Barcelona by Yida. Mediterranean through the Red Sea. Sultry heat outside and heated polar cold behind any door. They wear white to their feet, and they wear black to their heads. The America’s Cup, the team that defends it, the five that aspire to take it away and all the gear that moves the considered Formula 1 of the sea, is competing in the second preliminary regatta in Saudi Arabia before settling permanently in Barcelona. Three days of racing that started yesterday with absolute control by Emirates Team New Zealand in the first two races and a surprising victory for the Italians, the youngest team in the race, in the third.
The ghost of Vilanova, where the first preliminary regatta was held, appeared yesterday for a few hours in Yida. If a storm in Garraf forced the first day to be suspended, the lack of wind and the Red Sea turning into a raft threatened the debut. Fortunately, conditions improved during the morning and at noon the eight knots of wind necessary for the AC40 (which weighs 2,000 kilos) to get up and fly were reached – now yes, now not –.
“We have given everything until the last moment, we have fought until the end, but this has just begun…. We are going to concentrate test by test and we hope to do better in the coming days,” commented Marco Gradoni, still on board the AC40. At 19 years old, he is the youngest crew member in the regatta. The Italian team warned that they came to Yida to have a good time, taking the pressure off of themselves, and that was the case on the last lap. His impeccable performance places them in second position (with 18 points) in the general classification. In the lead, Emirates Team New Zealand, with 22 points. In third position are the British and Swiss tied with 15 points each and in fourth place are the French. For the United States, yesterday was a dark day: disqualified shortly after starting the first round and also in the third, they entered last in the second, thus getting a single point.
In the first race, Emirates Team New Zealand stood out not only for its start, but also for the execution and control of the boat that it exhibited at all times, keeping it at an ideal distance from the sea and gaining speed. In the second race, and with a happier wind, those from New Zealand stood out again – reaching speeds exceeding 30 knots, just over 55 km/h) while the Swiss and British fought for second place.
In the background, the Al Rahmah mosque and a modern promenade – which will be the Port Vell in Barcelona – where a colorful opening ceremony was held on Tuesday night. The crew members of the six teams and the president of the Saudi Arabian Sailing Federation passed the stage. This sport boasts a few days of prominence in a country that in recent years has attracted golf tournaments, world boxing titles, the Dakar rally, the Formula 1 Grand Prix, the Spanish and Italian Super Cups and will organize the Soccer World Cup in 2034.