sunday 10 July, 2007 : 87 547 visitors
Internet Visitors :
22 million since September 2004 including 16.6 million since April 1st (1st day of the Louis Vuitton Acts)
TV Viewers :
over 4 billion since 2004 including 2.4 billion for the 2007 season
Media and especially press articles :
over 100 000
It has been so far the largest, most open and widely accessible America’s Cup in 156 years of its history.
Now, lets focus on the 33d Cup. Will it take place in Valencia or elsewhere in Europe? Will they change the boat type?
The new playing field will be revealed in a few days.
