King Marine

We are happy to welcome King Marine as a new advertizer on Valencia sailing.

King Marine is an Argentinian high-end boatyard with facilities in Buenos Aires and Valencia and involved in the construction of high-end racing yachts since many years. ESP-88 and ESP-97, the two yachts of America's Cup challenger Desafío Español have been built by King Marine entirely in their facilities in Valencia.

Their expertise is also most valuable in the two rapidly expanding yacht classes, TP52 and GP42. In the Argentinian facilities, King Marine is currently building two TP52 and four GP42 yachts. Once the hulls are finished they will be transported to Valencia in oder to be fitted out. We will have special reports and dedicated sections together with the usual tens of excellent photos.

If you want to advertize in one of the world's most popular sailing blogs just send an email to info(at)valenciasailing.com. Our prices are competitive and we can build a tailor-made solution just for your needs.

Alinghi's new boat or staged unveiling?

Update: We would like to thank an alert reader for pointing out that this picture was taken on 3 February 2005 at the Décision boatyard in Switzerland when Alinghi presented their freshly modified SUI-75.

The following picture was first seen in Alinghi's website accompanied by the following text: And while the sailing team and some designers and shore crew are based in Dubai, Boat 4, the second of our two new generation boats, is being built at the Décision Boatyard in Vevey, Switzerland and will be shipped overland to Valencia to be commissioned in the first quarter of the year.

Could it be sneak preview of Alinghi's brand new rocket? We doubt the Swiss defender of the America's Cup would publish such a photo. Whatever the case, according to the results of our unscientific poll on the left-hand column of the website, 56% of Valencia Sailing's users that cast their vote think she will have to face NZL-92 in next summer's America's Cup match.

Could this be Alinghi's new boat? We strongly doubt the Defender of the 32nd America's Cup would ever make such a photo public, showing the bow of the boat. Photo copyright Ivo Rovira / Alinghi

Gale force winds cause dismastings early in Rolex Sydney Hobart Race

Steep seas and unforecast winds gusting up to gale force strength resulted in two of the potential line honours contenders dismasting last night in the Rolex Sydney Hobart.

At 0308 (Australian time) the crew of ABN AMRO One advised the Race Committee that they had dismasted. Despite a forecast indicating there would be no more than 20 knots, ABN AMRO One were experiencing 30-35 knots of wind gusting up to 37-38 at the time, making 10.5-11 knots to the east of the fleet.

"It was all familiar territory," commented skipper Mike Sanderson, who skippered the boat through considerably worse conditions to a decisive victory in the Volvo Ocean Race earlier this year. "There were two big bangs and it all came tumbling down. Something broke which had just worn out. Maybe we were lucky it didn't go in the Volvo Ocean Race. All we have left is up to the first spreader." Being pitch black in the early hours of the morning at the time of the incident, the exact cause of the breakage remains a mystery.

ABN AMRO ONE under jury rig heading towards Sydney. 27 December 2006. Photo copyright ROLEX/Daniel Forster

With the mast flailing around the crew were concerned about damaging the carbon fibre hull of their boat and hurriedly set about cutting through the carbon fibre spar, PBO rigging and numerous thick ropes, in order to free the rig from the hull.

Fortunately no one was injured in the incident. "The boys are a bit shaken up and disappointed - we were going well," said Sanderson. At present ABN AMRO is motoring back to Sydney and their present ETA is 24-48 hours time.

In an altogether more serious incident that resulted in six casualties, the 30m line honours contender Maximus skippered by co-owners Charles St Clair Brown and Bill Buckley dismasted shortly after ABN AMRO One at 0300 local time. At the time they were closer to the shore than ABN AMRO, sailing in 28 knots in a sea that was lumpy but nothing extraordinary. “The boat was going very nicely, we'd been sitting on 12-12.5 knots and we were in good shape, just trucking down the coast,” recounted one of the injured crewman, Ian Trelaven.

On Maximus it was a forestay fitting that broke, resulting in the towering carbon fibre spar crashing directly backwards into the cockpit. At the time the crew were preparing for a tack and the falling spar nearly crushed several crew at the aft end of the cockpit, thankfully saved as the fall was broken by the twin steering wheels and the handles for the grinders. “I think we were incredibly lucky no one was killed,” said Treleaven.

Rescue operation underway with MAXIMUS. 27 December 2006. Photo copyright ROLEX/Daniel Forster

In the dismasting Trevalen had suffered a head injury which briefly knocked him unconscious. “I was down to leeward getting ready for the leeward traveller and heard the crunching. I hit the deck and the boom must have got me in the back of the head and just pushed me into the deck. I landed on a winch and it stopped doing any serious damage to me.”

