Visitor number 5 million strolled through the gates at Port America’s Cup in Valencia on Sunday afternoon. This includes all visitors to the AC Park in Valencia in 2004 along with any visitor to Port America’s Cup since June 2005.

The lucky ‘5 millionth’ visitor was a couple, Charles and Luz Fenech, who are English and who have been living in Valencia for around two years. They arrived through the Malvarrosa entrance to Port America’s Cup shortly after 19:00 hours on Sunday afternoon, exactly 1,300 days after Valencia was nominated as the host city of the 32nd America’s Cup.

“This is a big surprise for us,” Charles Fenech said. “We come down here quite often because we enjoy the atmosphere and the changes in Port America’s Cup. We have started to enjoy sailing through the America’s Cup and I guess you could say we’re fans of Alinghi.”

They were presented with a package of gifts from the 32nd America’s Cup, which includes what should be an unforgettable day on board a spectator boat during the America’s Cup Match. “Fantastic!” he said. “We’re really looking forward to it.”

The average number of visitors to Port America’s Cup has been increasing steadily. During race days in 2004 and 2005, the average daily visitor count was around 17,000. This doubled in April of this year during Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13 to 35 000. The record number of visitors in one day was recorded on May 1 of this year at just over 68,000 people.

Racing in the America’s Cup Match, between the Defender, Alinghi, and the winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand, begins next Saturday on 23 June. The America’s Cup Match is a ‘first to five’ series. The first team to win five matches will claim the America’s Cup.