This Saturday, Barcelona was the scene of the first America’s Cup e-Series Grand Finalthe eSports league linked to the 37th America’s Cupthe oldest and most prestigious sailing competition in the world. Facing seven other virtual sailors, the New Zealander eSailingCentraljust 14 years old, was crowned champion, making history in the event.
Innovation and Sustainability
It is fascinating to see how a competition with the tradition of the America’s Cup has managed to adapt to modern times, turning innovation into one of its fundamental pillarswithout losing sight of its values of excellence, effort and healthy competitiveness. This commitment to evolution began with the inclusion of women’s and youth categories, such as Puig Women’s America’s Cup and the UniCredit Youth America’s Cupthus expanding the base of participants and fans. Innovation has also come from the hand of sustainable initiatives, which promote marine biodiversity and promote the use of hydrogen as fuel for support vessels.
The introduction of digital regattas marks a new chapter, materializing in the America’s Cup e-Series, a competition that has surpassed the Esports Olympic Games, recently established by the International Olympic Committee, in organization and concept.
AC Sailing: The Video Game
The origin of this competition is found in ‘AC Sailing’, the video game developed by Emirates Team New Zealand for the 37th America’s Cup. This game, based on simulators used by sailors to train, offers ultra-realistic graphics and physics to simulate the wind and the water, as well as including official yacht licenses and real locations such as the port of Barcelona. Accessible for free on Steam and Epic Store, it has achieved more than 100,000 downloads since its launch this spring, becoming the gateway to the world of sailing for anyone with a computer.
“What we wanted to achieve with AC Sailing,” says America’s Cup CEO Grant Dalton, “is to offer everyone the chance to experience the excitement of the America’s Cup and the feeling of sailing on the most complex and sophisticated sailboats in the world. The America’s Cup e-Series is simply one step further: creating the first virtual sailing competition and bringing the values of the America’s Cup to new fans, regardless of their condition or age.”
International Competition
This vision became palpable on Saturday night in Barcelona, where the eight virtual sailors, representing countries such as New Zealand, France, Italy, Hungary, Bermuda, Estonia and Sweden, faced off in the digital waters of Port Vell. The competition included both young talent and professional athletes, such as Olympian RockyBDA and Junior 49er World Championship bronze medalist Marremaister.
The event, held at the America’s Cup Race Village on the Moll de la Fusta in Port Vell, was a vibrant spectacle, with the presence of artists and personalities from the world of music, eSports and sailing. Each of the five Grand Final races brought excitement and pressure to the competition.
The Grand Final
The final was full of ups and downs, with each race won by a different competitor. The first two were dominated by Ruish, the Italian sailor; while, in the third, the Barbadian RockyBDA took the victory. It was not until the fourth race that eSailingCentral managed to position itself as a favorite for the last race. Although Frenchman BenBengFRA won the last race, eSailingCentral’s second place secured him the champion crown.
Booshify, the second-place finisher, didn’t win any races, but his consistency, especially his three third-place finishes, earned him runner-up and second place in the “Gamer to Sailor” initiative.
Looking to the Future
Now, after the competition, eSailingCentral and Booshify are preparing for a demanding three-day training that will allow them to get used to the 50 knots that the AC40 can reach. On October 2, they will go head to head with a team from the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup.
“This experience has been incredible,” an excited eSailingCentral told LA RAZÓN. “The Grand Final was intense, with many ups and downs and the possibility that anyone could win until the last race. I am proud of what we have achieved and I am looking forward to October 2, to live the experience of sailing in an AC40.”
A Milestone for eSports
This night will remain engraved in Barcelona’s memory as a crucial moment in the recognition of eSports, consolidating them as a form of entertainment and a legitimate sporting competition in the 21st century.