-
FOLLOW SAFELY #AC37FORALL
We want everyone to enjoy the racing. If you're out on the water, make sure you've got your safety checklist ticked.
FOLLOW SAFELY #AC37FORALLWe want everyone to enjoy the racing. If you're out on the water, make sure you've got your safety checklist ticked.What’s your plan? Before going out on the water to enjoy the racing, make sure you prepare your vessel and equipment, check your gear to be sure it’s in good working order, and know the rules and local conditions where you’re going.
Wear your lifejacket. This is the single most important thing to do to help keep yourself safe on the water. Lifejackets are legally required at all times on boats six metres or less in length. Skippers must have lifejackets of the right size and type for everyone on board.
Be a responsible skipper. If you’re the skipper, you are legally responsible for the safety of the boat and everyone on board.
Take two waterproof ways to communicate. If you can’t call for help, then no one can rescue you.
Avoid alcohol. Stay sharp on the water. Drinking affects your judgement and reactions if something goes wrong.
Check the marine weather forecast. It’s not the same as land and general forecasts, the weather will be different on the water and can change suddenly.
Keep an active look out. On-water congestion is likely to happen on race days, increasing the risk of collision or wake that can overturn vessels.
Be aware of your wake and big waves caused by other boats. Keep your distance and don’t get too close to other boats.
Understand and operate within the speed limits
Understand and operate within the speed limits – the maximum speed within the restricted area “Area Restringida” is 6 knots, but at all times you should limit the impact of the boats wash.
Boats and vessels of the Salvamento Maritimo, Guardia Civil and Mossosd’Esquadra will be within the restricted area making sure that it is safe and the rues followed, such as no anchoring, no swimming and no littering.For those with smaller vessels such as Stand up Paddle Board (SUP) , canoes and jet ski, then special areas have been set aside for you too keep you safe.
To make sure that you follow all the restrictions in place for your safety and receive the latest information on how to watch the racing make sure that you are signed up and receive the daily On Water Spectator newsletter each morning of the event. (Changing updates for the day will be transmitted on VHF Channel 71)
-
SIGN UP FOR ON-WATER INFORMATION
If you plan to get on the water amongst the action, then register your details below to stay updated with the latest information from the America’s Cup Event. We will email you daily with details of the course to be used including expected weather, speed limits and race times to help you be amongst the action. America’s Cup event will send communications daily from the first practice racing on the 13th & 14th September through to the actual regatta from the 15-17th September 2023. Always check out the America's Cup website and follow our social pages to stay in the know. Vilanova i La Geltrú is the venue and we want to ensure that everyone has a safe time on the water to really enjoy the spectacle of AC40 racing up close and personal.
SIGN UP FOR ON-WATER INFORMATIONIf you plan to get on the water amongst the action, then register your details below to stay updated with the latest information from the America’s Cup Event. We will email you daily with details of the course to be used including expected weather, speed limits and race times to help you be amongst the action. America’s Cup event will send communications daily from the first practice racing on the 13th & 14th September through to the actual regatta from the 15-17th September 2023. Always check out the America's Cup website and follow our social pages to stay in the know. Vilanova i La Geltrú is the venue and we want to ensure that everyone has a safe time on the water to really enjoy the spectacle of AC40 racing up close and personal. -
HARD AND FAST RULES:
- At all times, spectator vessels must keep a minimum of 10 metres apart – and use their engines to maintain the appropriate distance if required.
- All vessels must remain on VHF channel 71, through which information of general interest relating to safety and navigation will be given during the event.
- Please no swimming off vessels at any time – even if you’re tethered to the vessel, Jet ski or paddleboard.
- No anchoring. The America’s Cup is fully committed to marine life and sustainability and damage to the sea-bed by anchoring is not acceptable – plus, we may need to shift the course direction at any time and may need to ask spectator vessels to move accordingly.
- As the competitors’ transit out to the starting area, please keep a minimum of 100 metres distance from them at all times – the AC40 when low-riding off their foils is close to the water and affected by seaway and swell.
-On course, you will find a fleet of Marshal Boats. Please obey their orders and if you are in any doubt about any instruction, they will be pleased to help you.
- Channel 77 is for emergency use only and please try to reduce any radio communication on the official channels to the bare minimum.HARD AND FAST RULES:- At all times, spectator vessels must keep a minimum of 10 metres apart – and use their engines to maintain the appropriate distance if required.
- All vessels must remain on VHF channel 71, through which information of general interest relating to safety and navigation will be given during the event.
- Please no swimming off vessels at any time – even if you’re tethered to the vessel, Jet ski or paddleboard.
- No anchoring. The America’s Cup is fully committed to marine life and sustainability and damage to the sea-bed by anchoring is not acceptable – plus, we may need to shift the course direction at any time and may need to ask spectator vessels to move accordingly.
- As the competitors’ transit out to the starting area, please keep a minimum of 100 metres distance from them at all times – the AC40 when low-riding off their foils is close to the water and affected by seaway and swell.
-On course, you will find a fleet of Marshal Boats. Please obey their orders and if you are in any doubt about any instruction, they will be pleased to help you.
- Channel 77 is for emergency use only and please try to reduce any radio communication on the official channels to the bare minimum. -
RACE COURSE
The Regatta Director will indicate the intended courses to be used based on meteorological information on the morning of the racing. Areas designated for racing are to the south and west of the main harbour entrance to Vilanova i La Geltrú and for those taking to the water, they should be aware of the significant restricted zone that lies immediately to the west of the port along the main beachfront – all boats must obey these restrictions. Racing starts at 3.30pm on race days and we advise the spectator fleet to be in position one hour beforehand. There are some standard restrictions in place and some that are unique to the America’s Cup so here’s a quick look at those, by clicking the "KNOW MORE" button below.
RACE COURSEThe Regatta Director will indicate the intended courses to be used based on meteorological information on the morning of the racing. Areas designated for racing are to the south and west of the main harbour entrance to Vilanova i La Geltrú and for those taking to the water, they should be aware of the significant restricted zone that lies immediately to the west of the port along the main beachfront – all boats must obey these restrictions. Racing starts at 3.30pm on race days and we advise the spectator fleet to be in position one hour beforehand. There are some standard restrictions in place and some that are unique to the America’s Cup so here’s a quick look at those, by clicking the "KNOW MORE" button below.Once you get to the ‘Area Restringida’ – the Restricted Area – the speed limit is 6 knots but please be aware of the wash that your vessel or craft creates and be mindful of other boats in your immediate vicinity. As a guiding rule, please try to restrict wash as much as possible.
As you approach the racing area, you will immediately notice the coloured zones created by large inflatable ‘super buoys’ that mark the limits of the spectator area depending on the size of your vessel.
VESSELS UNDER 23m
Almost all the spectator fleet will gather in the Yellow Zoned area – this is for vessels under 23 metres (75 foot) in length and your designated areas are to the starboard (right) hand side of the course looking upwind and in the designated area above the windward gate and the initial port side of the top of the course.
VESSELS OVER 23m
For vessels larger than 23 metres please stay within the red marker buoys on the port side of the course (looking upwind) and for Team Support craft and VIP Hospitality vessels, the designated area is marked on the port side of the course (looking upwind) with blue marker buoys.
JET SKIS & PADDLEBOARDS
Jet skis and stand-up Paddleboards (SUPs) have designated areas to port and starboard on the lower perimeter of the starting box either side. Please be careful not to encroach into the starting box as the action is fast and furious and the AC40 sailors have limited visibility.
-
DAILY RACE COURSE UPDATES: 17 SEPTEMBER 2023
Today we see the second race day of record fleet of over 200 Pati Catala catamarans that will be racing between 12:00pm to 13:30pm. The Pati Catala course will start within the AC40 race box after exiting the Pati turn around a mark off Vilanova Harbour and proceed along the coast to the West. Today's racing is scheduled to consist of 3x fleet races & 1x Match Race Final. First race starts at 15:05, with last race start expected at 16:55. Please look out for debris and rubbish in the water, please remove or let a nearby marshal boat know. Weather forecast: Initial cloud with sunshine this afternoon with light winds.
DAILY RACE COURSE UPDATES: 17 SEPTEMBER 2023Today we see the second race day of record fleet of over 200 Pati Catala catamarans that will be racing between 12:00pm to 13:30pm. The Pati Catala course will start within the AC40 race box after exiting the Pati turn around a mark off Vilanova Harbour and proceed along the coast to the West. Today's racing is scheduled to consist of 3x fleet races & 1x Match Race Final. First race starts at 15:05, with last race start expected at 16:55. Please look out for debris and rubbish in the water, please remove or let a nearby marshal boat know. Weather forecast: Initial cloud with sunshine this afternoon with light winds. -
Vilanova On Water Spectator Regulations
Capitanía Marítima has now published the final document for the regulations that control the On Water Spectators in Vilanova I la Geltru for the forthcoming Preliminary Event. For those that want to read the full document it is published here.
