Breitling Medcup TP52 - Preview of the provisional schedule for 2006

A provisional schedule for the 2006 Breitling MEDCUP TP52 Circuit 2006 was announced on Thursday 27th Oct. during the presentation of the XII Breitling Regatta, which took place at the Barcelona International Boat Show. The Breitling Regatta itself is one of the confirmed events for the 2006 Circuit.

The Breitling MEDCUP plans to open the Circuit with the first event to be held in Punta Ala, Italy, from 22nd – 27th May. The fleet will then move to Barcelona for the second event in the Circuit, to be held from 5th – 9th July. The third event will be the Breitling Regatta, which will be held in Puerto Portals from the 19th – 23rd July. The next event will be held just one week after, which will be the Copa del Rey in Palma de Mallorca from 29th July – 6th August. The TP52s will then meet in Athens for the fifth event, from the 19th – 27th August, with the Circuit drawing to a close in a final event in Ibiza, which will be from 18th – 23rd September 2006.

José Félix García, the Head of Communication for the Breitling MEDCUP TP52, explained that much care was being taken when choosing the dates for the Circuit. This was so that the events would not clash with the Volvo Ocean Race, or the America’s Cup Acts, as many of the owners and sailors are also participating in these competitions.

Javier Pomar, the Director General of Cronomar (Head of Breitling, Spain) was enthusiastic about the growth of the Circuit for the coming season. Pomar reminded everyone of the energy and enthusiasm that all those who have participated have brought to the project. Preparations for next year’s Circuit are well underway.

We can also reveal that for next year the number of teams due to participate in the Circuit will be almost double that of this year, with 20 boats already confirming their presence. As well as the stars of this year’s Circuit, LEXUS QUANTUM, CAIXA GALICIA, BRIBON, ORLANDA, ATALANTI, BAMBAKOU, CRISTABELLA, AIFOS, SIEMENS, PATCHES and SJAMBOK, new vessels will also be joining the fleet. Countries such as Germany, Austria, Spain, with one new vessel, and Holland, with two new teams, England, Ireland, Norway and the USA have all confirmed their participation in the Breitling MEDCUP 2006.

Among the new teams to take part in the 2006 edition of the Breitling MEDCUP are the Dutch team Sotto Vocce and Mean Machine, the Germans Pinta, Norway’s Fram, and the English team Stay Calm. Also joining the fleet are the Americans Rush and Warpath – who will have almost all of the Emirates Team New Zealand onboard. Among the Spaniards to look out for in next year’s Circuit, will be Inaki Castaner’s team Ono, following the purchase of the Breitling MEDCUP 2005’s winning vessel, Pisco Sour with Vasco Vascotto.

Gandia and K-Challenge sign enhanced sponsorship agreement. Countdown to "Gandia Challenge Race" has began

José Manuel Orengo, Mayor of Gandia, and Stephan Kandler, CEO of the French America's Cup syndicate K-Challenge, signed yesterday morning the continuation and enhancement of their sponsorship agreement.

Two aspects of this agreement are of major importance. Firstly, the city of Gandia will pay the French team a further 600 thousand euros, amount at which is calculated the value of the city's advertizing and as a result its name will now appear on the hull as well as the boom of the boat. This agreement also contemplates the wide promotional collaboration between the two parties.

The second and very important aspect of the agreement is the organization of a promotional regatta, to be named GANDIA CHALLENGER RACE, that will gather all challengers, as well as the Defender of the America's Cup, for a weekend of racing in Gandia's waters next September.

The cost of organizing and carrying out this first-class sports event will reach 1 million euros. Both parties will be responsible for its organization but the cost will be totally assumed by the city of Gandia. It is confident to be able to secure sponsor financing, as most large companies of the Gandia area are already interested in co-financing this event.

José Manuel Orengo, Mayor of Gandia, and Stephan Kandler, CEO of K-Challenge

José Manuel Orengo, Mayor of Gandia: "We would like to thank K-Challenge for their risky bet, for having established their logistical and training base in our city, a fact that has been benefitial to both parties".

Stephan Kandler, CEO of K-Challenge: "I would like to emphasize above all the warm welcome and help we have received from the city and all its citizens. If the rules of the America's Cup concerning the boat we will be using in Valencia in 2007 had allowed it, we would have built it in our Gandia base".

New feature added!! Valencia Hotels

Since the America's Cup related sailing activity has significantly slowed down, I took the opportunity to develop and add some new features in Valencia Sailing, hoping to make things easier for all fans that will visit the world's sailing capital - that is Valencia - during the next 2 years. These features have been added on the right-hand column, in the "Valencia Guides" section.

Thanks to the newly-available technology from Google it is now possible to use the extremely precise and versatile Google satellite photos and maps through your browser without the need for any special program. When you click on one of the guides a new window will open. The first guide covers the city's hotel, giving you the ability to view the exact location of each one as well as book a room, directly from your browswer.

Each red icon represents a hotel and when you click on it you'll see some info about it and a direct link to the reservation page for that particular hotel. Alternatively, if you already know the hotel you want, by clicking on its name in the hotel list, the map will position itself there and open the info window. As a result, it is possible to browse all of the city's 30 most important hotels both geographically and alphabetically and make a reservation with a few clicks.

You can drag the map with your mouse and move it around or zoom in and out with the slider. Remember, each icon points to the exact building of the hotel.

To my knowledge, no other major sports event has ever had such a user-friendly tool. It will be constantly upgraded, adding other categories such as beaches, marinas and yacht clubs, golf courses, etc.

General Manager Patrick Magyar to leave Alinghi

Having reached another milestone with the opening of the Alinghi Base in Valencia, Patrick Magyar has asked Ernesto Bertarelli to release him from his duties as General Manager. “My family and I simply did not cope with the relocation”, explained Magyar, who is very sad about this development. “It would have been great to stay throughout the campaign, but there are moments in life, where the priorities have to lie with the people that are dearest to you.”

Magyar joined Alinghi in September 2004 and did an outstanding job in developing Alinghi’s marketing programme in one of the world’s prime sports properties. As General Manager, he was also in charge of the team responsible for communication, sponsorship, licensing, administration & finance as well as of the construction of the Alinghi base.

Ernesto Bertarelli, chairman of Alinghi, regrets Magyar’s departure: “With his usual dedication Patrick has chosen the probably easiest point in time for us to manage such a transition and I can only thank him for his contribution.”

Unfortunate glitch in canal construction

While the America's Cup has now entered a phase of tranquility with some boats literally "hibernating" in Valencia's Port America's Cup, an unfortunate glitch in the canal construction may slow down the rapid pace witnessed so far.

Apparently, a crack in the canal that will connect Port America's Cup with the race course resulted in seawater entering the dry area, ahead of schedule of course. Although, as seen from the photos below, the situation is not as dramatic as it could first appear, works will considerably slow down.

Let's hope that all will be ready by next May in order to experience the best America's Cup racing ever.

The canal flooded with seawater on Tuesday 25 October 2005

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The canal still dry on Wednesday 12 October 2005

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Altghough not dramatic, the situation is certainly more difficult now. The construction company has decided not to drain the water and work instead with the canal flooded

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

James Spithill wins King Edward VII Gold Cup

A new King has been crowned on the waters of Hamilton harbor. Australian James Spithill won the Investors Guaranty presentation of The King Edward VII Gold Cup match race championship, Sunday, beating the defending champion Russell Coutts in a thrilling decider 3:2.

Spithill, 26, the Luna Rossa Italian America's Cup helmsman and current world champion, lost the first race at the start, regained his composure in the second heat, but lost again to the 7-time Gold Cup winner in the third. This left the Australian with the uphill battle of winning the final two races, but far from buckling under the pressure, Spithill took total control of both starts and the rest is history.

Congratulating his Luna Rossa crew of Joe Newton (Australia), Magnus Augustson (Sweden), and Charlie McKee (USA), Spithill said. 'I have wanted to win the Gold Cup for a long time. I have been 2nd and 4th and we really wanted to win it against Russell because this is his event. It all came down to making good starts, and I shut him out on the last one.'

Now in its 57th year, the Bermuda Gold Cup is where legends are born and sailing careers are built. Coutts, who conceded the last race after the first round, having hit the committee boat at the start, was gracious in defeat. "It really did come down to the starts in all five races. James is the world champion and he sailed here very well.'

After a week of variable weather, conditions on the final day were perfect with 15-20 knot winds across Hamilton Harbour. Coutts won the first start and split off from the young Australian towards the Hamilton shore in search of wind pressure, and won handily.

James Spithill leading Russell Coutts off the start in the second race of their finals. Photo copyright: Bob Grieser / PPL

Their second encounter was much closer, and arriving at the top mark together, Coutts picked up a penalty for forcing Spithill to make room for him. That made it 1-all.

In the third race, Coutts again headed straight out towards the Hamilton shore. Spithill failed to cover, and found himself 10 boat lengths down at the top mark. Now it was 2:1 to the New Zealander, had only to inflict one more victory to win for a record 8 times.

It was not to be. In the fourth encounter, Spithill won the starboard advantage and rounded just ahead of Coutts at the top mark. The pair then remained locked together for the remainder of this duel, with Spithill taking the winning gun by little more than a bow length.

It was now down to a final 5th race In the fifth and final race, Spithill dominated the pre-start and pinned him down so close to the committee boat that he hit it and was forced to do a penalty turn. By the time he had recovered, Spithill was 10 boat lengths clear and heading to dethrone the King of the Gold Cup. Coutts saw it all as a hopeless cases and conceded the race after one round so that his Danish crew could catch their flight home.

In in the petite-finals to decide 3rd and 4th placings, Steffan Lindberg of Finland defeated Ed Baird from Team Alinghi 2-0. Baird, who went down to James Spithill in the semi-finals 3-2 could not overtake the fast moving Finns who dominated both races.

Final Scores:
1. James Spithill - Australia
2. Russell Coutts - New Zealand
3. Staffan Lindburg - Finland
4. Ed Baird - USA
5. Chris Dickson - New Zealand
6. Mathieu Richard - France
7. Gavin Brady - Hong Kong
8. Ian Williams - UK

Seeded sailors set the pace in late air opener

Bermuda held its breath for the second consecutive day as light winds again stalled the start of the Investor Guaranty presentation of The King Edward VII Gold Cup.

While racing was cancelled on Thursday, sailors waited until almost 3 p.m. for the starting gun again on Friday. Then after just one round of races in which the four seeded skippers, Staffan Lindberg (Finland) Mathieu Richard from France, New Zealand's Gavin Brady and seven time Cup winner Russell Coutts all came out on top, a containership leaving Hamilton and huge windshifts, brought racing to a close for the day. The remaining best of five knock-out heats are now programmed for an early start on Saturday.

The closest race was between Staffan Lindberg, ranked 10 in the world and New Zealand qualifier Cameron Dunn who sails for the Italian America's Cup team Mascalzone Latino.

"The race with Cameron provided some tight racing especially on the last downwind leg, and given the difficulties in getting this regatta started, this was a significant win." Lindberg said. "It felt good out there and we felt that we were where we should be."

Dunn, who won the qualifying rounds agreed. "It is better to have one win on the scoreboard than a loss but this is not over yet."

New Zealand sailor Gavin Brady beat American Betsy Alison in their first race but knows that he is up against tough opposition. "These light air days are more nerve wracking because you can't see or sense the wind's direction and can easily be on the wrong side of a shift," he said.

Gold Cup champion Russell Coutts won his first race against Takumi Nakamura from Japan by a large margin and came ashore well pleased with his team's performance.

"We are here to win, so a win today is always a good thing" Coutts said.

Although the breeze did cooperate for a short time over the course of this afternoon's racing, competition was halted prematurely by the departure of a container ship which held off racing. By the time the ship had passed through the course, the winds had again become their most capricious.

The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club race committee must now hold nearly 100 races in the next two days in order to complete the event as originally formatted.

"The sailors will be here at seven o'clock in the morning and our goal is to finish this regatta by Sunday night," said Principal Race Officer Charles Tatem.

The forecast for Saturday and Sunday is promising. Winds are predicted to range from 5 to 10 knots in the morning, increasing to 15-20 knots on Sunday.

No wind in Hamilton, Bermuda

Sails were set, the IOD's sloops were rigged and ready, but there was no dance on Thursday. The forecasted light winds didn't show and on the first day of racing in the Investors Guaranty presentation of the King Edward VII Gold Cup had to be cancelled.