Others hurt were Glenn Attrill, George Hendy, David Mundy and Martin Hannon suffering a mixture of injury to their lower back, head, ribs and pelvis. Most seriously hurt was New Zealander David Mundy who broke his leg and some ribs and was airlifted off in a stretcher. At first light this morning three crew were taken ashore to Moruya Hospital by helicopter while two were transported ashore to Batesman's Bay by police launch.

In the dismasting Maximus' rudder was slightly damaged and a sail became wrapped around the propeller. These have since been cleared and this morning Maximus was making for Jervis Bay, steered by the remaining half of a wheel.

Test poll: Who will challenge Alinghi

Taking advantage of the holiday break and the lack of any major news in the sailing world, except the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, we put a small test poll on the left-hand column of the website.

You can cast your vote and check what the rest of our readers have voted. This first test poll couldn't be other than who will challenge Alinghi in the America's Cup match six months from now. If such kind of polls prove to be of interest we will gradually include more during next year.

In the meantime, enjoy a very pretty picture of the whole Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race fleet departing from Sydney and the tens or hundreds of spectator boats. I hope we see such scenes in Valencia in 2007.

Start of the 2006 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht with Sydney in the background. Sydney, 26 December 2006. Photo copyright ROLEX/Daniel Forster

SWE-63 and SWE-73 of Victory Challenge ready to sail in Dubai

[Source: Victory Challenge] The keels are back on Örn (SWE 63) and Orm (SWE 73), the masts as well. Everything is ready for Victory Challenge’s winter training in Dubai, which can therefore begin straight after the team’s essential Christmas and New Year holiday. With that, Victory Challenge would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

“We are absolutely ready to sail,” says Scott McAllister, who is daily operating manager for the temporary base in Dubai.

It has been an amazingly logistically complicated operation, in which SWE-63 and SWE-73, three containers, a tender boat and all the other equipment, more than 100 tons, we transported on two Antonovs, the gigantic Russian freight planes.

“It has been executed very well, without any problems at all,” says Victory Challenge’s shore manager Sam Murch, who arrived in Dubai when the keels and masts were to go back on the boats.

SWE-63 and SWE-73 are now ready for the maiden sail. Dubai, 20 December 2006. Photo copyright David Renkwitz/Victory Challenge

The temporary base is also completely ready for a team that is very used to temporary bases. They are similar circumstances to those they had in association with the pre-regattas in Malmö and Trapani last year and that they have had the majority of the time in Valencia. The permanent base building in Valencia simply didn’t exist last year, and the office area wasn’t ready for use until recently.

A number of Victory Challenge’s sailing and shore team have been on site in Dubai to get the boats ready to sail and to put the base in order. Only a few are staying over the Christmas and New Year holidays. When the team then reassembles there will be almost 70 people involved in the winter training.

Then the work on SWE 96 at the shipyard in the Lindholmen Science Park in Göteborg will be finished. SWE 96 is the boat that will be used in next year’s challengers’ series, the Louis Vuitton Cup that begins on 16 April.

Note: Don't forget to check our video section on the top navigation bar of the website in order to view the excellent collection of videos by Victory Challenge.

Dimitri Nicolopoulos of Areva Challenge talks about FRA-93

Areva Challenge, the French America's Cup challenger, finished their 2006 training period on Thursday afternoon. They had been sailing with their brand new boat FRA-93 for a couple of weeks and the holiday break is a very good opportunity to assess her performance. Dimitri NicolopoulosDesign Coordinator of Areva Challenge

Click for more info, design team coordinator for the French syndicate, gives us his first impressions after 8 days of testing:

When we did set up for our maiden sail last week, it was one of those moments everyone is looking for in these campaigns. A blend of plain happiness and high stress about the ‘baby’ behaviour at sea. In our case, things went really well and on the first day we could exceed slightly the heel targets we did set ourselves, sailing upwind under main and genoa. After this first shake down, we really got into testing mode on the second day. The first thing you want to achieve with an ACC yacht is to make sure the structure is up to the expectations and you can sail fully heeled without breaking anything. The loads are huge, exceeding 50T on the mast step and 100T on the keel root and they travel through tiny (this is how you perceive them under load…) carbon bulkheads. This is one of the keys to the yacht performance as all teams are looking for light internal structure without compromising the stiffness of the hull. Light structure in order to have a heavier bulb and achieve the same stability with a narrower (less drag) hull. Stiffness to be able to tension the head stay without bending the boat too much which would reduce the sailing waterlength thus decreasing performance. Those two objectives being antagonist, we did spend quite some time developing numerical simulations and scratching our head to achieve the targets. Thanks to the creativity of Guillaume Verdier, Benjamin Muyl and Hervé Penfornis (and many many many work hours…), we have reached those targets we did set ourselves 2 years ago.

