Yesterday, Their Majesties, the King and Queen of Spain, Don Juan Carlos and Doña Sofía visited the America’s Cup and Louis Vuitton Cup trophies in Madrid.

Their Majesties were accompanied by the Prime Minister, Jose Luís Rodríguez Zapatero; the Minister of Public Administrations, Jordi Sevilla; the Minister of Infrastructure and Public Works, Magdalena Álvarez Arza; the President of the Generalitat Valenciana, Francisco Camps; the Mayoress of Valencia, Rita Barberá; the president of Alinghi, Ernesto Bertarelli; and the CEO of the organisers of the 32nd America’s Cup, Michel Bonnefous.

“The 32nd America’s Cup in Valencia is an opportunity for all of us,” His Majesty said, offering his congratulations to “the organisers, the sponsors and private and public institutions that have worked so hard to make this event possible”. His Majesty also paid tribute to the “sporting spirit and teamwork”, necessary for success in such an event.

The Valencia Louis Vuitton Acts of 2006 are the first opportunity to see the new Port America’s Cup, the great ‘stadium by the sea’ which is now home to the competition, where the eleven challengers will race for the right to face Alinghi in the 32nd America’s Cup Match.

The first races of Act 10 start tomorrow in Valencia when the Defender Alinghi faces the Spanish challenger Desafío Español 2007.