This delay has given Sally Barkow and Betsy Alison, the two finalists from the Virtual Spectator ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship the chance to break in two new crewmembers - both men. Mark Strube, the mainsheet trimmer from Elizebeth Kratzig's team knocked out during the qualifying stages of the Gold Cup, has jumped onboard with Alison to replace Nancy Haberland who has had to fly home. Jonathan Farrar, whose Father is a former IOD class world champion, has joined Sally Barkow's lightweight crew to bring this team up to the weight limit set for the event, as well as provide extra muscle power for when the winds return.

Gold Cup racing should resume Friday and continue through to Sunday afternoon. However, the forecast is not encouraging. Light variable winds are predicted for Friday morning and little more than 8-12 knots on Saturday. Sunday looks more promising with winds up to 20 knots kicking in for the finals.

We might add that BMW Oracle's Chris Dickson was practicing under similar, if not identical, conditions last week in Port America's Cup, as the photo below clearly shows.


Chris Dickson, Kazuhiko Sofuku, Paul Westlake and Zach Hurst practicing inside Port America's Cup last week. Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Alinghi's Ed Baird going for the gold in King Edward VII Gold Cup

American Ed Baird, the International Sailing Federation's #1 ranked match race sailor and a helmsman with the America's Cup defender Alinghi, will be going for Gold here in Bermuda when Thursday's first stage of The Investors Guaranty presentation of the King Edward VII Gold Cup begins. Action will be intense as 8 top ranked match racers will face off against 6 skippers from the Qualifying Event plus the champion and runner-up from the Virtual Spectator ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship which has just concluded in Bermuda.

"I have never won the Gold Cup before and we would like to make it happen. That is a top priority," said Baird. " We also return to this event year after year because it set the standard for match racing a long time ago. I have been coming here to race for so long that when the taxi driver dropped me off at my host's house he said 'welcome home.'

Baird will be sailing with members of the Swiss America's Cup defender Team Alinghi including Mike Drummond, Dean Phipps and Pieter van Nieuwenhuyzan. They face Swiss qualifier Eric Monnin in the first knock out.

Russell Coutts, the returning 2004 champion and seven-time Gold Cup winner is ranked #3 by ISAF. He faces the 5th place qualifier Takumi Nakamura from Japan. Nakamura had won a Bottle of Bacardi as the OOPS award the night before qualifying and said he may need more rum in preparing for matches against the undisputed Gold Cup King.

"I am going to go for number eight," Coutts said on his way out to a practice session yesterday (Wed) with his teammates Jes Gram Hansen, Christian Kamp and Rasmus Kostner. The same team he sailed with in 2004. "That is what I am here for."

Wednesday was a practice day for the seeded skippers as well as for the women's winners who have to transition from J24's to IOD's. The action begins today (Thursday) with the six unseeded skippers and the two top women from the Virtual Spectator Women's Match Racing World Championship, Americans Sally Barkow and Betsy Alison facing off in the hope of winning The King Edward VII Gold Cup and a share of the $100,000 purse.

"It is such a great challenge for us and it is rare that we get to sail against the best men in the world," said Betsy Alison, the women's championship runner-up.

James Spithill, the runner-up for the 2004 Gold Cup, is the reigning ISAF 'Open" Match Racing World Champion and helmsman of the Luna Rossa AC challenger. He's the 5th seed and has drawn 2nd ranked qualifier Cameron Appleton. Spithill came 2nd to Coutts in 2004 as the Gold Cup was shortened by a 35 knot Sunday storm. Appleton, sailing for local sponsor Triangle Rigging, had an impressive 9-2 run in the qualifier and will be a tough opponent.

Chris Dickson, the BMW Oracle America's Cup challenge skipper and 2-time Gold Cup winner has drawn Sally Barkow, just crowned Virtual Spectator ISAF Women's Match Racing World Champion. Women's championship runner-up Betsy Alison faces New Zealander Gavin Brady.

"This is such a unique event and there are very few opportunities for men and women to sail against each other like this," Brady said. "There are no guarantees out there and if the breeze is light it will be a race that is more about finesse than physical strength. Both teams will come out on the water sailing strong."

In other Stage 1 matches, Number 3 seed Mathieu Richard of France, ranked #4 by ISAF, will meet Bill Hardesty of San Diego, California who was 4th in the qualifier with a 6-5 record.

