Logjam at top of Monsoon Cup standings

After nine of 17 scheduled flights of the inaugural Monsoon Cup, the celebratory 50th event of the Swedish Match Tour, there are five skippers in a logjam at the top of the standings.

The leader depends on whether you consider total wins as the basis for leading or winning percentage. And then there are tiebreakers to consider.

If you choose winning percentage then there’s a three way tie for the lead. Crews led by Chris Dickson (BMW Oracle Racing), Peter Gilmour (PST) and Staffan Lindberg (Alandia Sailing Team) all have four wins in five races, a winning rate of 80 percent. The three haven’t raced each other yet.

If you go for total wins then Ian Williams (Williams Racing Team) is the event leader. Williams’ 5-2 record is good for a winning rate of 71 percent. Magnus Holmberg (Victory Challenge) is also 5-2, but Williams holds the tiebreak advantage after yesterday’s come-from-behind win in Flight 2.

The 50th event of the Swedish Match Tour is offering great racing, and the regatta isn’t even out of the round robin stage yet.

“Today was a thoroughly enjoyable day of racing,” said Tour director Scott MacLeod, who prefers number of wins as the basis for leading. “There was everything to like; lead changes, penalties and the sultan racing.”

The Sultan of Terengganu, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, sailed two races with Gilmour. They won against Thierry Peponnet and lost against Dean Barker. The sultan was treated to some classic “crash” Gilmour racing in their match against Peponnet. The Frenchman who is skipper of the K-Challenge syndicate got an early lead on the reigning two-time Tour champion by playing the left side of the first leg.

Gilmour, however, held starboard tack approaching the windward mark. Peponnet seemed to be just crossing, but Gilmour hunted him down as they converged. Gilmour clipped Peponnet’s transom, which pushed the bow of the port-tack boat down and into the windward mark. The umpires issued three penalties, two to Gilmour.

“We gave a penalty to Gilmour for breaking Rule 16, a right-of-way boat altering course,” said Chief Umpire John Standley, who umpired the match. “We also gave a penalty to Peponnet for hitting the mark. But Gilmour gained an advantage so we gave him a second penalty. It was fairly straightforward.”

Gilmour stretched enough of a lead over the next lap and a half to perform his penalty turn on the finish line and win. But afterwards apologies were flying on his boat. “I apologized to the sultan,” Gilmour said, “but he said don’t worry, it was the most fun of the race.”

The Gilmour-Peponnet match wasn’t the only with contact. Williams and Dickson rubbed gunwales, while Coutts and Peponnet also got up close and personal. So far in the event the umpires have had 48 requests for calls from competitors and 24 penalties have been issued. “That’s a high proportion,” said Standley. “It shows the sailors aren’t putting up questionable Y flags.”

Just over half of the 17 scheduled flights have been completed. Principal Race Officer Peter Reggio said he had hoped to complete 10 flights by this time. After the round robin the top eight advance to the quarterfinals while the bottom four are eliminated.

The round robin is scheduled to resume tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.

Round Robin Standings after 9 of 17 flights

1. Chris Dickson (NZL) BMW ORACLE Racing, 4-1
= Peter Gilmour (AUS) PST, 4-1
= Staffan Lindberg (FIN) Alandia Sailing Team, 4-1
4. Ian Williams (GBR) Williams Racing Team, 5-2
5. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge, 5-2
6. Dean Barker (NZL) Emirates Team New Zealand, 3-2
7. Russell Coutts (NZL) Coutts Racing Team, 3-3
8. Francesco Bruni (ITA) Luna Rossa Challenge, 2-3
9. Björn Hansen (SWE) Team Apport.Net, 2-4
10. Thierry Peponnet (FRA) K-Challenge, 2-5
11. Cameron Dunn (NZL) Mascalzone Latino – Capitalia, 1-6
12. Sally Barkow (USA) Team 7, 0-5

"Schooner America" to be auctioned, expected to visit Valencia in 2007

A battle of the yachting nations will commence at 16.00 GMT on Wednesday 14 December 2005 between the USA and the rest of the world as the replica of the first ‘America’s Cup’ winner, America, is auctioned at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in London.

With the America’s Cup itself now held in Europe’s hands, and with teams pouring millions of dollars into campaigns to win it back, the Americans are keen to gain the psychological advantage of taking possession of the yacht America before the 2007 America’s Cup.

