What would have happened if the America’s Cup sailing in Barcelona had featured a local Spanish team? Although New Zealand’s leadership has been overwhelming, many are asking this question on the pontoons of this sporting event: sailors, yacht clubs, organizers. Seeing hundreds of people and dozens of boats celebrating Emirates Team New Zealand’s victory last Saturday shows that there is fertile ground to connect with a local (and international) audience of fans and athletes in Barcelona (or another Spanish city).
In Spain there is plenty of talent, what is missing is capital
While waiting to make the final assessment of this competition, which represented a turning point not only in the sporting field, but also in the citizen life of the people of Barcelona for more than two months, almost everyone agrees on one point. A missing team Spain. This would have contributed significantly to energizing life in the Village (sometimes a bit dull during the week and full more of foreigners than residents), in addition to increasing both the audience and the participation of Barcelonans.
The biggest unknown is the location of the 38th edition. Because it is one thing if it is done in Spain and another if it is done in Arabia or more distant places. This would increase expenses, both transportation and accommodation, in addition to influencing the return on investment of potential sponsors. That said, some reflections can be made.
Agustín Zulueta led the last Spanish project in the Copa del América in 2007 in Valencia. In his opinion, if Barcelona were to once again choose to host, the multiplier effect of the economic impact of the event would almost triple. And this would be the way: “there is no lack of human resources in Spain. We have young people and professionals in different categories who stand out, both at the level of sailors and engineers and managers. But the teams need to have financial support so that they are in a position to express their talent,” he comments. “If the America’s Cup aspires to be the largest sailing sports trophy in the world, it has to open the possibility of opening the competition to more teams,” he says.
The Ibex35 firms, with some exceptions, have not been involved in the event
“The challenges of Switzerland and France are a good example of this model. And how a project could have been launched. I think it was understood too late how important it would have been to have a local team to have a greater connection with the public here in Barcelona,” summarizes Zulueta.
The Basque sailor Xabi Fernández, currently coach of the British Ineos Britannia, assures that he would personally feel “happy” if a Spanish Copa América team were set up. “It will depend a lot on whether this trophy stays in Spain or if there really is a format to put it into action. Thinking about presenting a candidacy like that of the big teams is very difficult because a lot of money is needed, but it is true that France with the participation of Orient Express has also shown us a path that we hope can remain open.”
As New Zealand’s chief engineer, Dan Bernasconi, said, it is possible that for the next edition the AC75s will have fewer automated elements and more presence of human elements. The Kiwi team says that if they wanted they could change many things for the next America’s Cup but the intention is to introduce minimal modifications to save costs and take advantage of part of the experience accumulated in the current boats. A message that Spain, if it decided to participate, would do well to consider.
The French from Orient Express show that you can participate to gain experience
The Catalan Olympic medalist Jordi Xammar also agrees that mounting a Spanish challenge in Barcelona is an opportunity that was missed, but that it should be considered for the future. “From my point of view, the Spanish team of young people and women with the AC 40 did a great job and I think it was an example of what is missing from this Copa del América in Barcelona, which is a local team. When Sail Team BCN competed, we could clearly see that the city turned its attention. In Barcelona, many people came to support him and you could feel that there was a fan. I sincerely think that if the Copa del América in Barcelona had had Spanish participation, the event would have had a boom.”
Xanmar lists the pros and cons of this project. “There is no doubt that Spain is a country with a lot of talent in sailing. Perhaps what we lack is the economic muscle that other athletes from other countries have. I think that if Spain puts in, without a doubt very big things could be done in the Copa América,” he says. And he argues it like this: “When you walk around the bases and you see all the Spaniards involved in all the different teams and how much they are valued….. And for me it is impossible not to think: ‘oh hell, if we get together For all those who are involved in the current Copa del América, a very good Spanish team could emerge. Hopefully in a few years something can be done.”
A Spanish challenge in the next sailing America’s Cup
Reasons for a candidacy
1
There is a human team. Spain has a large number of high-level sailors and experts in the nautical and sports industry. There would be no need to sign foreign athletes or engineers from other countries. From the Olympic medalists Jordi Xammar, Diego Botín and Florian Trittel or Tamara Echegoyen, through the coach Vila (Alinghi Red Bull), even the boat designer Marcelino Botín (to name a few), there is plenty of talent.
2
Available capital can be raisedIn this edition of the Copa del América, Caixabank and Puig were one of the few Spanish companies in the Ibex 35 that became financially involved with the Sail BCN Team and the youth and women’s league of the Copa del América. To these two we should add Damm or San Miguel, which supported other teams in the senior category of the AC75, in addition to other sponsorship and support actions such as Movistar, Agbar, Acciona Energía, De Antonio Yachts, Recaredo or Juvé & Camps. Therefore, there is room to involve other large companies that on previous occasions or in other disciplines have invested in sports sponsorship: from Iberdrola or Telefónica (just in sailing) or Santander and BBVA (football and Formula One) or Repsol (motor) , to mention the most recent cases. Mounting a Spanish challenge can cost up to 150 million euros, depending on ambitions. Much will depend on where the next edition will take place. If the Copa de la América stayed in Spain, the costs would be lower (as there was no travel) and the local public base would guarantee an almost assured economic return. In addition, the Spanish team would play at home, which could help them be more competitive on the water.
3
The pull of women’s sailing in the America’s Cup. The excellent result of the Sail BCN Team, which came third overall in the Puig Women’s America’s Cup women’s league, is something to take advantage of. The team has already announced that it wants to continue at the forefront in the next edition. Silvia Mas, Neus Ballester, Paula Barceló and María Cantero have shown that they have the level to even get on board the top category of the AC75 but they need to have the necessary means to compete on equal terms. It’s a good starting point to start with.
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