"We won't be doing anything differently but we do know we have to be on top of our game," said Hardesty. "Match racing is such a game of timing and positioning that we just have to go out there and sail well.

Ian Williams, ranked #6 by ISAF is paired against Cameron Dunn who finished the qualifier series with a 10:1 score. Dunn is racing with his Mascalzone Latino America's Cup teammates Michele Paoletti, Marco Constant and Matteo Auguadro.

Stage 1 of the Gold Cup tournament is a knock-out round. No team can afford a bad day and for the seeded sailors, in particular, to be knocked-out on the first day is a tough way to go. The first team to win three races goes forward while the loser slots into a 5th-8th consolation bracket to determine prize winnings for those teams.

Welcome back home America's Cup

Although it might sound strange, the America's Cup came back to its home in Valencia on Sunday and unpacked on Monday. After Saturday's inauguration of the Alinghi base that set the symbolic beginning of the Valencia era of the America's Cup, the ship containing all containers and yachts arrived on Sunday morning and by Monday midday the last yacht had landed on firm ground.

In addition to the teams already present in Port America's Cup, BMW Oracle call it their home since yesterday. On the contrary, we didn't see Alinghi's boats. Whatever the case, since yesterday the America's Cup heart is beating in Valencia's inner harbor.

We can't wait till next spring when we'll have to walk to the commercial harbor once again to witness the arrival of the brand new boats!!

The Italian +39 are unloading their containers while their boat ITA59 can be seen in the water

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Team Shosholoza are already in their base, after a very pleasing performance in Trapani

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Day by day, the canal is entering Port America's Cup. If the Louis Vuitton Acts in Malmo and Trapani have been success, the next regattas in Valencia will certainly be the best ever

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

A better view of the Alinghi base, without the inauguration paraphernalia. The two boats were not there yet when we visited Port America's Cup

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Emirates Team New Zealand have already their boat transported to the base.

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Although not officially inaugurated, BMW Oracle now works out of their permanent base and at least one of their boats is already inside the shed

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The Chinese boat will most probably be transported by truck back to Valencia's Yacht Club, as the space of their future base is still used by local fishermen.

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The German boat was the last one to be unloaded from the ship. It is a pitty that the first ever German America's Cup syndicate is going through troubled times

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Alinghi inaugurate their new base in Valencia

Saturday was a historic day for Valencia and the 32nd America's Cup. Alinghi, the Defender of the Cup, inaugurated their enormous brand new base in Port America's Cup, surpassing all previous records while setting the

It is the biggest base ever built for an America's Cup team, occupying almost 7,000 square meters (70% larger than the previous one in Auckland), and cost close to 7 million euros. Its sail loft is the largest one existing (610 square meters) while the team's boats will be housed in a 650 square meter boat shed.

Nevertheless, what distinguishes this base from the other ones so far, is the degree of openess and accessibilty to the public. The base not only houses the team, but also the "Alinghi simulator", the "Alinghi Research Lab", the "Alinghi Academy" as well as they "Alinghi Cinema". Check all these features in our video and photo tours of the base.

Our tour around the base gave us the opportunity to catch up with members of the Alinghi team and ask them question concerning the Defender as well as the Challengers of the America's Cup. We would like to thank Erwan Le Ravallec of Cup in Europe, who provided us with most of the questions, given his vast and unsurpassable knowledge of all matters related to the America's Cup.

Jochen Schuemann on Valencia Sailing

Our visit to the new Alinghi base could not be complete without talking to Jochen Schuemann, helsman and sporting manager of the 32nd America's Cup Defender.

Valencia Sailing: Now that the 2005 America’s Cup racing has ended do you have a clearer idea who could be the challenger in 2007, Luna Rossa, BMW Oracle or Emirates Team New Zealand?
Jochen Shuemann: No, certainly not. This has been a very successfull year for Alinghi, winning five out of six Acts but in the last three events we were tied at the top with exactly those teams and even once all four together. As a result, competition is very close and it is very difficult to predict who will be the Challenger in 2007 and with still 18 months to go it is more difficult to make any prediction.

