The Cup Runneth Over

The 37th annual America’s Cup is about to kick off in Barcelona. Here’s everything you need to know about it.

By Kevin Koenig

The America’s Cup is arguably the most prestigious athletic contest in the world. Its storied history stretches back to the first race at the Isle of Wight in 1851, making it the longest continually held sports competition on Earth. Though the championship was in the hands of the Americans for an astonishing 132 years, other countries have also flexed their muscles in sailing’s most glamorous event over the past four decades. Most recently, Emirates Team New Zealand won top honors, and as was their right, they got to select the venue for the next race.
They chose wisely. The 2024 America’s Cup is being held in Barcelona, Spain, one of the world’s great metropolises, with an elite yachting pedigree to boot. Carlo Borlenghi, the official photographer for Luna Rossa, sees it as the perfect choice.

“I find it very interesting that the America’s Cup takes place in Barcelona, for various reasons,” he says. “First of all the fact that the regattas are held in front of the city, visible to everyone, and photographically you can really get a sense of the size of these ‘flying boats’ with the city behind them. Beyond that, the city typically has good weather conditions, and is known for its rich maritime heritage and vibrant cultural scene. Is it also easily accessible from all over Europe. It is an exceptional place to hold this very special event.”
Ground zero in Barcelona this year will be Port Vell, a world-class marina with a 400-meter dock that makes it a favorite for superyachts.

“We can handle any size yacht easily,” says Ignacio Erroz, the marina’s general manager. “We have had Dilbar, Azzam—the largest and longest yachts in existence. And these types of vessels come here because they know our facilities are some of the best in the Mediterranean and the world.”

Erroz also sings Barcelona’s praises with equal vigor. “Barcelona is a very tourist-friendly city. It’s walkable, the weather is excellent, it has lots of history and beautiful beaches, and the restaurants are incredible,” he says. “We have close to 30 Michelin Star restaurants here. We believe that we have the best food in the world, just don’t tell that to the Italians.” Lasarte is perhaps the city’s most ballyhooed restaurant. With three Michelin stars it is a Mecca created by Chef Martin Berasategui, who turns out artful and creative dishes with basque and local Catalan influences.
The Moments restaurant at the Mandarin Hotel Barcelona is another spot that is not to be missed. The two-star establishment serves traditional and modern Catalan dishes under the watchful eye of Carme Ruscalleda and her son Raül Balam.

However Erroz recommends somewhere entirely different to grab a bite while in town, and not surprisingly, it’s at his marina. “Port Vell will have its own restaurant and cocktail bar for the America’s Cup,” he says. “We have an agreement with Moet & Chandon, plus an oyster bar. And then we have another agreement with the Spanish brewery Estrella Damm, and with them we will do daily beer lunches, which should prove to be very popular.” The marina will also feature pop-up shops from luxury stalwarts like Louis Vuitton and Prada, so attendees can get some shopping in after the lunchtime reveries conclude.
This year Erroz says Marina Port Vell will host about 100 superyachts for the sailing races, making the America’s Cup a true focal point for the yachting community. Though he was not at liberty to say the name of the biggest yacht that will be there, he did mention that it is 106-meters long.
On the smaller end, Wajer Yachts will be in attendance, providing tender services around the port. The Dutch builder is a regular on the superyacht tender scene, so this pairing makes good sense for this event.

If there is overflow on your yacht this year, or if you are attending the Cup sans your boat, a stay at Hotel Arts is nearly mandatory. The hotel has spacious rooms ranging up to 400-square-meter penthouses, as well as a roofdeck with nonpareil panoramic views of the city. Notably, it’s a beachfront hotel, which is a relative rarity in Barcelona (something the city’s visitors have found curious for years, as Barcelona is so famous for its beaches).

No matter where you stay however, the real excitement will be on the water. With six teams from around the world sailing in cutthroat competition just offshore at speeds once unimaginable, there is simply nothing else in the world quite like the America’s Cup. And with an elite venue like Port Vell hosting, the festivities become that much more special. Plus, if you’re attending on a Heesen, well, then you are in the rarest of airs indeed.

“I find it very interesting that the America’s Cup takes place in Barcelona, for various reasons,” says Borlenghi. “First of all the fact that the regattas are held in front of the city, visible to everyone, and photographically you can really get a sense of the size of these “flying boats” with the city behind them. Beyond that, the city typically has good weather conditions, and is known for its rich maritime heritage and vibrant cultural scene. Is it also easily accessible from all over Europe. It is an exceptional place to hold this special event.”