Meanwhile in the world's sailing capital..

It's hot as hell in Valencia and millions of visitors have flocked to the city and its beaches, right in the middle of what promises to be a record tourist year. Nevertheless, it is no vacation time in Port America's Cup. With two very important international sailing competitions taking place right now, some of the teams can not count on their most important members for training in Valencia.

The 12th Breitling Regatta is taking place in Mallorca, less than 80 miles from here, and two teams are significantly involved in these TP52 races. Emirates Team New Zealand with a dozen or so members in two boats and +39 Challenge with 8 of its crew in various boats. A handful of other America's Cup team members are scattered in various TP52 teams.

Still in the Iberian peninsula, the first event of the World Match Racing Tour is currently hold in Cascais, Portugal. BMW Oracle, Areva Challenge, Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team and Victory Challenge have all a 5-strong crew facing each other in the quarterfinals.

Four teams trained today in Valencia and we decided to give an update on each one as there were some interesting developments.

Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team

The Italian America's Cup challenger has various of its members in Mallorca as well as Portugal taking part in races. Vasco Vascotto and Nacho Postigo are involved with the Mutua Madrileña TP52 team while Jes Gram-Hansen together with four teammates are racing in the quarterfinals of the Portucal Match Cup.

On Friday morning we got a glimpse (and a couple of photos, of course) of ITA-90, the new boat of the Italian challenger, damaged before Louis Vuitton Act 12. This doesn't mean it was the first time she made her appearance after the repairs, but it must not have been more than a handful of days the shore crew has been making her ready to sail. The remaining members of the team used their old ITA-77 to train.

ITA-90 getting ready in the base of Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team. Valencia, 21 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ITA-90 getting ready in the base of Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team. Valencia, 21 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

This must be one of the very few remaining times that Latino - Capitalia Team trains with just ITA-77. Valencia, 21 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Emirates Team New Zealand

Our readers will probably know by now that the America's Cup team most heavily involved in the 2006 Breitling MedCup is by far the New Zealand challenger. More than a dozen of its members are currently racing, and with crushing success, in Mallorca onboard two TP52 boats, Warpath and Mutua Madrileña.

While some of the team's most important sailors, such as Dean BarkerHelmsman of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info, Ray DaviesAfterguard of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info, Stuart BettanyBowman of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info, Kevin HallNavigator of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info or Terry HutchinsonAfterguard of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info, are racing in Mallorca, the rest of the crew is training in Valencia onboard NZL-82.

The "B team" of Emirates Team New Zealand onboard NZL-82, being towed out of the canal on their way to another training session. Valencia, 21 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Luna Rossa

Unlike the Kiwi challenger, the Italian America's Cup team has all its members present here in Valencia, carrying out daily two-boat training sessions onboard ITA-74 and ITA-86. The latter, the newest of the two Italian boats, is back on water since a few days, but today was the first time we were around to take a picture of her.

ITA-86 was heavily damaged during a collision with BMW Oracle's USA-87 during Louis Vuitton Act 12 and both boats have now been repaired and sailing, albeit USA-87 considerably earlier, given the fact her damage was of significantly lesser importance.

The Luna Rossa armada on her way out of Port America's Cup. Valencia, 21 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

James Spithill (left) aboard ITA-74. Valencia, 21 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The freshly repaired ITA-86 is back on Valencia's waters. Valencia, 21 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The freshly repaired stern of ITA-86. Valencia, 21 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The freshly damaged stern of ITA-86 during Louis Vuitton Act 12. Valencia, 01 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi

To the best of our knowledge, no member of Alinghi is taking part in any race and as aresult the Defender of the 32nd America's Cup is also carrying out daily two-boat training sessions, similar to what they have been doing for quite some time now.

The main difference is that since a few days ago, SUI-64, the oldest of the Swiss boats, has made her reappearance on Valencia's waters, with the bow significantly modified and with a bowsprit.

The newly modified SUI-64 inside Port America's Cup. Valencia, 21 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The bow of newly modified SUI-64. Valencia, 21 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

A closeup of the new bow and bowsprit of SUI-64. Valencia, 21 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing