The oldest active trophy in international sport, predating the modern Olympics by 45 years, will be on the line next week when the 33rd America's Cup will take place off the coast of Valencia, Spain. The cup is given to the winner of a challenge-driven match race sailing regatta.
The cup will be defended by the Swiss team Alinghi, hailing from Société Nautique de Genève, and challenged by an American team BMW Oracle Racing from Golden Gate Yatch Club.
Alinghi won the trophy in 2003 and successfully defended it in 2007. Alinghi will be sailing on Alinghi 5, a catamaran which measures 120 feet from stern to tip of the bowsprit. Controversially, the boat has an engine installed to provide power for winches and pumping water ballast from one hull to the other.
BMW Oracle Racing competed and lost in both the 2003 and 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup's, which determined the challenger for the next America's Cup. The team will be racing on a 90 foot trimaran known as USA 17. Interestingly, the boat is equiped with a hard surface wing, instead of a cloth-like sail.
The first two attempts to kick off the event, on February 8 and 10, were postponed due to light variable winds and rough seas, respectively. The matches are now scheduled to take place February 12th, 14th, and 16th.
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