America's Cup pre-regatta location magical

It may be a sleepy town now but centuries ago the tiny Sicilian settlement of Trapani was anything but.

With a population of just over 60,000, these days Trapani isn't exactly vibrant, although the older area of town, with its ancient buildings and beautifully cobbled paths, is picture-perfect.

The settlement on the western tip of Sicily is the subject of many intriguing stories.

The Greeks, the Trojans, the Phoenicians and even the modern-day mafia have made Sicily a wonderland of history and wild tales.

A wonderland that 12 America's Cup teams find themselves in after Trapani beat several other Italian venues for the right to host this cup pre-regatta.

What gave it the edge was its reliable weather, its neutrality - it is not the home waters of any of the three Italian challengers, Team Luna Rossa, +39 or Mascalzone Latino - and its passion.

Before the regatta even began the streets surrounding the America's Cup Park were packed with onlookers gazing at the multi-million-dollar cup boats and the dozen or so superyachts that are in town. During the opening ceremony there was barely standing room for the parade of sails.

Never before has interest in an America's Cup pre-regatta been so intense.

The clear blue sea and picturesque setting moved BMW Oracle Racing chief Chris Dickson to describe the location as a magical place to sail.