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Jeddah Hosts Preliminary Regatta of 37th America’s Cup in Red Sea Waters

Jeddah Hosts Preliminary Regatta of 37th America’s Cup in Red Sea Waters
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Jeddah Hosts Preliminary Regatta of 37th America’s Cup in Red Sea Waters

Jeddah Hosts Preliminary Regatta of 37th America’s Cup in Red Sea Waters

Jeddah is scheduled to host the second preliminary regatta of the 37th America’s Cup (AC37) in the waters of the Red Sea between November 30 and December 3, 2023, making it the only venue outside of Spain to host an America’s Cup regatta during the 37th America’s Cup cycle, state news agency SPA reported.

Racing will be held off the race village and the Jeddah Yacht Club, adjacent to the spectacular F1 track on Jeddah’s corniche.

The event will be held in partnership with the Ministry of Sport and the Saudi Sailing Federation, which have the great ambition of seeing sailing in Saudi Arabia grows rapidly, including through hosting many top-level sailing events and classes as part of the Saudi Vision 2030.

AC37 event CEO Grant Dalton said that the Kingdom creates opportunities to develop maritime navigation and create new links with sustainable projects in the Red Sea, noting that the American Cup and the AC40 race witnesses the best sailors in the world, and this is one of the ideal catalysts to boost sailing and expand access to the Red Sea, which has always been an important part of the Kingdom's history.

For his part, Chairman of the Saudi Sailing Federation Hassan Kabbani said that the America's Cup Preliminary Regatta will help accelerate the growth of sailing in Saudi Arabia, noting that the federation will use the event to launch a number of new initiatives, including the Discover Sailing programme, to encourage people to take on water sports, and a Performance Pathway for talented sailors to train to compete at top level.

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International Fiesta Fills New Mexico's Sky With Colorful Hot Air Balloons

FILE - Nearly 500 balloons begin to take off during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Oct. 7, 2023, in Albuquerque, N.M. (AP Photo/Roberto E. Rosales, File)
FILE - Nearly 500 balloons begin to take off during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Oct. 7, 2023, in Albuquerque, N.M. (AP Photo/Roberto E. Rosales, File)
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International Fiesta Fills New Mexico's Sky With Colorful Hot Air Balloons

FILE - Nearly 500 balloons begin to take off during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Oct. 7, 2023, in Albuquerque, N.M. (AP Photo/Roberto E. Rosales, File)
FILE - Nearly 500 balloons begin to take off during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Oct. 7, 2023, in Albuquerque, N.M. (AP Photo/Roberto E. Rosales, File)

One of the most photographed events in the world is set to kick off Saturday with a mass ascension of color for the 52nd annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
The nine-day gathering draws hundreds of thousands of spectators and pilots to New Mexico each fall for the rare opportunity to be within arm’s reach as the giant balloons are unpacked and inflated. Propane burners roar and hundreds of the uniquely shaped balloons speckle the sky with vibrant colors.
Everyone usually bundles up in layers to protect against a morning chill that helps pilots stay in the air longer, but this year’s fiesta could be the warmest on record, organizers say.
Morning lows and afternoon highs are expected to be above average for days in a city that on Monday recorded its hottest temperature this late in the year, at 93 degrees Fahrenheit (33.8 Celsius), according to the National Weather Service.
Globally, things have been trending hotter too. It's likely this year will end up as the warmest humanity has measured, the European climate service Copernicus reported in early September.
While past fiestas have had a warm day here or there, spokesman Tom Garrity said the prediction for prolonged heat is rare, The Associated Press reported.
For pilots, it could mean less time aloft or carrying less weight in their baskets.
Typically, when the mornings are cool, less fuel is needed to get the balloons to rise. Fiesta veterans explain it's all about generating lift by heating the air inside the envelope to temperatures greater than what's on the outside.
“With cooler weather, pilots are able to fly for longer duration,” Garrity said. “But when you have warmer temperatures, it just means that you pop up, you go up a little bit and you come back down. So just some shorter flights.”
Still, ballooning happens year-round in many places, including in the Phoenix area, which has seen its share of record-breaking temperatures over recent months.
“These are really non-issues from a spectator’s standpoint," said Troy Bradley, an accomplished balloon pilot who has been flying for decades. “I don’t see any difference other than they won’t be freezing in the pre-dawn hours.”
Even the fiesta's official meteorologist has joked about the possibility of wearing shorts this year.
This year's fiesta also features 106 balloons in special shapes, 16 of which will be making their fiesta debut. That includes Mazu, modeled after the sea goddess of the same name who is deeply rooted in Taiwanese culture and traditions.