Almería, Spain, will host final round of 2009 Extreme 40 Series
by Media on 10 Mar 2009
Port of Almeria by Autoridad Portuaria de Almeri´a SW
The iShares Cup continues to grow and the organiser OC Events has confirmed a sixth and final event to the 2009 iShares Cup Sailing Series. The southern Spanish city of Almería in the region of Andalucia will play host to the final round of the 2009 Extreme 40 Sailing Series between 10 and 12 October.
The iShares Cup finale will take place right in the heart of the port in Almería, the most Eastern city in Andalucía, and will be a key focus in the sporting calendar for the Government of Andalucía who have agreed a five-year deal with OC Events to host a round of the iShares Cup. This is part of the Andalucian government's long-term strategy to host major sporting events in their region.
Large crowds are expected to descend on the port of Almeria as 12 October is a national holiday in Spain. OC Events is working closely with the City to finalise details not only for the spectacular racing, but also creating an inclusive public entertainment package for the general public.
The 2009 Series will open in Venice, Italy (another new location for 2009), before heading to France, then to the United Kingdom, before returning to Kiel in North Germany where crowds of over 80,000 watched the action last year, before the penultimate event in the Netherlands.
The iShares Cup will roll into Almería on Monday 5 October when the teams will start to construct their boats and the VIP and media facilities are built on the banks of the waterway. The boats are highly portable, packed into a 40 foot container, and can be transported anywhere in the world and built in less than a day.
The 2009 iShares Cup will visit:
Event 1 - Venice, Italy, 15 to 17 May
Event 2 - France, 3 to 5 July
Event 3 - United Kingdom, 1 to 3 August
Event 4 - Kiel, Germany, 28 to 30 August
Event 5 - The Netherlands, 25 to 27 September
Event 6 - Almería, Andalucía, 10 to 12 October
The remaining venues in France, the UK and The Netherlands will be announced in the coming weeks. Teams for 2009 will be confirmed following their official entry as per the Notice of Race.
For more information, log on to www.iSharesCup.com
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