From November 3 to 6, international sailors will compete in high-performance sailboats on the same racecourse where the 37th America’s Cup will be held.
For four days, from November 3 to 6, Marina Vela Barcelona, in cooperation with Club Nàutic de Vilassar de Mar, will host one of the most important nautical sporting events on the international calendar, the Youth Foiling Gold Cup 69F final. This event will serve as a prelude to the upcoming America’s Cup to be held in Barcelona in 2024.
The 9 competing teams comprise nearly 40 young international sailors who race in 6.90-meter carbon monohulls, the Persico 69F. A technologically advanced sailboat that combines maximum levels of performance and safety.
The director of Marina Vela Barcelona, Alberto García, the president of Club Náutico de Vilassar de Mar, Jesús Majem, and the international director of the Gold Cup 69F, Giorgio Benussi, presented the details of the 69F Cup final at Marina Vela Barcelona.
Alberto García, director of Marina Vela, stated that “we are delighted to host the new edition of the 69F as it perfectly aligns with our objectives. At Marina Vela Barcelona, we are firmly committed to recreational boating as an increasingly socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable activity. Sailing and supporting the development of increasingly efficient engines powered by renewable energies are in our DNA. In this regard, it is worth noting that at Marina Vela, we are working to become the first Sports Marina in Barcelona with a charger for 100% electric boats.
Alberto García added that “we are a young company that is increasingly hosting more and better nautical events, favored by Marina Vela’s convenient position for access to open sea, as well as by the quality of services provided by the nautical companies that have chosen to establish their headquarters in our Marina, firmly committing to this project.”
Jesús Majem highlighted the importance for Club Nàutic Vilassar de Mar to organize this regatta, as “foiling is the present of sailing” and aligns with the events the club is organizing, such as the first Catalan Wingfoil Cup held last weekend. Furthermore, Jesús Majem added the importance of this type of nautical event for the club’s sailors, as one of the teams participating in the 69F final is composed of club sailors. “This provides extra motivation, as Club Nàutic de Vilassar is a breeding ground for top-level sailing professionals.”
Giorgio Benussi emphasized the importance of holding the final in Barcelona, “which is and will be the world sailing capital with the America’s Cup.” “We want the 69F final to be an annual event on the international calendar, and for Barcelona to be its venue for the coming years, during the years the America’s Cup is held. Our boats serve as a training platform for the America’s Cup.”
Marina Vela Barcelona
Marina Vela Barcelona has become a benchmark area in Barcelona. This ambitious Marina has always aimed to revitalize the northern entrance of the Port of Barcelona, offering, on the one hand, the best nautical facilities and exclusive services for boats based at the Marina.
And on the other hand, a unique area where leading companies in the nautical sector have established themselves, major nautical events are hosted, and a wide gastronomic offer is available by the sea.
The new Marina in Barcelona, located a few meters from the W Hotel, has 130 berths for boats 12 meters or longer, and Europe’s largest robotic dry marina, which can accommodate 222 boats under 9 meters in length, allowing them to be launched quickly and safely.
Club Nàutic Vilassar de Mar
The Club Nàutic Vilassar de Mar, founded in 1957, is today one of the most important sailing clubs in our country. With over 2,000 active members, it has several fleets of sailors, primarily in initiation, youth, and masters categories across different dinghy classes. With sailors who maintain their enthusiasm and desire to work towards participating in the Olympic Games or the America’s Cup 40 teams that will compete in Barcelona 2024.
Its waters have hosted world, European, and national championships, as well as the first pre-Olympic week for Barcelona ’92. These championships have been led by a group of members as a demonstration of support for sailing in Barcelona.
Club Nàutic Vilassar de Mar has been a driving force behind major events in the sailing world, and one of its greatest challenges was participating in the campaign to ensure that sailing at the Barcelona ’92 Olympics could be held in Barcelona’s waters, for which its members proposed the design of Barcelona’s Olympic Port.
More information at https://69fsailing.com
