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.