Last October, when Valencia won the competition to host the world’s most prestigious yachting event, it looked as though the city had the yachting world at its feet.  However, since then speculation has been rife about the future of the 2007 event.  Roberta Etter investigates.

When Mayoress Rita Barberà, of the Partido Popular party announced the city’s triumph it looked like plain sailing.   Jose María Aznar, who was then Prime Minister, sent members of his government to Valencia bearing offers of great financial support-but climates change and so has the central government.
The March 11 bombings in Madrid ousted the Partido Popular and led the Socialists  into power.  Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez  Zapatero, did not seem quite so keen on this elite yachting event.
This has led to some speculation as to whether Valencia would eventually end up hosting the tournament, and with an estimated 11,000 new jobs at stake as well as massive revenue the chatter in the city has been worrying.
Rumours have been circulating that the Zapatero government intends to move the America’s Cup to Barcelona where he has strong political following.  There are also whispers that money earmarked for a grant to Valencia for infrastructure projects has gone to other cities.
However, Peter Rusch, spokesman for America’s Cup Management, has stated emphatically that the host city of the 32nd America's Cup will be Valencia.
He also said that work at America’s Cup Valencia Port will start this week.  A project for the raising of Valencia Port Inner Dock Customs Breakwater, submitted by building firm Construcciones y Esdios (cyes) with a ¤5,121,669.32 budget has just been approved.  If this goes ahead it will mark the beginning of a series of planned works to adapt Valencia Port to the requirements of the 32nd America’s Cup Competition.
A total of 12 proposals had been submitted for these works, which consist of the re-structuring of 230 metres of dock length including all the necessary facilities for the hosting of the America’s Cup pre-regattas to be held in Valencia next October.
The work also includes the building of a pile-based platform and the infrastructure for the installation of two 50-tonne travel lifts.  Nine floating jetties of different sizes will also be built for use by America’s Cup class yachts and other support vessels.
It remains to be seen if these projects will be completed in time for the next stage, which is scheduled to be held in October,  but, it would not be an America´s Cup without a little mystery.