Green Fiesta in Valencia

The green team, Desafío Español 2007, inaugurated on Monday evening its equally green and impressive base in Valencia's Port America's Cup with a true "fiesta". The presentation started at 8pm with more than a thousand guests flocking to the new house of the local team, in the harbor's rapidly changing interior basin.

Local and regional authorities welcomed the team at their brand new home while the atmosphere was as bubbly as a glass of champagne. We only regret the fact that unlike Alinghi, the Spanish challenger did not give us the opportunity to chat with the crew or the design team. It was indeed a party, but fans were curious about the challenger's plans. Yesterday evening the America's Cup has entered into a stage of "hibernation" for a couple of months.

The base is clearly smaller than Alinghi's or BMW Oracle's but nevertheless impressive, especially given its strong green color and the neon-lit logos of the challenger's sponsors. As a result, it is the only base visible at night.

Packed house during Desafío Español's inauguration fiesta. Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

A view of the green base when the presentation was coming to an end. Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Team members arrived with speedboats. Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The smaller building of the Green Team (or better Dream Team?).Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

It might not be the biggest base but it certainly is the most spectacular, so far. Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Unlike other America's Cup teams, Desafío Español opened one of the two doors of the boat shed and let people in. Crowds walked around one of the two boats that are currently being modified, as they moved on to the team's gym.

The right side of the boat shed, with the bow of one of the syndicate's two boats just visible. The team's gym can be seen at the upper right hand corner of the building. Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The right side of the boat shed, with one of the syndicate's two boats. Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

A closer look at one of the syndicate's two boats (ESP-65 and ESP-67) inside the boat shed. Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The team's gym, packed with visitors. Alinghi's gym must be three times as big. Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The sail loft is located on the ground floor of the smaller building, below the team's administrative offices and VIP lounge and terrace. This part is also visibly smaller than Alinghi's base, especially the roof-top terrace. Unfortunately, poor light conditions resulted in photos that did not do justice to the local team's buildings.

The sail loft of Desafío Español. Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Another view of the sail loft of Desafío Español. Photo taken by Valencia Sailing