Valencia Sailing: Out of all challengers, bigger and smaller, who in your opinion made the most progress in 2005? K-Challenge surprised everyone by beating you.
Jochen Shuemann: If I could name one new team that performed very well in 2005 it would be Desafío Español but also K-Challenge. They both won races against us, the Spanish in fleet racing and K-Challenge in match racing. This proves that competition is close, not only against the so-called “big teams” but also against “smaller” ones that are closing in and will provide very tight competition.

Valencia Sailing: Any forecasts for next year?
Jochen Shuemann: As I told you competition will be very tight, so the only forecast I will make is about good winds and sunny conditions in Valencia.

Valencia Sailing: What about the new boats next year? Will that make it even more difficult for you?
Jochen Shuemann: I think that it is going to be more difficult. Take for example K-Challenge. They are using a boat from the 2000 America’s Cup, a full 2 Cups back, and I think that when they have their new boats they will be even stronger than what they are right now. The same holds true for the rest of the teams currently using second-hand boats. When they come with their own boats, where they controled the design, they will be much stronger.

Rolf Vrolijk on Valencia Sailing

During our tour of the Alinghi base we had the chance to have a chat with Rolf Vrolijk, principal designer of the 32nd America's Cup Defender. His views on the future of the America's Cup boats are very interesting.

Valencia Sailing: You have recently stated that the current ACC design has reached its limit. Could you elaborate on that?
Rolf Vrolijk: The current design has reached its limit because of the way the rule has developped and the boats have developped into a certain corner of the available options. What that means is that they are optimized for the match racing we are doing now. The question is what we will be doing in the future.

Valencia Sailing: That was to be my next question. You have also stated that if Alinghi won we could se multihulls in future America’s Cup racing.
Rolf Vrolijk: Yes, I might have said that. What I basically want to say was that it is completely open what will happen after this America’s Cup, because it’s firstly up to the Defender and the Challenger of Record to decide which class they want to race. Under the Protocol you can race whatever you want.

Valencia Sailing: Wouldn’t such a change be a problem for the smaller teams as they wouldn’t be able to use previous boats?
Rolf Vrolijk: Yes, but that’s the America’s Cup. The America’s Cup has a history, it has always been like that but everything will depend on who wins, on where the Cup goes and I think it’s a completely open question at this stage.

Valencia Sailing: What is your personal opinion? Is there any design you are in favor of?
Rolf Vrolijk: As a design group we are always in favor of a development class, an open rule, without box rules or limitations, just a few basic limitations, and I think this would be much more interesting. This is my view as a design group, but there are also the interests of the public, the sponsors, television and they can be in complete contradiction with our interest.

Valencia Sailing: Would you agree with the statement that the new rule favors SUI 75?
Rolf Vrolijk: No, not at all. The new rule was drawn up together with the Challenger of Record, BMW Oracle, and its main philosophy was to allow the previous boats race with more or less no major modifications. That was the cenral idea of the rule.

Valencia Sailing: Do you expect to see big differences in the new boats next year?
Rolf Vrolijk: I think most people expect too much out of it. I think it will be even difficult for some teams to come up with a completely new boat from scratch that is better than their existing boats. In my opinion, there could be some surprises.

Mike Schreiber on Valencia Sailing

During our tour of the Alinghi base we also talked to Mike Screiber, principal sail designer of the 32nd America's Cup Defender. Genoas are main area of sail development for Alinghi.

Valencia Sailing: Are there going to be significant differences between the current sails and the ones you will have next year?
Mike Schreiber: The basic dimensions of the sails will remain the same but over time you are constantly trying to evolve and develop the design and when you get a boat with slightly different caracteristics the sails change slightly, but to the untrained eye the will look similar and the dimensions will remain very similar.

Valencia Sailing: What will be the main difference in sails and what area are you going to focus on?
Mike Schreiber: The most noticeable difference in the new rule is that it allows you to have bigger genoas, with larger area, and we are really working hard the develop that and optimize the shape of those sails, because it’s quite different from last time. It’s an area where even so far this year we have made huge steps and it’s certainly one where there is still a lot to be done.

Video tour of Alinghi's base

On Saturday afternoon, a few hours before the official inauguration, Valencia Sailing together with a group of journalists had the chance to go through a tour of the impressive new base, guided by Partick Magyar, co General Manager of the 32nd America's Cup Defender.

