America's Cup, sail in Land of Valencia

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THE 32ND AMERICA'S CUP IN THE REGION OF VALENCIA

The Region of Valencia and, in particular, the city of Valencia are experiencing 2007 as the year of the contention of the oldest nautical competition in the world. In this the 32nd America's Cup the greatest number of participating teams in the whole of its long history of more than a century and a half have come together in Valencia; teams from the five continents that have played their cards to reach the top.

The international sailing competition of the America's Cup took this name when, in the year 1851, the American schooner beat the best British boats and won the 100 Guineas Cup of the New York Yacht Club.

Since then the challenge has been repeated on 31 occasions. The New York Yacht Club acted as Defender for many years, winning all the encounters until the year 1983. The victory of the Swiss team Alinghi in New Zealand in the year 2003 brought the America's Cup to Europe for the first time, given that the winning team has the right to organize the following competition and to defend the title against the different Challengers.

Switzerland is a country without sea and in facing the impossibility of competing in a lake in the Alpine country, a process of selection was called for to which around seventy candidates presented themselves. After passing the different phases the city of Valencia was finally chosen as the venue for celebrating the 32nd America's Cup.

In the 32nd America's Cup the Swiss team Alinghi, the Defender, has headed a list of 12 competing teams, the Challengers, which in order of inscription were BMW Oracle Racing, (USA), +39 Challenge (Italy), Team Shosholoza (South Africa), Emirates Team New Zealand (New Zealand), Luna Rossa Challenge (Italy), Areva Challenge (France), Victory Challenge (Sweden), Desafío Español 2007 (Spain), Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team (Italy), United Internet Team Germany (Germany) and China Team (China).