“There is no second” was the famous reply made to Queen Victoria in 1851 when she asked ‘Who came second?’ after the original schooner America won the Royal Yacht Squadron’s race around the Isle of Wight, raced for a Cup of One Hundred Sovereigns.


“There is no second” is a phrase that Nicholas Bonham – former Chairman of Bonhams Auctioneers and an international yachtsman who has raced both the 12-Metre and the more modern America’s Cup yachts – is likely to remind bidders, for the replica of the yacht that the America’s Cup took its name from, when he conducts the auction. Only one will win the Lot of course… Auction registration forms are online at www.saleofamerica.com.

The original yacht was destroyed in 1942 and this ‘original replica’ was built in 1967 by an American yachting enthusiast. Bonham enthuses “She is a breathtaking boat that has been built in the spirit of tradition. Despite her being a replica she is recognised by the yachting world as authentic and her sale will cause an enormous ‘noise’ amongst yachting communities around the world.”

To possess such pedigree is a rare opportunity in itself, but her present owner has also devised plans for a refit and an itinerary including a guest appearance at the 2007 America’s Cup in Valencia (in 2001 at the 150th America’s Cup anniversary in Cowes America was the flagship for the event, loaned to the Royal Yacht Squadron). Nicholas Bonham adds “America provides a wonderful hospitality opportunity as she is definitely the ‘best seat in the house’ at future America’s Cups and other international regattas.”


It is appropriate that America is to be auctioned in England, since it was in Cowes that the original crew won the ‘One Hundred Sovereign Cup’ in 1851. She was brought to England to participate in the Great Exhibition (an event intended to show off Great Britain’s superiority as a nation) by an American syndicate that commissioned her building to show the best of America – with instructions from the New York Tribune: “if you do go and are beaten, you had better not return to your country”. By beating fourteen British yachts that day, in front of Queen Victoria (who described her as “pretty”) America not only won the first ever international yachting challenge, she also reaffirmed the emergence of the United States of America as a world power.

Dean Barker wins 2005 New Zealand Match Racing Championship 2005

Emirates Team New Zealand helmsman Dean Barker sailed into today’s finals with a clear lead over the competition. Barker selected to race 22 year old Simon Minoprio (Vision Yachting). This left BMW Oracle racing skipper Chris Dickson to sail Cameron Appleton (K-Challenge).

In the first race Barker beat Minoprio by 35 seconds, but in the second race Minoprio lead from start to finish taking the win by 9 seconds. Race 3 and the winner would go through to the finals. It was a tough battle right from the start, with Minoprio leading Barker to the top mark for the first time. Minoprio then picked up a penalty for hitting the top mark. At the top mark for the last time Minoprio had a 5 boat length advantage and there were numerous gybes and luffs on the run as Minoprio tried to clear his penalty by getting one on Barker. Coming into the Committee Boat Barker got the inside and was able to sneak home as Minoprio completed his penalty turn on the line. This secured a finals place for Barker & crew.

In the other semi final Dickson bet Appleton twice to secure his spot in the finals.

In the petit final Appleton beat Minoprio by 12 seconds in the first race and 6 seconds in the second to secure 3rd place for the regatta.

In the finals Dickson & Barker went head to head for 5 straight matches leaving the decider to the 5th and final match. The lead changed numerous times but Barker sailed home to win the final race by 12 seconds and the New Zealand championships for the 3rd time.

Following his 3rd place, Appleton will be invited to fill the last available spot in the International Sailing Federation-sanctioned and grade one Auckland Match Racing Cup, which will take place between ten skippers and their crews on the Waitemata Harbour across five days beginning January 25. Barker and Dickson have already been invited to take part.

In January, Appleton will compete against some of the best sailors in the world including number one-ranked Ed Baird (Team Alinghi) and Sebastian Col (K-Challenge).

Photo copyright: Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron

Photo copyright: Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron

Photo copyright: Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron

Photo copyright: Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron

Photo copyright: Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron

NZ Match Racing Championships - No racing on Saturday, too much wind

No racing was possible on Saturday as winds in Auckland were too strong. As a result, Dean Barker (Emirates Team New Zealand), Simon Minoprio, Chris Dickson (BMW Oracle Racing) and Cameron Appleton (K-Challenge) advance to the semi-finals that will take place on Sunday.