For those boats signed up through the on water registration process we will remind you of the rules on a daily basis as part of the newsletters that you will receive every day of the event. If you have not yet signed up to be an on water spectator, then please do at the following link.Vilanova On Water Spectator RegulationsCapitanía Marítima has now published the final document for the regulations that control the On Water Spectators in Vilanova I la Geltru for the forthcoming Preliminary Event. For those that want to read the full document it is published here.
For those boats signed up through the on water registration process we will remind you of the rules on a daily basis as part of the newsletters that you will receive every day of the event. If you have not yet signed up to be an on water spectator, then please do at the following link. -
BOUNDARY MARKS
For the Vilanova i La Geltrú Preliminary Regatta, the America’s Cup has trialled and selected autonomous, coloured marks in a bid to cut down on the number of Marshal RIBs required and the need to not anchor nor disrupt the seabed as the autonomous marks are powered by electric and solar power. Vessels on the water will be clearly able to see them as they are shrouded in inflatable, colour coded rubber rings that will form the ‘stadium’ for the AC40’s to compete in.
BOUNDARY MARKSFor the Vilanova i La Geltrú Preliminary Regatta, the America’s Cup has trialled and selected autonomous, coloured marks in a bid to cut down on the number of Marshal RIBs required and the need to not anchor nor disrupt the seabed as the autonomous marks are powered by electric and solar power. Vessels on the water will be clearly able to see them as they are shrouded in inflatable, colour coded rubber rings that will form the ‘stadium’ for the AC40’s to compete in.The vast majority of on-water vessels will be directed towards the yellow marker buoy areas – and please note that the spectator craft will be controlled by on-water marshals and that any vessel, may be required to move at any time if the wind shifts and the Regatta Director changes the angles of the course.
The Marshal ribs are all easy to identify as they have flags saying Marshal in three languagesIf you have any questions just wave down one of the friendly marshal boats!
-
RESTRICTED AIRSPACE
America’s Cup Events (ACE) have applied for a no-fly zone in the airspace above the racecourse in Vilanova i La Geltrú for the sailing period of the first Preliminary Regatta between the Practice Day on the 14th September 2023 through to the Final Match-Race on Sunday 17th September 2023. This allows the TV helicopters and ACE drones to fly safely. Consequently nobody is allowed to enter the airspace and all ‘Drones’ of any description are banned from flying in the area.
RESTRICTED AIRSPACEAmerica’s Cup Events (ACE) have applied for a no-fly zone in the airspace above the racecourse in Vilanova i La Geltrú for the sailing period of the first Preliminary Regatta between the Practice Day on the 14th September 2023 through to the Final Match-Race on Sunday 17th September 2023. This allows the TV helicopters and ACE drones to fly safely. Consequently nobody is allowed to enter the airspace and all ‘Drones’ of any description are banned from flying in the area.
-
MARINE LIFE & BIODIVERSITY
The America’s Cup is fully committed to creating sustainable events at all of its Preliminary Regattas and the races for the Cup in Barcelona via a commitment with World Sailing’s Sustainability Agenda 2030. For the first Preliminary Regatta in Vilanova i La Geltrú, autonomous marks will be used for the first time in the America’s Cup dramatically reducing the requirement for Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) to deploy and retrieve anchored marks and this reduce the seabed footprint of the regatta.
MARINE LIFE & BIODIVERSITYThe America’s Cup is fully committed to creating sustainable events at all of its Preliminary Regattas and the races for the Cup in Barcelona via a commitment with World Sailing’s Sustainability Agenda 2030. For the first Preliminary Regatta in Vilanova i La Geltrú, autonomous marks will be used for the first time in the America’s Cup dramatically reducing the requirement for Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) to deploy and retrieve anchored marks and this reduce the seabed footprint of the regatta.Furthermore, our marshal boats will sweep the course before racing to collect rubbish, bags, and dangerous debris such as logs or other hazards with back up from the coastguard, Sesemer.
The regatta will also see the use of Hydrogen powered vessels with Emirates Team New Zealand showcasing their boat created in conjunction with Toyota.
The America’s Cup takes its commitment to marine-life preservation seriously and the course area will be monitored for signs of any larger mammals in the water at the time of racing.
