Meanwhile in Valencia...

With summer now over and after a week of strong rains here in Valencia we thought it was appropriate to take advantage of the nice sunny Saturday and give an update on the status of the twelve America's Cup teams in in Port America's Cup.

For those that read our website on a more or less regular basis, there is no extraordinary news to report. In addition, construction of the majority of the bases is now over, but still one can learn a thing or two. As far as the America's Cup Port is concerned, the major news is of course the start of Victory Challenge's two-boat training since last Monday. SWE-63 and SWE-73 are now back in the water together, the first time since almost four years, and Victory Challenge's crew is training off the Malvarosa beach on a daily basis.

The last few weeks have also seen the temporary departure of Emirates Team New Zealand as well as the absence of SUI-75, Alignhi's main racing yacht so far. She is taking part in the Alinghi Swiss roadshow, ending tomorrow Sunday. Finally, both yachts of Luna Rossa, ITA-74 and ITA-86, have reappeared last Monday, both considerably modified.

Victory Challenge

The Swedish team's two-boat training is at full swing. After heavilly modifying its two boats and hiring a number of new sailors, Victory Challenge is training off Valencia's coast since last Monday, the first time with two boats after almost four years. The shore crew took advantage of the weekend to make adjustments to both boats.

SWE-73 and SWE-63 at the Victory Challenge base. Valencia, 16 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

SWE-73 and SWE-63 at the Victory Challenge base. Valencia, 16 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

SWE-73 and SWE-63 at the Victory Challenge base. Valencia, 16 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

SWE-73 and SWE-63 at the Victory Challenge base. Valencia, 16 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Luna Rossa

After an absence of a few weeks, the Italian challenger made its reappearance on Monday with the start of its training with ITA-74 and ITA-86. According to the team, both of these boats underwent considerable modifications, mainly in the bow.

The masts of ITA-74 and ITA-86. Valencia, 16 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The bow of ITA-74. Valencia, 16 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ITA-86 (left) and ITA-74 at the Luna Rossa base. Valencia, 16 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The bow of ITA-74. Valencia, 16 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Areva Challenge

The French America's Cup challenger is still on summer break and most of its crew members are taking part in various regattas around the world. According the team's schedule, training with FRA-60 will resume next Thursday, September 21, while the brand new boat under construction in France, FRA-93, is scheduled to arrive here in Valencia sometime in November. In the past few weeks the team has been training with the two small boats moored in front of the base.

The base of Areva Challenge. After an initial delay, construction is finished since a few weeks. Valencia, 16 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Desafío Español

There is nothing important to report on the America's Cup challenger from Spain, other than they are on a four-day break of their two-boat training sessions. According to the team, training will resume on Monday and will continue till next April with just a couple of one-week breaks in between. The team's boat under construction a few kilometers from the base is scheduled to be launched early February.

The base of Desafío Español. The team will resume training on Monday. For the curious, the trucks are part of a commercial for a Japanese car manufacturer. Valencia, 16 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team

The Italian team keeps training on a daily basis with ITA-77, their old racing yacht. To the best of our knowledge, ITA-90, the team's brand new boat, is still inside the shed, undergoing repairs of the damages it suffered since its launch. Nevertheless, the covered keel and bulb of ITA-90 are outside the shed, as seen on the photos below, a sign of the imminent exit of the yacht from the shed?

The base of Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team. The red yacht in front of the base is ITA-77, the team's racing yacht so far. Valencia, 16 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The base of Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team. The red yacht in front of the base is ITA-77, the team's racing yacht so far. The covered keel and bulb of ITA-90 are also visible. Valencia, 16 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

+39 Challenge

Here as well news is scant. The Italian team hasn't trained since the last Louis Vuitton Act two months ago and its members, mainly Iain Percy and Rafa Trujillo, are participating in various races around the world. The team's brand new yacht, ITA-90, is still inside the shed being fitted out and its launch is imminent.

The base of +39 Challenge. The hull of ITA-59, the team's old yacht, sits in front of the base while inside the shed one can see the bow of ITA-85, the brand new yacht whose launch is imminent. Valencia, 16 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

United Internet Team Germany

The German America's Cup challenger was, together with Shosholoza, the only team to be training this Saturday. As we reported earlier, the team's brand new GER-89 has been sailing since August 15 and since early September it was joined by GER-72, the older boat that was on a rodashow in Germany. Since then, the German team has been carrying out two-boat training sessions on a daily basis.

Finally, construction of the base is going ahead at full speed and crews are working round the clock, as seen on the picture, in order to have it ready by the end of the month.

The base of United Internet Team Germany. It should be finished around the end of September. Valencia, 16 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi

The Defender of the America's Cup is busy training with SUI-91 and SUI-64 on a daily basis since the middle of August, while SUI-75 is wrapping up its rodashow in Switzerland. The only novelty concerning the team is its reported departure to Dubai in the middle of November, something that has not been officially denied or confirmed.

Alinghi's base with its two boats, SUI-91 on the left and SUI-64 on the right. Valencia, 16 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle

Just like the vast majority of teams here in Valencia, Saturday was a rest day for the Challenger of Record. USA-87 was visible but the shed of USA-76 was closed.

USA-87 peeking out of the BMW Oracle base. Valencia, 16 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Emirates Team New Zealand

As we have already reported, the New Zealand challenger has moved most of the team back to Auckland for summer (or winter) training, first with NZL-84 and then with NZL-92, their second new boat. According to the team, NZL-92 should be shipped to Valencia around Christmas.

The hull of NZL-82 sitting in front of the Emirates Team New Zealand base. The sheds being empty it seems reasonable to assume NZL-84 has been shipped to Auckland. Valencia, 16 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing