HIS MAJESTY KING FELIPE VI AT THE OPENING DAY OF THE LOUIS VUITTON CUP

A keen environmentalist, as well as being a decorated sailor having represented Spain in the Soling Class at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, the King was greeted at the AC37 Club Hospitality in the Port Olímpic by Grant Dalton, CEO of America’s Cup Events and Aurora Catà, Vice President of America’s Cup Event and given a guided tour of the innovative foiling support vessels.

The King was particularly interested in the event’s deep commitment to reducing CO₂ emissions with the hydrogen support vessels being one of the most visual representations of this commitment. The vessels are powered by two Toyota Hydrogen fuel cells housed within each hull and deliver 80kW’s of power each and can propel the foiling catamaran at speeds in excess of 50 knots.

Stepping onboard the hydrogen foiling support vessel, something that all the teams at the Louis Vuitton 37^th America’s Cup are mandated to operate, and the only team vessels allowed actually onto the racecourse, the King was hosted by Aurora Catà and double Olympic Silver medallist Natalia Vía-Dufresne who is the On-Water Operations Manager for the Louis Vuitton 37^th America’s Cup.

His Majesty and Natalia Vía-Dufresne were Olympic team-mates back in 1992 where the King, the Crown Prince at the time, was the Official Flag Bearer for Spain at the Opening Ceremony and was also awarded with an Olympic diploma for finishing in sixth place in the Soling Class at the regatta. His Majesty descends from a long-line of sailors with his mother and uncle, King Constantine II of Greece, sailing at the 1960 Olympic Games for Greece, whilst both his father and sister represented Spain at the Olympic Games.

After watching the opening two races of the Louis Vuitton Cup opening Round Robin, the King was transferred back to shore where he visited the AC37 Club Hospitality facility. Later in the evening, the Mayor of Barcelona, Excm. Sr. Jaume Collboni will accompany the King on a tour of the re-developed Port Olímpic that will play host to the AC40 yachts and team bases of the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup and the inaugural Puig Women’s America’s Cup.

Following the tour of the Port Olímpic, the King will preside over the Institutional Welcome Ceremony for representatives of all the competing teams in the Louis Vuitton 37^th America’s Cup at the Maritime Museum in Barcelona, co-hosted by the Barcelona City Council and attended by: Jordi Hereu, Minister of Industry and Tourism of the Spanish Government, Carlos Prieto, Government Delegate in Catalonia, Salvador Illa, President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Jaume Collboni, Mayor of Barcelona, Lluïsa Moret, President of the Barcelona Provincial Council, Albert Dalmau, Catalan Minister of the Presidency, Miquel Sàmper, Catalan Minister for Business and Labour, Bernardo Álvarez, Catalan Minister of Sports, Mr. Lluis Salvadó, President of the Port of Barcelona, Mr. Josep Santacreu, President of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Jordi Clos, President of Barcelona Tourism, Mr. Ramon Agenjo, President of Barcelona Global, Mr. Enric García, Director of the Maritime Museum and Aurora Catà, Vice President of the America's Cup Event.

His Majesty the King will greet representatives of the participating teams of the Louis Vuitton 37^th America’s Cup, who will be presented by Aurora Catà, Vice President of America’s Cup Event, before a photo shoot in front of the reproduction of the Royal Galley, built in the Royal Shipyards of Barcelona in 1568.

In the Great Hall of the Maritime Museum, speeches will be given by Lluïsa Moret, Aurora Catà, Jaume Collboni, Jordi Hereu, Salvador Illa and His Majesty King Felipe VI.