Dean Barker remains undefeated in the New Zealand Match Racing Championships

Emirates Team New Zealand helmsman Dean Barker is still undefeated after 14 races, and goes into day 3 a clear leader of the New Zealand Match Racing Championships. In second place, both on 11 wins is 22 year old Simon Minoprio & BMW Oracle skipper Chris Dickson. In fourth place, with 9 wins is Cameron Appleton (K-Challenge).

Those top four look untouchable but local sailors Laurie Jury, Simon Dickey & Adam Minoprio are all desperate for a semi final spot.

Racing begins on Saturday at 9.30am.

POINTS TABLE
Dean Barker - 14 wins / 0 losses
Simon Minoprio - 11 / 3
Chris Dickson - 11 / 3
Cameron Appleton - 9 / 5
Laurie Jury - 7 / 7
Simon Dickey - 6 / 8
Adam Minoprio - 5 / 9
Takumi Nakamura - 4 / 10
Brian Trubovich - 3 / 11
Tom Powrie - 0 / 14

Volvo Ocean Race

Although this website is dedicated to the America's Cup as well as all races related to the America's Cup teams and their sailors, we'll make an exception and mention a very nice and easy tool to follow the Volvo Ocean Yacht Race.

Laust Ladefoged, ABN AMRO employee from Denmark, has created a great Google Map to track the current standings in the Volvo Ocean Yacht Race. The race is currently in its first leg which runs from the west coast of Spain to Cape Town in South Africa, and is what the map is currently showing boat positions for. Links take you to zoomed in positions on the map for the leaders, fleet and the current leg to make viewing easier.

Without any doubt, the map is not as pecise and as powerful as the Virtual Spectator application on the official website, yet it is very simple, doesn't require anything more than an Internet browser and loads very fast.

Maybe in the 33rd America's Cup, technology will have evolved in such a way to allow almost real-time tracking of the races with such a simple and free tool.

Barker & Minoprio lead the New Zealand Match Racing Championships

Emirates Team New Zealand helmsman Dean Barker was undefeated after 7 races were completed on the Waitemata harbour on Thursday. Barker beat BMW Oracle's Dickson by 9 seconds in a very close match between the two America’s Cup helmsman.
Also undefeated today was 22 year old Simon Minoprio & team Vision Yachting who will race Barker & Dickson on Friday to complete the first round robin.

Favourable conditions on Thursday morning meant five flights were completed in quick sucession then during the afternoon conditions became variable due to scattered rain and light airs and racing was called off at 4.30pm.

Racing resumes on Friday at 9.30am.

POINTS TABLE
Simon Minoprio - 7 wins / 0 losses
Dean Barker - 7 wins / 0 losses
Takumi Nakamura - 1 wins / 6 losses
Laurie Jury - 3 wins / 4 losses
Chris Dickson - 6 wins / 1 losses
Adam Minoprio - 3 wins / 3 losses
Cameron Appleton - 3 wins / 3 losses
Simon Dickey - 2 wins / 4 losses
Tom Powrie - 0 wins / 6 losses
Brian Trubovich - 1 wins / 6 losses

BMW Plant to manufacture Keel Fin

BMW ORACLE Racing, the Challenger of Record for the 32nd America's Cup, counts on technology expertise from Thuringia.

The path to the America’s Cup in Valencia 2007 leads through Eisenach, stopping at the BMW Tool Manufacture. For the next three months, the expert design team, usually responsible for the manufacture of large compression moulds and design prototypes, will co-write a chapter in the history of the America’s Cup. In January 2006, one of the most significant yacht components for the current BMW ORACLE campaign, the keel fin, will be manufactured in the BMW plant Eisenach / Thuringia. The new racing yacht inclusive of the new keel fin may debut as early as May 2006 at the Louis Vuitton Act 10 starting 11 May. The production of the keel will play a vital role as the 32nd America’s Cup challenger takes on titleholder Alinghi in Valencia 2007.

US61, BMW Oracle's exhibition boat in the airport of Munich, home city of BMW
Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

"With its series production for BMW, the BMW Plant Eisenach draws on a host of experience in the manufacture of tools and the processing of major component parts. Placing the production in the Eisenach Plant is, once again, an indicator that BMW is consistently transferring technology competence gained in automotive research to the sport of race yachting," says Professor Dr. Raymond Freymann, Director BMW Group Research and Technology, and responsible for the supervision of the BMW engineers in the BMW ORACLE Racing Design Team. "The Eisenach Plant provides a high international standard with regard to precision and quality. BMW will prove this once more with the manufacture of the technologically very sophisticated fin. The new yacht will benefit from this." In the course of the manufacture, the crew will closely cooperate with the BMW ORACLE Racing Design Team.

