Despite the low influx of visitors on Thursday, the wet weather on Friday that forced the suspension of the regatta and the parallel events, as well as prohibiting bathing on the beaches due to the risk of an electrical storm, and the lack of wind that it tarnished the competition; Vilanova i la Geltrú makes a very good assessment of the preliminary regattas of the 37th America's Cup.
The city was filled with some 20,000 visitors on Saturday and yesterday to experience the great nautical show. Among the internationals, the French have stood out, followed by the English, Americans and New Zealanders. Rodalies Renfe, which has offered up to 24,000 additional seats, has seen users increase by 21% this weekend.
The competition has not left any equipment in the city, but the City Council is determined to take advantage of the wake of the Copa del América. Mayor Juan Luis Ruiz says that the best side of Vilanova has been shown to the world, highlighting that "the city has a dynamic port, kilometers of beaches and attractive leisure, cultural, sports and gastronomic proposals."
He says that “the challenge has ended up being a great success,” although he clarifies that it is more in the reputation achieved than in the economic aspect. Ruiz wants to bet on the blue economy, and affirms that the city is prepared to host major international events. Yesterday he met with the president of the Spanish Olympic Committee, Alejandro Blanco, in order to work to turn Vilanova into a benchmark for nautical sports, beach volleyball or 3x3 basketball.
Anna Ribera, councilor for City Planning and Economic Promotion, believes that "it's time to take advantage of the push that the organization of the regatta has brought." And he proposes to extend the joint work that has been carried out with the objective of promoting initiatives "that have impact and capacity for economic transformation".
Jaume Ballbé, the president of the Club Nàutic Vilanova, says that “it has been important to see that all port operators can work together with the municipality,” and he trusts that this coordination will continue. He also believes that the regattas “will help promote sailing in the city itself and in our area of influence.”
The executive director of the America's Cup Event, Grant Dalton, has gone so far as to state that "we couldn't be in a better place on the planet than in Catalunya, Barcelona and Vilanova." For his part, the president of the Generalitat, Pere Aragonès, has stated that it is “a privilege” to be able to host this sporting spectacle in Catalonia. He also believes that it represents “a huge opportunity” for Catalonia, while he wanted to remember in Vilanova that all the great economic revolutions have come “when we have looked at the sea.” He is convinced that the legacy and impact of this competition is “very positive”.
Nothing like this had been experienced in Vilanova since the decades of the 70s and 80s, when the port of Vilanova hosted tests of the European and world championships of the highest motorboating category, Off-shore, the Formula 1 of the sea. In April 1986, these tests included the participation of the pilot Stefano Casiraghi, who was accompanied by his wife Carolina de Monaco.
The security measures and police presence have been very notable in a maritime strip that has been closed to traffic since Thursday. Except for a demonstration with a hundred people against the holding of the competition in the city and the complaint against three people for flying their drones in the prohibited area, there have been no notable incidents.
Viu Comerç has tried to promote local commerce while the top manta has been very residual. The hotels and restaurants on the seafront have filled up. Jose Gallego, co-owner of the Marejol restaurant, states that on Saturday and yesterday they have gotten more customers than on “a good weekend in August.”
