44Cup Alcaidesa Marina 2023
44Cup Alcaidesa Marina, 18 – 22 October 2023, La Línea de la Concepción, Spain | With the 44Cup Alcaidesa Marina, the 2023 season in the RC44 class and thus also for Black Star Sailing enters its second last event. The later a regatta takes place in the year, the more the venues move south for practical reasons too.
The 44Cup Alcaidesa Marina is a new venue in the RC44 racing calendar. Puerto Alcaidesa Marina in La Línea de la Concepción is located in the very south of Spain, right on the border with Gibraltar. While previous RC44 regattas in the vicinity have always had Gibraltar in the background, this time the legendary 426-metre-high rock that marks the strait between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean will loom large over the competitors as they sail in the Bay of Gibraltar.
The 44Cup Alcaidesa Marina is hosted by John Bassadone’s Team Peninsula Racing. Bassadone said: “I am honoured to welcome the 44Cup to Team Peninsula’s home waters. Having grown up here, I am proud to be able to showcase what we have to offer in terms of hospitality and sailing conditions. From sights such as the prehistoric caves to world-famous golf courses, regatta-goers will want for nothing. I am certain this leg of the Championship will produce some very exciting races and nail biting sailing. The backdrop of the Rock of Gibraltar and the Atlas Mountains in North Africa are known as the Pillars of Hercules and what a fitting setting for the 44 Cup Championship.”
La Línea de la Concepción: As the name of this small port town suggests, it is located directly on the former front line between Spain and the adjacent peninsula of Gibraltar, which has belonged to the British Crown since 1713. Originally just a military camp, the village of La Línea de la Concepción gained a reputation as a port town over the years due to its location. Thus, it offers ideal conditions not only for the transport of cargo and the trade of goods between nations or continents. From the point of view of sailing enthusiasts, this city not far from the Strait of Gibraltar also offers remarkable conditions.
After the challenging World Championship in the Solent off Cowes, the Black Star Sailing team is looking forward to a regatta in more familiar waters. Although the location of the 44Cup Alcaidesa Marina is also new for Black Star Sailing, the team around skipper Christian Zuerrer has raced in Portugal, Spain and the South of France several times in the Mediterranean. Once again, the last RC44 event revealed clear challenges in manoeuvres and procedures. Challenges that hopefully can be mastered in the preparations and training for the 44Cup Alcaidesa Marina in order to successfully continue on the path to the front midfield.
More information, all results, direct links to “Facebook” and “X” can be found on the official RC44 regatta website. The recordings of the GPS tracking can be found on TracTrac. And in our 44Cup gallery you can see impressive photos of the racing action.