Desafío Español 2007 is getting ready for Malmö

The Desafío Español 2007 is making the final adjustments before the next Louis Vuitton Acts, taking place in Malmö, Sweden, from August 25 to September 4. Since July 4, the Spanish syndicate sailors have been training on a daily basis off the coast of Valencia with the two boats, ESP-65 and ESP-67.

After a week off following the Louis Vuitton Act 5, sailors resumed their training sessions with the two boats. Their main aim was to fine-tune ESP-67, improve the pre-start maneuvers as well as match-racing against ESP-65. In addition, during that period the Spanish syndicate carried out training regattas together with other teams.

On Thursday the shore crew started disassembling ESP-67 and will continue during the weekend, in addition to wrapping the speedboats, containers and all necessary equipment for the races in Sweden. The belongings of teams will be shipped to Sweden aboard a freight boat, chartered by America's Cup Management, whose departure is scheduled for August 8.


ESP-67 during this week's training sessions in Valencia. Photo provided by Desafío Español 2007

On the construction front, works on the team's permanent base have sped up during the last few weeks since they were obviously stopped during Louis Vuitton Acts 4 & 5 a month ago. Construction is being carried out at a satisfying pace and the Spanish syndicate hopes to move into its brand new base early October.

The sailing crew will continue its training during the next few days onboard ESP-65, while some sailors will then go on taking part in the match race Danish Open as well as the Mikonos Dream Race. The Danish Open will take place from August 10 till 14 and will see Jesper Radich, Jaime Arbones, Mikel Rossberg, Pablo Rosano and Hartwell Jordan, racing. The regattas in Greece will take place from August 14 till 17, and the members of Desafío Español 2007 that will participate are Santi López-Vázquez, Marcos Iglesias, Nuno Barreto and Miguel Jáuregui.

Most of the crew will arrive in Malmö on August 17 in order to carry out the final training sessions onboard ESP-67 and test the wind and weather conditions of the race course. The part of the crew that will not be racing during Louis Vuitton Acts 6 & 7 will be training in Valencia with ESP-65.