Alicante favoured America's Cup port

by Roberta Etter/IBI Magazine on 26 May 2004 Alicante Port Authority and the Valencia government have signed a protocol on the various actions the port installations in the region will take in preparation for the celebration of the next America's Cup, which will be held in Valencia in 2007.

The president of the Port Authority, Mario Flores, said Alicante would become a base for privately owned yachts who want to moor close to where the various regattas will be staged, as well as for cruisers used by anyone interested in the event.

He also stressed that Marina de Alicante, with 123,292 sq metres, can accommodate 744 crafts up to 60 metres in length and that every berth up to 15 metres has a finger so one can carry out dock and push off maneuvers with the utmost of ease.

Dry dock installations have been upgraded to include 10,000 sq m of surface area with a 2-tonne crane for small craft, travelift, two gantry cranes of 16 and 100 tones and a forklift truck of 2.5 tones. Every berth is provided with water and electricity supply (230, 380v), and satellite TV from 0ver 10m in length.

Flores further noted that Alicante would become a point of reference for young people's sailing clubs, and would expand on its cultural and sporting offer.

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