Spectacular evening at Port America's Cup

A spectacular evening at Port America's Cup for the Boat Parade

Valencia, 15 April, 2007 - A crowd of over 20 000 people packed Port America's Cup on Saturday evening, despite grim weather, to celebrate the beginning of the ultimate season of the 32nd America's Cup with the opening Boat Parade, featuring the 12 teams.

The teams were ushered through the canal leading from the sea to Port America's Cup by a spectacular show of light, music, fireworks and special effects. The show was designed to evoke the four elements, Water, Earth, Wind and Fire.

It began at 21:30 with music from the Spanish group Efecto Mariposa, including the official song of the 32nd America's Cup, 'Believe in Me'.

Then the home team, Desafío Español 2007, on their brightly coloured race boat, paraded down the canal to the delight of the assembled crowd. The rest of the teams followed in turn, China Team displaying a small jib with the message, 'Viva Valencia'.

Emirates Team New Zealand came through with a group of Maori warriors on the deck performing the 'haka'. And Alinghi, as Defender, and the team responsible for bringing the America's Cup to Europe and Spain, was the final team to make the passage down the canal, proudly displaying the America's Cup trophy on their foredeck.

Despite the rain, each of the teams gathered in large groups on the deck of their race boats to salute the crowd, who in turn cheered on each boat. The teams will now turn their focus to capturing the most prestigious trophy in sport.

Among the important guests welcomed by Michel Bonnefous, the CEO of AC Management, were Her Royal Highness, the Infanta Elena and her husband Jaime de Marichalar, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark, Yves Carcelle, the President and CEO of Louis Vuitton Malletier, along with the several syndicate heads, including Alinghi's Ernesto Bertarelli.

Now, for the 11 challengers, the immediate task at hand is to win the Louis Vuitton Cup. Racing in the challenger selection series begins on Monday afternoon.

ENDS

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