The fin’s manufacturing in the BMW Plant Eisenach is yet another example of BMW's technology proficiency in the field of high-performance race yachting. With an overall weight of a little over one ton, the fin is three metres in length and consists of ultra high-strength steel, the same material used in crash-relevant structural fields in BMW vehicles. The fin is the important connecting piece between the hull of the boat and the keel bomb in the "Formula One of Yachting."

The BMW Plant Eisenach was officially put into operation in 1992 and employs 250 personnel. The plant is housing the BMW Tool Manufacture and made its mark with the production of design models and prototype component parts.

Biggest race since America's Cup attracts world's best sailors in Auckland

Five of the world’s top ten sailors along with New Zealanders Dean Barker and Chris Dickson are set to compete in the biggest yacht race New Zealand has seen since the America’s Cup.

World number one Ed Baird of Team Alinghi will take part in this International Sailing Federation event.

The race - the Auckland Match Racing Cup - will take place from January 25 to 29 2006, on the Waitemata Harbour on the city side of the Harbour Bridge, near the Viaduct.

Dean Barker, who will skipper the Emirates Team New Zealand boat, said New Zealand was extremely fortunate to have secured the race. "This grade one event will be the highlight of international yachting next year and will put New Zealand back on the world stage. I’m looking forward to racing at home against some of the best match racers in the world. This event is a fantastic race in its own right. But it’s also a perfect opportunity to sharpen Emirates Team New Zealand’s skills for the 2007 America’s Cup," he said.

Auckland City Mayor Dick Hubbard said he is absolutely delighted that Auckland City is home to this internationally recognised sailing event, attracting sailors of world-class calibre. "As during the America’s Cup, the eyes of the sailing world will be upon us and we relish the opportunity to work with Auckland Match Racing Cup organisers in making this event a huge success for Auckland," he said.

During five days of racing, ten teams of five members each will compete for a prize pool of $US100,000 put forward by race organiser Springs Promotions.

Teams will sail on the Farr MRX match racing fleet used for the former Steinlager Line 7 Cup regattas.

Nine of the maximum ten entries in the competition are confirmed. The tenth entry will be the winner of the New Zealand Match Racing Championships 2005, which will take place across four days of racing starting on November 24.

The nine confirmed skippers and teams are:

A new Mascalzone Latino under construction

Capitalia Team is pleased to announce construction has begun on the first of the two new boats for the America’s Cup 2007.

As required by the protocol, the hull will be constructed in Italy. The construction is under the supervision of Ximo Lopez and his group of technicians at Marine Composite of Vittorio Urbinati, based in Andora (Savona).

Ximo Lopez is well known for his work with Spanish yard Longitud O in building the Pisco Sour, Vasco Vascotto’s TP52 that won the MedCup 2005 circuit.

Marine Composite is a partner of Daire Chemicals S.p.A. of Pianezza (Torino), an industry leader in distribution and assistance of technopolymers. The boatyard at Andora includes state of the art systems for the application of pre-impregnate carbon fibres.

The model was built in Pamplona by MTorres, an industrial group specialised in automation and control systems.

Construction of the new Mascalzone Latino should come to an end this winter, with the boat then being fully finished and equipped in Valencia. The launch of the new boat is scheduled for March.

The new boat is designed by Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team Design Group. Led by Harry Dunning, the research and development group is an international team of designers and engineers combining a vast experience in America’s Cup campaigns.

The Mascalzone Latino Design Group, in addition to Dunning, includes Rick Harris, Chris Mairs, Joe Laiosa, Mark McCafferty, Fabrizio Marabini, Will Brooks, Duncan MacLane, Rodrigo Quesada, Marco Savelli and Giovanni Cassinari.

James Spithill wins 2005 King's day Regatta / Atlantic Coast Championship

James Spithill with his Luna Rossa crew of Jonathan and Charlie McKee, Manuel Motero and 11 year old Mac Agnese are the 2005 Carloan.com Melges 24 King's Day Regatta/Atlantic Coast Champions! The last time that the fleet was visited by Spithill and his very impressive team was Key West Race Week. "It's good to be back in the Melges 24. We have a different charter boat, same owner, yet different boat. We've been doing a little bit of work with Dave Ullman and his guys. It's tough. We wouldn't expect anything less."

