Victory Challenge start two-boat training

[Source: Victory Challenge] It hasn’t happened since 22 November 2002. That was the last time, after the quarter-final victory against Le Défi Areva in the Louis Vuitton Cup, that Victory Challenge was out and trained with both Örn (SWE 63) and Orm (SWE 73) at the same time. Today, 11 September 2006, it is happening again. “It feels fantastic to finally get going with the two-boat training,” says Magnus Holmberg, skipper and helmsman.

It is a misty late-summer day in Valencia, with a temperature of almost 30 degrees. The sea breeze is 14 knots. There are barely seven months remaining until it is time to compete once more in the 32nd America’s Cup (the final pre-regatta before the challengers series, the Louis Vuitton Cup, begins on 3 April 2007).

Starting with two-boat training now is not a day too early.

“We have fought hard to develop, despite only sailing with one boat. It hasn’t been easy, even if we haven’t been standing around with our arms folded. We have made great progress. But with two boats it is easier to push forward development at a faster rate,” says Magnus Holmberg.

SWE-63 and SWE-73 of Victory Challenge training together for the first time since almost four years. Valencia, 11 September 2006. Photo copyright David Renkwitz/Victory Challenge

He is helmsman on SWE 73 today, second helmsman Mattias Rahm is steering SWE 63.

“We are testing two different packages, one boat has exactly the same configuration as in the last act.”

It was then that Victory Challenge beat the America’s Cup defender, Alinghi.

“On the second boat today we have the new mast and new mainsail.”

It is thereby possible to carry out real tests and tester get immediate feedback on what is right and what is wrong.

The last time that Örn and Orm were out together was the 21 and 22 November 2002, during two intensive days of preparations ahead of that part of Louis Vuitton that was called repechage.

Victory Challenge had beaten Le Defí Areva in the quarter-finals and was to sail against Prada (Luna Rossa Challenge) to finally determine one of the semi-final places.

Almost four years have passed since that time and the Louis Vuitton Cup in which Victory Challenge finished fifth.

In the 32nd America’s Cup the competition schedule is tougher. There will be no quarter-finals, no repechage. The Louis Vuitton Cup begins on 16 April. On 7 May the round robins, in which everyone meets everyone else twice, are to be complete.