Adios Valencia...
I never had the slightest doubt this would be taking place, I only thought it would have been in 2011 instead of 2010. As one can observe from the photo, I'm referring to BMW Oracle, the America's Cup defender, permanently leaving its base in Valencia. After more than 5 years in the Spanish city, the holders of the world's oldest sports trophy are packing up in order to leave by January 1st, 2011. When Valencia Sailing visited the base earlier on Monday morning, the most visible sign was the crew stripping the base of any BMW Oracle branding, starting with the giant poster of USA17.
The personnel will only be working a couple of days this week and then definitely leave, handing the base to the crews that will dismantle it. Although this information has not been confirmed, we understand BMW Oracle will be based in Auckland for the next few months.
An era ends now in the America's Cup. After seven years and one month, Valencia ceases to be the "world's sailing capital" and another city will take over. However, with only eleven days left until their deadline, of which 4 are holidays, BMW Oracle would rather hurry up and announce the venue of the 34th America's Cup.
Crews striping all BMW Oracle branding from the base. Valencia, 20 December 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia SailingLabels: 34th America's Cup, America's Cup, Valencia
9 Comments:
I have to disagree. An era has ended when the America's Cup left Newport, RI. After that, it has been an itinerant event: Freemantle, San Diego, Auckland, Valencia and now ... who knows. Valencia did a wonderful job and should be proud of it, but life moves on and exciting times lay ahead.
Merry Christmas Pierre and thanks for your great work.
Is USA-17 still in Valencia?
These things happen!...one never owns The Americas cup, just a tempory guardian in the long history of the even itself.
Who knows, in 25 years, we may be calling cats dinosaurs!
Gilligan W.A.
You always trust BMW Oracle, may be too much...
Are you going to move to sanfranciscosailing.com?
Good luck!
Y QUE NO VUELVAN POR FAVOR!
Finally they are leaving, and the harbor becomes more attractive ...
al anónimo de las 5:26 pm - están verdes las uvas?
Maybe that horrible smell in Valencia will also go away when BMW Oracle leaves.
This is disappointing to read on a number of levels. Primarily the fact that this signals there will probably be no AC pre-event in Valencia. If BMWO intended to do that surely they would keep their base. Hopefully Rita Barbie Doll will attract sailing events to Valencia in the future to keep the Darsena active and not cut their loses and open it up to commerical stuff. We shall see though.
Post a Comment
<< Home