Photo copyright: Joy Advertising / www.joysavannahphotos.com

Going into the third and fourth races of a five race series, Brian Porter topped Saturday's leader board with Spithill and Ullman very close behind. Sunday's conditions were going to bring a little variety to the weekend with mainly overcast skies and considerably light air 3-5 knots to only as much as 5-8 though out the day. With a course bearing of 045, it took three general recalls to get the fleet off to a clean start, especially Ullman and Jamie Lea at the helm for Stuart Simpson battling for position. Porter and Gabrio Zandona at the helm for Giovanni Maspero both went to leeward taking advantage of some clean air. Approaching the top mark, the left side just didn't pan out for some of the top teams. In fact, the beginnings of a real fleet shake up was well in the works. Lea managed to make his way successfully to the top mark rounding first, followed by Sean Scarborough. Ullman, Zandona, Porter, Spithill and Brun all struggled to stay alive in the top ten. The vast majority of teams stayed right at the offset, Jeff Ecklund with Harry Melges, III calling tactics set off to the left.

Lea held on to the lead going into the first leeward mark pursued by Evan Jahn, Vince Brun and Flip Wehrheim. Bora Gulari at the helm for Chuck Holzman, Bart Griffith, Sean Scarborough, then Spithill rounded respectively. Ecklund made up quite a few positions as he flew downwind. Porter continued to make up some positions as did Ullman and Joe Fly. At the second windward mark everyone maintained position with the exception of Ullman jumping up a couple of positions.

Leading the remainder of the race, Lea had hold of the top position and refused to relinquish, forcing Jahn to settle for second and Brun in third.

The second race definitely put a new spin on just how unpredictable the outcome of a Melges 24 race can be. With continued light air, it was one of the most intense shake-ups seen in a long while. This fleet is by far, the deepest in talent and skill we have ever seen. Out of fifty-four M24 teams only seven registered to compete as Corinthians. The second race proved that they too are very talented amateur sailors and should not be under estimated. After a couple of general recalls and winds still pumping lightly from the NNE, Martin Kullman and Duncan MacKenzie had great speed off the starting line. Coming into the first weathermark, one of the newest US Melges 24 Class members Rob MacMillan rounded first followed by Kullman. Justin Damore was third, Jim Golden was fourth, MacKenzie was fifth followed by none other than Zandona, Spithill, Marc Hollerbach and Lea. MacMillian dominated the remainder of the race, followed by Kullman, leaving the pros to sort the rest out amongst themselves. "I sailed with Nick Halmos at Nationals this past April. We will be in Key West and Miami and we will be back for Nationals here next year. This regatta has been fantastic!" said MacMillian. "Yesterday was really tough, but it seems that with every race we got ten points better than the last." Martin Kullman who is the overall Corinthian winner commented, "We came here to learn a lot and we really did." Justin Damore held on for third, with Peter Baron landing fourth. Spithill was fifth - ultimately sewing up the championship. This last race was a tough one with Ullman finishing 12th, Zandona in 9th, Brun in 14th and Porter had a disastrous finish in 38th.

The hull mould of the new Desafío Español boat: Is it going to be ESP86 ?

Although it was presented last week, some technical difficulties prevented me from posting this photo earlier. As you can obviously see, it is the mould for the hull of the Spanish challenger's new boat, being built 20km from Valencia's harbor.

You can read about it in our article from last Tuesday, here. In a nutshell, the hull is being built by "King Marine", a shipyard in Valencia's suburb of Alginet. If all goes according to plan, the boat will be ready on the 30th of March and sailing trials will begin during the second half of April.

In addition to the obvious design secrets, the boat's sail number is still a mystery. Is it going to be ESP86, after NZL84 and ITA85? We'll see.

Photo copyright: Desafío Español 2007

The centerboard and rudder of Movistar in the Desafío Español base. They will be ready in three days.

Peper Ribes, bowman of VOR 70 Movistar, arrived on Thursday morning at the Desafío Español 2007 base together with the damaged centerboard and rudder, to be repaired in the base of the Spanish challenger. The two appendages are already being repaired by technicians of the challenger and King Marine, the shipyard in charge of the construction of the new Spanish America’s Cup boat.

Agustín Zulueta, Technical and Sports Director of the Spanish challenger, pointed out that repairs would be carried out in three stages; the centerboard and the rudder that are already in the team's base; the repairs that can be carried out in the shipyard and the work that will done onboard the boat in Portimao.

