The America's Cup 2007 in the beautiful to of Valencia in Spain |
La Casa En La Colina is only 40 to 45 minutes from Valencia and 2007 the Spanish Port of Valencia will be hosting the America's Cup. |
America's Cup 2007
The beautiful Town of
Valencia will be hosting the America’s Cup in June
2007 at the Spanish port of Valencia but even though the
America’s Cup isn’t till 2007 there is lots
of important development projects currently being undertaken.
The Inner Harbour is being renovated, The port of Valencia
and the surrounding parts of the port is going to be totally
transformed in order to host the best America’s Cup
in the history of this event. The city is being restructured
in order to house the 12 bases for the competing teams,
which will form a circle around the inner harbour, media
hub for the world’s top sports journalists.
The most spectacular project is
the dock that will be found in the centre of the circle of
the bases, this will support yachts that will stretch out
250 metres towards the centre of the water’s surface.
Another important construction is the canal that will allow
the America’s Cup boats to reach the race area in 15
minutes. It’s the first time the event has ever be
held off the mainland of Europe in its 152-year history because
none of the European challengers have been successful in
winning hosting rights until 2003 stunning triumph by a Swiss
boat. Valencia was selected in November 2003 as the next
host for the America’s Cup mainly for its tourism infrastructure
and because steady summer breezes guarantee start time for
the 32nd edition of the race.
On August 22nd, 1851
Queen Victoria of England found herself surrounded by
her entourage in Cowes, England anxiously awaiting 
word
on the relative positions of the yachts competing in
the hundred Guineas Cup being sailed that very day round
the Isle of Wight. There had been no lack of rumour in
the English press earlier in the week as to the reputed
speed of the yacht, America, the lone American entry.
The Queen dowager, who had been privy to these rumours,
had been repeatedly told by those closest to her, that
England would most assuredly prevail. After all, hadn’t
the Royal Navy and England’s magnificent fleet
of trading vessels dominated the world’s oceans
for three long centuries.
Besides, America was the only foreign entry vying against sixteen of England’s
finest and swiftest yachts. How could any vessel, and an American one at that,
possibly attain victory under such dire circumstance? History, however, who in
the past has held little patience with prevailing wisdom, would prove herself
consistent that afternoon. Shortly after four o’clock, Greenwich mean-time,
a single sail appeared on the distant horizon. In the afternoon quite, disturbed
only by a soft, dying breeze, 
the eyes of the Royal party strained westward each
vying to identify what was most assuredly, “the first English yacht”.
Sails billowing, the yacht under scrutiny and as yet unidentified, carved a graceful
arc through the water of the Solent, rounded the last mark and slid silently
and triumphantly towards Cowes and her place in history.
At that moment the
Queen, with that innate sense of portent fate bequeaths
upon its leaders, leaned forward and whispered quietly
in the ear of the Marquis of Anglesey who sat at her
right,
“who is it in first place, my lord?” in a
halting voice the Marquis replied “I’m sorry
to report, madam, it seems it is the yacht America.”
So, late summer 1851 the Americans challenged the world’s
best sailors to win the silver goblet (weighing almost
30 pounds, crafted by crown jewellers Garrard’s
of London) off them and the America’s Cup was born.
But the cup stayed in American hands
for another 132 years until an Australian team finally managed
to secure it in 1983.
Click
here for the America's Cup Official Website
