Open de España Match Race starts today

The Open de España Match Race starts today Thursday at the Calpe yacht club. This year's edition of the ISAF Grade 2 event held in the small port city near Valencia is of greater international interest, given the presence of several America's Cup sailors. The event will be sailed in TOM 28 type boats with a crew of four.

Among the twelve participating skippers, four America's Cup teams are represented, Desafío Español, Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team, Luna Rossa and BMW Oracle. Given the proximity to Valencia and the obvious importance of the race for the Spanish rankings, Desafío Español, the Spanish America's Cup challenger has three teams in the event:

Desafío Español 1: Santiago López-Vázquez makes his debut in this event in a boat crewed by his teamates Aureliano Negrín, Miguel Jáuregui y Nuno Barreto.

Desafío Español 2: Jesper Radich, winner of last year's edition of the Open de España is racing together with Domingo Manrique, Víctor Mariño and Fernando Sales

Desafío Español 3: Juan Luis Páez skippere a boat crewed by Enrique Cameselle, Iñaki Martínez and Juan Pablo Cadario.

BMW Oracle: The Challenger of Record of the 32nd America's Cup is represented in the event by Bertrand Pacé, the French tactician of the team in Valencia.

Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team: The boat of the Italian America's Cup team is skippered by Cameron Dunn, helmsman of the team in Valencia, while his crew consists of Michele Paoletti, Cicho Cicchetti and Matteo Nicolich.

Luna Rossa: The boat of the second Italian America's Cup team racing in Calpe is helmed by Philippe Presti, member of the afterguard of the team in Valencia. His crew are Manuel Modena, Paolo Bassani and Nacho Braquehais.

Valencia Sailing will be on the spot from tomorrow Friday till Sunday's finals, providing the usual in-depth coverage. Stay tuned for lots of pictures from the races, weather allowing, since a low-pressure system has moved over the Valencia region, bringing overcast skies and light 5-knot winds.

The three Desafío Español skippers. From left, Juan Luis Páez, Jesper Radich and Santiago López-Vázquez.