America's Cup teams announce yachts to be used in racing and parade inside the canal

Monday saw the announcement of the boats America's Cup teams will use in Louis Vuitton Act 12, in less than 10 days. There were no surprises as it was already more or less clear what intentions they had. The only interrogation points were Alinghi and Desafío Español 2007 as to whether they were ready to race with their brand new boats. The Defender of the America's Cup decided it was too early to take the risk while the Spanish challenger felt it had tested and sailed with their boat enough time to be confident and use it in official racing.

That was not the only news the new week brought. Since a couple of days, sailing conditions are excellent with constant strong winds that reach 18 knots since early in the morning. The usual pattern has been broken, at least for now, giving all teams the incredible opportunity to sail for more than 7 hours during a day.

Given today's excellent conditions, almost all teams decided to sail out to the north race course at the same time, much earlier than usual and in a more impressive manner. By the time most boats had reached the end of the canal they had already hoisted their mainsail while some of them did it inside Port America's Cup or even before leaving their base.

To our big surprise, one by one, boats circled inside the port, then lined up and started hoisting their mainsails while being towed. Valencia, 13 June 2006. Photo by Leah Shalom / Valencia Sailing

Bumper to bumper traffic inside the canal as seven America's Cup yachts went out at the same time. From left NZL-82, ESP-65, USA-76, RSA-83, USA-87, NZL-84 (without sails) and ITA-59. Valencia, 13 June 2006. Photo by Leah Shalom / Valencia Sailing

Where can you watch that show? In Valencia of course, even while you sip some drinks sitting in one of the bars of Port America's Cup. Valencia, 13 June 2006. Photo by Leah Shalom / Valencia Sailing

Desafío Español 2007

The Spanish team will be the only one that will use a new boat for the first time in Louis Vuitton Act 12. ESP-88 was launched last month during intense official racing action in Louis Vuitton Act 10 and since ten days ago Desafío Español 2007 started their intense two-boat training sessions together with ESP-65. At that time, Agustín Zulueta, team manager, had stated that the new boat was "70 to 80%" ready for racing and given yesterday's announcement it is now clear he feels confident about it. This will be the fifth boat to have been built after the 31st America's Cup that will be used in official racing.

ESP-88 being towed on her way to training. Valencia, 13 June 2006. Photo by Leah Shalom / Valencia Sailing

ESP-88 being towed on her way to training. Valencia, 13 June 2006. Photo by Leah Shalom / Valencia Sailing

Team Shosholoza

As it was obviously expected, the first ever South African America's Cup team will race in Louis Vuitton Act 12 with RSA-83, the boat they have been using for almost a year now and the first one to have been built after the end of the previous America's Cup.

RSA-83 being towed on her way to training. Valencia, 13 June 2006. Photo by Leah Shalom / Valencia Sailing

Areva Challenge

The French America's Cup challenger was the first to sail out of the port with the mainsail hoisted on FRA-60. This will also be the yacht they will race with in Louis Vuitton Act 12.

FRA-60 being towed on her way to training. Valencia, 13 June 2006. Photo by Leah Shalom / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi

It was probably the most awaited decision but did not turn out to be a surprise. The Defender of the 32nd America's Cup announced they will not be racing with their brand new SUI-91 but will rely on the much-tested - and very successful - SUI-75. Although Alinghi has been carrying out two-boat training sessions for a couple of weeks now, it seems they do not feel confident SUI-91 has reached the desired level of preparedness. Nevertheless, last-minute surprises might take place since all teams have another week till they take the official and irrevocable decision of what boat they will race. As most America's Cup fans first read here a few weeks ago, BMW Oracle took their decision to race with USA-87 in Louis Vuitton Act 10 a mere two hours before the official deadline.

As the Swiss America's Cup team sailed out after we left, there are no photos. Still, we could observe that the jumperless mast was on SUI-75 but not SUI-91.

BMW Oracle

Obviously, no surprises were expected from the Challenger of Record. BMW Oracle will race with USA-87, a boat that proved to be extremely fast in Louis Vuitton Act 10 and was only beaten by Alinghi in match racing. In addition, BMW Oracle has used every single day since the last Louis Vuitton Act to train either with their two boats, USA-76 and USA-87, or with USA-87 against other challengers. As one can observe from the photo, the rig on USA-87 had jumpers.

USA-87 being towed on her way to training. Valencia, 13 June 2006. Photo by Leah Shalom / Valencia Sailing

USA-87 being towed on her way to training. Unlike USA-76, her mast has jumpers. Valencia, 13 June 2006. Photo by Leah Shalom / Valencia Sailing

Emirates Team New Zealand

There are obviously no surprises as to what yacht the Kiwi challenger will be using in Louis Vuitton Act 12. Their newest boat, NZL-84, will be the racing yacht of Emirates Team New Zealand, also used in Louis Vuitton Acts 10 & 11, where the New Zealanders ranked twice third.

NZL-84 being towed on her way to training. Valencia, 13 June 2006. Photo by Leah Shalom / Valencia Sailing

Luna Rossa

It would have been a shocker if the Italian America's Cup challenger had announced any yacht other than ITA-86. Their newest boat was also used in Louis Vuitton Acts 10 & 11, where the Italians ranked twice second. Unfortunately, Luna Rossa sailed out with both ITA-74 and ITA-86 much earlier than all other teams and as a result there are no photos.

China Team

The first ever America's Cup team from China did not have many options given the fact they only have one yacht, CHN-79. The hull of the yacht suffered structural damage while racing in Louis Vuitton Act 11, forcing the Chinese team to abandon the event. It is now being repaired in front the base and if all goes according to plan, CHN-79 will be back on water next Saturday.

+39 Challenge

The Italian America's Cup challenger had limited options as well since they will still have to rely on their old ITA-59 when racing begins in less than ten days. Concerning the team's brand new boat, ITA-85, she was expected to arrive here in Valencia at the beginning of this month, but to the best of our knowledge there is no sign of her yet, although from what we hear she has an interesting bow.

+39 Challenge hoisting the mainsail on ITA-59 inside Port America's Cup. Valencia, 13 June 2006. Photo by Leah Shalom / Valencia Sailing

ITA-59 being towed on her way to training. Valencia, 13 June 2006. Photo by Leah Shalom / Valencia Sailing

Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team

It did not come as a surprise the fact that this Italian team will be racing with ITA-77, their older-generation boat. To the best of our knowledge, their brand new boat ITA-90 hasn't sailed more than a few times in Valencia since she was presented. ITA-77 was on the cradle while we were at the port.

Victory Challenge

Similarly to Louis Vuitton Acts 10 & 11 the Swedish America's Cup challenger will use the heavily modified older-generation boat SWE-63. On the top navigation bar of the website, under the "Video" section, you can watch a very interesting video of Magnus Holmberg, skipper of the team, talking about all the recent modifications done on SWE-63.

SWE-63 of Victory Challenge being towed on her way to training. Valencia, 13 June 2006. Photo by Leah Shalom / Valencia Sailing

SWE-63 of Victory Challenge being towed on her way to training. Valencia, 13 June 2006. Photo by Leah Shalom / Valencia Sailing

United Internet Team Germany

Last but certainly not least, the German challenger will race with their older-generation GER-72, something that comes as no surpirse at all. The team's brand new boat GER-89 is still in Kiel, Germany and was put into water just las week for the first time. As a result, we will have to wait till next year to see the first ever German-built America's Cup yacht in official racing.

GER-72 of United Internet Team Germany being towed on her way to training. Valencia, 13 June 2006. Photo by Leah Shalom / Valencia Sailing