The Vilanova i la Geltrú City Council wants to take advantage of the America's Cup preliminary regattas to project the city beyond the competition days, from September 14 to 17. Finally, expectations have been lowered and a maximum of 43,000 visitors is expected (initially there had been talk of about 100,000 people).
It will be the first time in history that the dispute of these tests can be followed from the coast. The race course will be located between 800 meters and one kilometer from the beaches. There are already more than 80 accredited media to cover the competition in Vilanova, which will be broadcast throughout the world. In the city there will be several giant screens to follow the regattas at different points on the seafront of the capital of the Garraf region.
Speaking to La Vanguardia, the mayor of Vilanova, Juan Luis Ruiz, affirms that "it will be a great opportunity for the city, so that we are known and recognized internationally" and reveals that "the organizers themselves have been amazed at the city that we have ”.
When the new government team took over the municipal reins, "there was nothing and no one in the City Council to coordinate the America's Cup," according to Juan Luis Ruiz. After naming Xavi Socías as coordinator, "all the information and previous commitments were collected". Then the City Council had to assume about 750,000 euros. Finally, after finding external sponsors who have taken over, for example, the shuttle buses, the amount has been reduced to 250,000 euros.
The municipal coordinator states that "it is a project that we have never had in Vilanova i la Geltrú". Socías adds that he supposes "playing the Champions League" and that "it opens a window to the world for us." He adds that the motto "I come for the America's Cup and I return for Vilanova" has been invented.
There will be significant mobility restrictions on the entire seafront (from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.), similar to those of the fireworks for the local festival, but five geolocated peripheral car parks with free shuttle bus service have been planned. The City Council has already asked to limit mobility with private vehicles as much as possible and Renfe will expand the service, as if it were the Sitges carnival.
To project Vilanova, El batec del mar (The Heartbeat of the Sea) has been created, which aims to recover the marine legacy and heritage “and look forward”. It wants to value the Espai Far, the Espai Guinovart, fishing, innovation linked to the world of the sea and promote the local sports part. The program includes the possibility of tasting local dishes and wines; an exhibition of Barcelona Capital Nàutica in which, among other aspects, it will be shown what is lived inside a competition boat, and an exhibition of the Bordegassos de Vilanova, another of the Falcons de Vilanova and the festive bestiary of fire from the city. There will also be a stage with a giant screen with musical performances by local groups, the presentations of the teams and the opening and closing ceremonies with the awards ceremony.
The batec del mar includes interviews with people linked to the sea or an exhibition of the Vilanova carnival troupes. Viu Comerç will invite you to go to the center of the city. The Santa Eulàlia packet boat, a hundred-year-old sailboat that is part of the fleet of the Barcelona Maritime Museum, will also move to Vilanova, and there will be a Catalan skate exhibition on Saturday and Sunday with 210 boats. These single-crew one-design dinghy sailboats will be based in Cubelles.