FRA-93 of Areva Challenge sailing for the last time in 2006, just before the holiday break. Wind conditions in December turned out to be better than expected, allowing the French team to test their boat. Valencia, 20 December 2006. Photo copyright Frank Socha / Areva Challenge

So after theorizing for two years, building for 6 months, setting her up here in Valencia for 4 weeks here we were scrutinizing all noises inside the hull and monitoring the stresses and loads. It goes like that: ‘OK guys, lets load up to 20° of heel and stay there for 5’. Then everyone goes quiet and we listen to noises and look at the computer screens. If nothing happens we climb to 25° and so on. From time to time you ear an unusual noise and you perform immediately a big ease of the sails to check everything before restarting the sequence again. On board 93 we have a couple of people to monitor the boat. Designers, Yannick Le Morvan the shore and construction manager, the boat captain ‘Billy’ P. Merrington and a few other sailors. My task for these days being on board was to coordinate the efforts of everyone and make sure we don’t lose valuable time but also do not push 93 beyond limits. When wind is lighter, we switch to system testing (hoist a spinnaker for example). This less stress than structural testing but fills the ‘to do’ lists with many small modifications and improvements. Meanwhile Bernard Nivelt has been spending quite some time looking at 93 motion through the sea from our Mother Boat with André Jacques and Cyrille Douillet developing their ‘curve rider’ attitude behind the computers screens to be able to feed us with real time data on 93. After the day sailing, everyone involved comes to the day debrief, the ‘work list’ is defined as well as the testing program of the following day.

So far, we have been happy with the results and able to achieve pretty much all the targets of the session. The first reward was coming from inside the team with many people coming to see us designers and boat builders with a smile and encouraging words. FRA-93 appears to be well balanced and sailors start to become accustomed with their new ‘office’. Of course being narrower and with a lower freeboard than the old 60, there are quite a few adjustments that need to take place but sailors were involved continuously on the deck layout design therefore they are quickly adapting and seem happy right now with FRA-93. The year sailing ended yesterday with a pretty rough ride under the rain and with big waves. It is good to be able to log hours in tough conditions and sort out the problems, when they occur, as early as possible. Today the boat although not 100% tested (we need once again to Log more hours) is deemed good for service and we will resume sailing in January with the race crew fully on command most of the time. We (the design team) have succeeded in keeping a little bit of time every week for our special projects. January and February will be dedicated to fine tuning of the balance, installation of new hardware to come and continuously work on the sail development with Andrew Lechte and Bruno Dubois. This period is very short and we will really have to work as a team to make sure information is carried from the sailors to the designers and appropriate development decisions taken altogether. All the efforts of our performance group under the leadership of Olivier Douillard until now will then hopefully help us move in the right direction most of the time.

ESP-97 of Desafío Español arrives at Port America's Cup

Despite the pouring rain that has been falling over Valencia for the last two days, Desafío Español "paraded" their brand new boat, ESP-97, through Valencia's main avenues. The Spanish "rocket" left the King Marine boatyard at around 10am and after a shortened route due to the intense rain and traffic it reached the green base in Port America's Cup at around noon.

My surprise, and everybody else's waiting for the boat at the first stop, was to see the bow. At first we all thought it was an illusion but then when the hull was passing in front of us it was all clear. ESP-97 has a bowsprit! This being the America's Cup, incredulous photographers and journalists asked team members present whether this was just a "fake" paper bowsprit only to receive angry glances.

What is also interesting is the statement of Agustín Zulueta, general manager of the Spanish syndicate, that ESP-97 is a yacht "optimized for winds between 10 and 14 knots". Concerning the plan for the near future, Zulueta is confident the boat can be put on water during the third week of January in order to carry out the first structural tests. Once these test prove to be successful, sailing could begin early February. The official christening of ESP-97 will take place in March.

