32nd edition of the America´s Cup

The 32nd America´s Cup edition is on fire, like we haven't seen for many years. On the last two challanges, the winners crushed their opponents with stunning victories of 5-0. (New Zealand Team won against the Italian Sindicate, Prada Challange in 2000 and Team Allinghi beated New Zealand in 2003) If these successes were a demonstration of supremcy in the art of sailing, they sure weren´t much fun for those watching it.

But this time the story has changed. War is finally at seas with the cup being challenged leg by leg, tackle by tackle. For now Team Allinghi has a two win advantage over their opponents leading by 4-2. One more win for the Swiss syndicate and it's game over for Tem New Zealand, since the final is disputed at the best of 9 races. But no one comes from the far side of the world, specially after such a previous humiliating defeat at home in 2003, to let the most prestigious sailing trophy in the same hands. Tomorrow it´s D-day in the world of sailing and I'll make sure I´ll be watching it.

And what does this matter for Portugal? Switzerland does not have sea and the last time the organization chose a place, they went for Valencia, in Spain. It is time for us to start thinking about taking it to Portugal in the moment Team Allinghi wins.

We have more constant and better conditions for the practice of sailing in Cascais, Vilamoura or even Porto than Valencia, which can be an advantage to win the host of such a huge event

Until then I leave you with a short story of the America´s Cup.

The America's Cup is the most famous and most prestigious regatta and Match Race in the sport of sailing, and the oldest active trophy in international sport, predating the Modern Olympics by 45 years. The sport attracts top sailors and yacht designers because of its long history and prestige as the “Holy Grail” of yachting. Although the most salient aspect of the regatta is its yacht races, it is also a test of boat design, sail design, fundraising, and management skills. The cup, originally offered as the Royal Yacht Squadron cup, is now named after the first yacht to win the trophy, the schooner America. The trophy remained in the hands of the New York Yacht Club of the United States from 1852 or 1857 (when the syndicate that won the Cup donated the trophy to the club) until 1983 when the Cup was won by the challenger, Australia II of Australia, ending the longest winning streak in the history of sport. The skipper of Australia II, John Bertrand, was quoted in saying, “This puts yacht racing back on the map!”
The America’s Cup regatta is a challenge-driven yacht series that currently involves a best-of-nine series of match racing (a duel between two boats). Since the 1992 match, the regatta has been sailed with the International America’s Cup Class (IACC) sloop, a monohull boat that has an average length of about 75 feet (23 m). Any challenger who meets the requirements specified in the Deed of Gift, which governs the regatta, has the right to challenge the yacht club that holds the Cup. Since 1983, Louis Vuitton has sponsored the Louis Vuitton Cup as a prize for the winner of the challenger selection series (which was inaugurated for the 1970 match). The America’s Cup is a race between the winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup and the current holder. If the challenging team wins the cup, the cup’s ownership is transferred from the defender’s yacht club to the winning team’s yacht club.

Font: Wikipedia