Gabriel Mariani, in charge of King Marine, emphasized that six specialists in composite materials will travel to Portimao in order to finish the bulkhead repairs. Concerning the centerboard and the rudder, Mariani confirmed they could be ready within three or four days and the nature of the damage demonstrates they were the result of a collision.

Pepe Ribes, Movistar bowmnan, thanked "the support and considerable effort by the spanish challenger to repair the damage of Movistar" and stated that "if all repairs are finished by the 29th of the month, as expected, they would be in condition to resume sailing on the 1st of December, the deadline that would allow us to continue sailing towards Cape Town".

Repairing the Movistar damaged parts in the Desafío Español base in Valencia

Photo copyright: Desafío Español 2007

Repairing the Movistar damaged parts in the Desafío Español base in Valencia

Photo copyright: Desafío Español 2007

Valencia beaches and race areas (updated)

As promised, the "Beach" section of the Valencia guides has been updated with all the information concerning the race area of the America's Cup, delimited by the coastline and the three permanent white lines on the map. I would like to thank Tom Ehman, head of External Affairs and Rules Compliance for BMW ORACLE Racing as well as former chairman of the Challenger Commission, for providing the exact coordinates of the race area as well as very useful explanations.

The Race Committee may run racing anywhere within that area. However, as a practical matter, there are two main course areas that have come to be used: one off Malvorsa which is the so-called "North Course", and one off El Saler also known as the "South Course".

If on a race day the wind is blowing offshore (from the NW), the race courses would both be moved offshore (into the eastern areas of the Race Area defined above). Remember, too, that during the round robins in 2007 the challengers will be using two race areas and the defender a third on which to practice. These will be rotated so all teams get practice on what will presumably be "center court" come 2007 -- the Malvarosa course area just off the Darsena where it is expected the LVC semis, LVC finals and Match will all be run.

As for the starting lines, they are moved depending on wind conditions, and sometimes other considerations as well.

As a result, the best beaches from where to watch the America's Cup racing action in Valencia are Las Arenas, Malvarosa and Patacona for the North Course and El Saler and Pinedo for the South Course. We should emphasize here that a spectator could be disappointed turning up in these beaches to watch the races. They are by no means close to the boats and you will not be able to really enjoy the action. Without any doubt, the best option would be to go on a spectator boat, or, even beter, a private boat. Nevertheless, if these options are not available, watching from one of the aforementioned beaches is the best alternative.

Most probably, the best locations in land from where to watch the races in 2007 will be the America's Cup Park and the end of the breakwater. Nevertheless, the former is still on the design table while the latter is under construction and quite a number of months till completion.

More Valencia guides: Beaches in and around the city

In the second installment of the Valencia guides I have chosen to include the beaches in and around the city. In my opinion, it will allow you to have a clear view of where each beach is exactly located and assess its position in relation to the two race courses of the Louis Vuitton Acts.

For the moment, the guide consists of only the position of each beach. When weather gets better during a weekend, I will also include a photo in the popup information window. When I also have the exact coordinates of the two race areas, the map will have a permanent drawing of the racing "diamond" and it will be possible to calculate the straight-line distance separating the beach from the starting line. This feature will make it even easier to assess whether it is possible to watch the races and to what degree.

Like all other sections, you can zoom in and out as well as drag the map with the mouse. Check it by clicking the permanent link at the upper right-hand corner of the website or at the small picture above.

The Desafío Español new boat is already under construction in Valencia

Desafío Español 2007 unveiled the shipyard where the new boat of the green team is being built. The “King Marine” shipyard, located in Valencia’s suburb of Alginet, is in charge of the construction of the new boat. Agustín Zulueta, Technical and Sports Director, stated that the construction of the boat in Alginet is the continuation “of our commitment to the Valencian Community and result of the agreement with our sponsor”.

The choice of Alginet follows the fact that it satisfies all required characteristics, having in addition very good communication links with the team’s base in Valencia’s harbor. Zulueta was “very satisfied with the work carried out by the construction team. We stick to our time schedule; The boat is forecast to leave the shipyard on the 30th of March and around the 15th or 20th of April it will be ready for the first sailing trials”.

The shed that houses the shipyard in Alginet has been through all the necessary modifications in order to make the whole construction process possible. It has a rectangular shape and a surface of around 1,000 square meters. It also houses the oven in which the deck mold is been baked while the hull mold has reached an advanced stage of completion. Once these two molds are completed the next step will consist of laminating them with fiber carbon and nomex of the highest available technology.

