The NYYC American Magic team visits its future base for the America's Cup in the MB92 technical area at the Port of Barcelona

The Port of Barcelona is making progress in adapting the areas that will house the bases of the five teams participating in the 37th America's Cup sailing event, to be held in Barcelona in 2024. The various teams have already chosen the sites from among a list proposed by the port and have begun adaptation work, which in some cases has already been completed.

This is the case of the MB92 Base, where the American NYYC American Magic team will be located. This base, located at the northern end of the MB92 Barcelona shipyard facilities, was the first to have readied the area following the works carried out by the concessionaire during the months of July and August, culminating in surface levelling and paving works. The area was made available to the team a month before the scheduled date.

This week a delegation from the NYYC American Magic team led by CEO John Michael Fauth was able to visit the are where they will set up, and was accompanied by Damià Calvet, President of the Port of Barcelona, and Pepe García-Aubert, president of MB92, who explained the improvements to them and hosted a visit by sea to observe the sites of the bases allocated to the other teams.

The areas for the bases are almost ready

The Port of Barcelona is working continuously to adapt the various areas made available to the organisers of the America's Cup. The MB92 Base is already completed and has been handed over to the American team, while the WTC Base on Barcelona wharf, which will house the hosts and organisers of the event in 2024 —the New Zealanders from Emirates Team New Zealand— is currently being fitted out pending the relocation of some of the services currently located in this terminal.

The Imax Base, which will be occupied by the UK's Ineos Team Britannia, will start to be fitted out in early 2023 after the preliminary works have been put out to tender. Also awaiting the start of the works is the CINESA Base, where the Swiss Alinghi Red Bull Racing team will be located. The CINESA building will have to be demolished prior to this, however the works project has already been submitted and the resources prepared, with Barcelona City Council's approval of the corresponding building permit still pending.

Finally, the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team will be located at the Llevant Base, located at the end of Passeig Joan de Borbó boulevard. The Italian team, which has already tested its vessel in Barcelona's waters, is currently drafting the project for its base and working together with the Port of Barcelona to define its characteristics.

Constant dialogue has been ongoing between the Port of Barcelona officials and all the teams in recent weeks to assist them in the process of designing and planning their bases, resolving doubts and exchanging information. The next step for the teams is to draw up the basic outlines for the bases (building, crane and pontoons) so that construction can begin as soon as they have been reviewed and authorised, with the work planned for summer 2023.