This time not only did we go with our usual digital camera and MP3 microphone but walked around with a small video camera, trying to capture the atmosphere of the base even better. Since a number of offices were still empty inside the building, we focused our attention on the SUI 64 simulator, the incredible "Alinghi Cinema", the impressive gym, the fantastic views from the roof top terrace as well as some general external views.

Enjoy the small videos by clicking on the photos below. The tour is divided in two parts and each movie will open in a new window. When the window opens, just click on the big "Play" triangle in the center. We ask for your indulgence as this is a first for Valencia Sailing. Although we are certainly no Steven Spielbergs, videos in the future will certainly improve in quality.

Obviously, you can also find the usual high resolution photos to get a better picture of the enormous Alinghi base. Video is just in an experimental mode.

Click on the image below to start the first part of the tour


Click on the image below to start the second part of the tour

Note: All video has been shot and edited by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing and is streamed through the third-party YouTube system. YouTube has no relation whatsoever to either Valencia Sailing or Alinghi.

Photo tour of Alinghi's base

In addition to the usual photos we experimented with video during our visit to the brand new Alinghi base, as mentioned above. Although the building was to be inaugurated a few hours laters, there was still work going on and quite a number of rooms and offices were empty. As a result, there weren't many photo opportunities and prefered capturing the most interesting parts of the base.

Part of the Alinghi base as seen from their spectator boat. The identity of the team is visible from all angles

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The front view of the Alinghi base, as seen from their spectator boat. It is impossible to fit the whole base into one frame from such a close distance.

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The street side from another angle

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The western side of Alinghi's base

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The street side of the Alinghi base

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The east side of the enormous Alinghi base

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Working hard at the Alinghi simulator

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The Alinghi simulator

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The Alinghi simulator

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The interconnecting bridge beween the two parts of the building

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Looking east, the canal is almost ready while the concrete supporting pillars of the Foredeck Club are rising by the day

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The views are unbeatable from up here

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

A partial view of the roof top terrace

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The "Alinghi Simulator" as seen from the roof top terrace

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The small boats of the Alinghi Academy, a sailing school for young Valencians. Maybe one of them will some day be onboard SUI 102

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Meanwhile in the world's sailing capital..

After two weeks of exciting and thrilling racing action in Sicily, the America's Cup scene has noticeably calmed down and teams are entering now a long period of preparation until the next Louis Vuitton Acts that will take place in Valencia next May. Most of the teams are now enjoying much-deserved vacations while the yachts that took part in the regattas are on their way to Valencia, where they will settle for the next two years.

Taking advantage of a public holiday in Spain, we took a tour of Port America's Cup on Wednesday in order to report on the situation at the definite home of the teams for the rest of the 32nd America's Cup. As one can judge from the photos, all construction work is advancing at a rapid pace and it seems reasonable to assume that Louis Vuitton Act 10 will be even more exciting than the previous ones. The new canal is at a very advanced stage, the new Foredeck Club is now visible (at least its foundations), the once-derelict port area is being cleaned up to make way for the enormous America's Cup Park which will give thousands of visitors the chance to enjoy the most prestigious sailing event.

Most teams will be able to enjoy their permanent bases within a couple of months. Victory Challenge and United Internet Team Germany have the space of their future bases ready, while the only mystery so far seems to be the location of the Chinese base as its space is currently occupied by the new fishermen building and their boats.

The next big event in Port America's Cup is in three days, when Alinghi will officially inaugurate its new base. It will be the biggest America's Cup team base ever built and the Swiss promise a spectacular "fiesta".

Here it is. The Alinghi base, the largest ever constructed for an America's Cup team.

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

A side view of the ENORMOUS Alinghi base. Surprisingly, it is the only one to have the team's name and logo visible on all four sides of the building.

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The K-Challenge base

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The Luna Rossa base. Without any doubt it is the most original one

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The base of Emirates Team New Zealand is also advancing at a rapid pace, after long months of inactivity

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Unlike the other large syndicates, Desafío Español, the home team, has two separate buildings, one for the yachts and one used as office. Both buildings are being painted green, the team's color

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The main building of Desafío Español's base, with ESP65 inside.

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The office building of the Spanish team Desafío Español

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team base is now clearly visible.

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The site of the future United Internet Team Germany is being excavated. The yacht lying on the ground is ESP 51

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing