America’s Cup spy: King Felipe VI enjoyed the races, Kiwis cheering, Cup booklet

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If you want to know all about the America’s Cup in Barcelona and what happened at sea, be sure to look back at our Trial of the Cup and all the news in ourThe Cup Newspapersection. But if you want to know what happened behind the scenes of the America’s Cup circus, in the hidden corners of the bases, envies and friendships among sailors, good deeds and snubs, gossip, here you are in the right place.


America’s Cup Spy

Our Barcelona correspondent Ida Castiglioni tells you everything no one else is telling you. Here’s the latest installment – for now of “America’s Cup Spy“: thanks for so many following along!


The sailing king at the America’s Cup

It became known only later. His Majesty Felipe VI watched the third America’s Cup regatta on Sunday, Oct. 13, in the waters of Barcelona. . He was aboard the Spanish amphibious aircraft carrier LHD “Juan Carlos I” stationed around the boundaryaries of the race course. The current King of Spain, the 56-year-old former Prince of Asturias, son of King Juan Carlos and Sophia of Greece, had arrived at 1 p.m. on a helicopter landing on the deck of one of the Spanish Navy’s most modern and advanced vessels.

King Felipe VI is a passionate (and good) sailor. He was in Barcelona following the Cup
King Felipe VI is a passionate (and good) sailor. He was in Barcelona following the Cup

He was accompanied by important dignitaries in addition to Salvador Illa, president of the Autonomous Region of Catalonia. The King had already been in Barcelona on August 29 for the official opening of the 37th edition of the America’s Cup: an event with lengthy speeches in Spanish, Catalan, and English that had taken place at the Barcelona Maritime Museum, a few dozen meters from the New Zealand base.


In the Kiwi’s Lair

I have been following the last three Cup races at the Real Club Nautico in Barcelona, the yacht club twinned with the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron that has been materially storing the precious Cup these past few months. So 676 members of the historic defender’s club decided to come from New Zealand in Barcelona to watch the races and cheer on their boat.

In addition to them, the Kiwi supporters’ website ‘livesaildie’ reports that from ‘down under’ 5,052 New Zealanders have arrived here in Port Vel and that a couple of thousand ‘expats’ have reached Barcelona from all over Europe and even the United States. Basically, an invasion of NZ-branded sailors. And so the harbor dock and the avenue bordering the Kiwi base are crowded with children and youngsters wrapped in the national flag, the Union Jack on a blue background (like the ocean) certifying Commonwealth membership, while the four stars of different sizes (as the actual brightness changes), edged in white, symbolize the Ursa Minor constellation. The America’s Cup Village, breweries, tapas bars and restaurants, on the other hand, overflow with supporters, in the usual black uniform with green fern, the same one worn by the crew. They will be here until the end of next week because it could have been 7-6. The Real Club Nautico set up a huge tent to welcome the twinned members and its own, and allow them to watch the races broadcast in the press room and on the screens positioned at Placa del Mar and near the Olympic Port. It was the right place to watch the last races amidst truly passionate supporters. A Swiss friend had held a seat for me in the second row in this huge space, where sofas and armchairs mingled, and all around high tables. Further out toward the sea three shacks stocked tapas, fritas, various sandwiches, drinks and lots of beer at a steady pace. The atmosphere was overheated, even as the real sailors were mingled with distinguished men in suits (the executives of some sponsors). The families of the crew and team men, on the other hand, always gathered to watch the races under the other tent, the one with the fake green lawn positioned near the base. Here the spectacle was inimitable: lots of children and youngsters, from three to 10 years old, with their faces marked by wax features waved flags, shouted, sang and danced. At the Real Club Nautico the show was more restrained but the sound level was challenging because every right maneuver set off an impressive claque. To remember.


The America’s Cup Booklet

On last Tuesday evening here in Barcelona, the design of the large (unusually sized) book on the history of the Vuitton Cup and the America’s Cup was unveiled on the second floor of Louis Vuitton’s store, positioned along Paseo de Gracia (like all those of the world’s fashion leaders).

The America’s Cup. Limited Edition celebrates the legacy of the world’s oldest international sports competition: it will be a limited edition of 1,000 copies, designed by Marc Newson. A special Art Edition, limited instead to 250 copies, will also include a carbon-fiber lectern designed by Newson that resembles the keel of a sailboat. The book is edited by journalist and sports writer Pino Allievi, who has coordinated the project over the past five years, selecting talented authors and editing hundreds of photographs (many will be by Carlo Borlenghi) drawings and numerous unpublished works spanning more than 170 years of the history of these regattas. The volume, to be released in bookstores in spring 2025, is the result of an agreement between Louis Vuitton and the publisher Taschen, and offers through images (many will be by Carlo Borlenghi) and texts a never-before-seen journey through a competition that has thrilled the world for decades. The preview launch of this new book was attended by some of the main representatives of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup teams underway in Barcelona: Matteo de Nora, Team Principal of Emirates Team New Zealand, Stephane Kandler, CEO of Orient Express Racing Team, Terry Hutchinson, CEO of American Magic, Francesco Bruni, helmsman of Luna Rossa, Michel Hodara, CEO of Alinghi Red Bull Racing.


Spy America’s Cup, all bets

Pills, trivia and indiscretions from Barcelona: this has been Spy America’s Cup.

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