In accordance with the rules of the America’s Cup Protocol, the hull will be built in Alginet, as well as the deck and wheel, while other parts of the boat (keel, bulb, mast, deck equipment, hydraulics and electronics) will be fabricated in various places and assembled in the base of Desafío Español 2007. Additionally, during the months of December and January, the current boats of the Spanish challenger, ESP-65 and ESP-67, will be modified in the team’s base in order to be adapted to the rigging configuration of the new boat.

Ezequiel Sirito is in charge of the King Marine shipyard as well the 20 employees of the construction team. He stated that "in the Valencian Community we have been able to find a large number of high-technology suppliers with whom to deal. Fourteen Valencian companies are working with us, such as Caby Press, that has built the oven. In the whole boat construction process the ability and qualification of the personnel are very important as we deal with very delicate tasks, requiring great precision and attention to detail".

Naval architect Iñigo Toledo will be the coordinator of Desafío Español 2007. According to Toledo, “we are coordinating all the efforts of a big team for the boat construction; with our main designers, Reichel & Pugh, the tecnhical department of Desafío Español and the crew. All tasks are carried out according to plan while we are also working on rigging, deck equipment and the mast”.

The construction team, with Chris Mellow and Paul Quinn as projects managers, has been involved in the construction of seven America’s Cup yachts, as well as round-the-world carbon fiber boats. Approximately 25,000 work hours will be necessary for the construction of Desafío Español’s new boat.

UBS Alinghi Swiss Tour: Arnaud Psarofaghis wins

Valencia was the center of attention of the Swiss sailing community, as it was host to the finals of the UBS Alinghi Swiss Tour, taking place right inside Port America's Cup.

The regatta started on Friday afternoon with an exhibition fleet race and continued through Saturday and Sunday, with the Round Robins, the semifinals and finals. Unfrotunately, Saturday's weather proved to be tricky with very light winds resulting in almost half of racing cancelled.

Nevertheless, Sunday's strong but shifting winds gave the chance to recover all lost races but also provided some excellent sailing, especially during the semifinals and finals. Arnaud Psarofaghis, a 17-year old from Geneva, managed to beat Eric Monnin and become the Swiss champion of match race. Despite winning only five out of ten races during the Roiund Robins, the young sailor put on an excellent show in the finals.

According to Alinghi, the successful UBS Alinghi Swiss Tour will be repeated in 2006, and we hope to see the Swiss sailors racing inside Valencia's harbor. Enjoy the photos from Sunday's races, even if, unfortunately, the background is not always as beautiful as one would wish.

The new Swiss match race champion, Arnaud Psarofaghis (left), together with Alinghi's Yann Gouniot, holding his trophy.

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Happy and smiling faces after Arnaud Psarofaghis beat Eric Monnin in the finals of the UBS Alinghi Swiss Tour

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Team PSARO

The surprise of the UBS Alinghi Swiss Tour came from a 17-year old. Arnaud Psarofaghis, together with his crew and Alinghi's Yann Gouniot, became the new Swiss match racing champion. Although his performance in the Round Robins was just average, he raced very in the semi finals and finals, taking advantage of Team Monnin's errors, and took the title.

The following set is a selection of photos from the new Swiss champion, taken on Sunday during the semifinals and finals.

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Team Psaro, sailing in front of Alinghi's base. Despite the unusually cold and rainy weather, there were tens of Swiss fans that came to watch the finals in Valencia.

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Team Monnin

Team Monnin was most probably the proof that "it ain't over till it's over". The team made of three brothers and Alinghi's Matt Mitchell lost just one out the ten races in the Round Robins. Then in the semi-finals it won both races but in the finals, Team Psaro took advantage of their opponents' errors and beat them.

The following set is a selection of photos from the unfortunate second team, taken on Sunday

Team Monnin rounding the mark. The Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team base is visible in the background. It was the only one of the America's Cup teams that went out training on Sunday

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Team Monnin sailing in front of Alinghi's base

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Alinghi's Matt Mitchell raced with Team Monnin

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

At one stage during the semifinals, wind speed reached 15 knots inside Port America's Cup!!

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Monnin lost precious time with the spinnaker

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Psaro - Monnin duels

Our coverage could not be complete without a few pictures from the duels between the two finalists of the UBS Alinghi Swiss Tour. Thery were taken in the final races on Sunday.

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Photo taken by Valencia Sailing