ESP-97 in front of one of Valencia's main squares. Valencia, 20 December 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Closeup of the bow of ESP-97. Valencia, 20 December 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ESP-97 in front of Valencia's opera house. Valencia, 20 December 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The stern of ESP-97. Valencia, 20 December 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ESP-97 entering Port America's Cup. Valencia, 20 December 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Closeup of the stern of ESP-97. Valencia, 20 December 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

End of the journey, ESP-97 enters the Desafío Español base. The shore crew will now take over in order to have her ready in about a month. Valencia, 20 December 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The bowsprit of ESP-97 from upclose. Valencia, 20 December 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Video of ESP-97 transportation through Valencia
Video shot and edited by Golix

ker Martínez/Xabi Fernández (49er) join Rafa Trujillo (Finn) as leaders at Christmas Race

Olympic medallists Iker Martínez/Xabi Fernández (Grand Krust-Movistar) and Rafa Trujillo (+39) have confirmed their condition as favourite teams and lead the 49er and Finn standings respectively.

Martínez/Fernández have had a great start at the Christmas Race after the four races (4-3-4-1) sailed today and are the leaders in 49er. Second place is for Spanish team Federico/Arturo Alonso (Alfa Romeo) and third place is also for a Spanish crew Alberto Padrón/Javier de la Plaza (Audi Canarias). Undoubtedly, a great start for the Spanish pre-Olympic team.

In the Finn class, Rafa Trujillo (+39) maintains the lead with a comfortable advantage over the other competitors. Second classified, at five points, is Italian competitor Giorgio Poggi (Harken) while third place overall is for Michael Maier (+39) from the Czech Republic.

Spanish team Gallego/Tutzó in 470 Women are down to third place overall after today’s at only one point from the new leaders, French team Camille Lecointre/Gwendolyn Lemaitre (Vecteur +) and tied with equal points with second team Giulia Conti/Giovana Micol from Italy.

The leader in Laser radial is Tatiana Drozdovskaya (Transbunker) from Bielorrusia followed in second place by Bristish sailor Alison Young (Skandia Team). Third place is for Spanish competitor Alicia Cebrián de Lagos (Caja Canarias).

The leadership in 470 men is still for the top classified team of the ISAF World Sailing Ranking lists Gabrio Zandonà/Andrea Tani (Joe Fly) from Italy at only 1 point difference from French team Dreano Ronan/Floch Ronan. Third place overall is also for French team Alexandre Pallu de la Barriere/Aymerich Challe (Big Ship).

With only two points difference over second classified Mark Powell (GBR), the leader in the Laser class is for Polish sailor Marcin Rudawki. Third place is for Dutch competitor Marc de Haas (Triple-P).

Today competitors have enjoyed an excellent day of racing. Moderate North wind conditions (10-15 knots) changing to NE (9-12 knots) in the afternoon throughout the day have made it possible to complete the schedule of races.

The forecast for tomorrow annouces low temperature for tomorrow with NE wind, 20 to 25 knots.

GER-89 is back on the water in Valencia

Good news for Team Germany: The German America's Cup yacht Germany I is ready for action. So the team can already sail its new yacht before the Christmas break, what was planned for the beginning of the new year up to now. "It feels good to sail again the first America's Cup yacht ever built in Germany", Skipper Jesper Bank describes his impressions after training on Monday.

"Now we can make the most of the last days before Christmas and then continue with the preparations for the America's Cup season in the new year", Bank says about the plans of his team. To gain further time for training, the team has shortenend its Christmas holiday and restarts on January 8. Team Germany prepares itself for the crucial races of the 32nd America's Cup in Valencia, which start on April 3 in 2007 with the Louis Vuitton Act 13.

Rafa Trujillo of +39 Challenge is the best spanish sailor after the first day of the Christmas Race

Starting gun of the 31st Christmas Race yesterday in the Bay of Palamós. The twice Olympic medallist Rafa Trujillo (+39) is the best Spanish sailor after winning the 2 races sailed in the Finn class. The Tramontana wind (N), 22 to 25 knots with gusts of up to 30 knots blew today in Palamós.

Rafa Trujillo will try to win the Christmas Race again in the Finn class and won today’s 2 races with authority. Second place is for Michael Maier (CZE) followed in third place by Giorgio Poggi (Harten) from Italy.

The leader in the Laser standings is British sailor Mark Powell, followed in second place by Dutch competitor Marc de Haas (Triple-P) and third is Marcin Rudawski from Poland.

Rafa Trujillo in the first day of the Christmas Race. Palmaros, 18 December 2006. Photo copyright Christmas Race

The top three competitors are tied with equal points at the top of the standings: Harriette Trumble (GBR), Tatiana Drozdovskaya (Transbunker) (BLR) and Alison Young (Skandia Team) (GBR).

In 470 Women the lead is for French team Camille Lecointre/Gwendolyn Lemaitre (Vecteur +) with a first and third place. Second place is for Giulia Conti/Giovanna Micol from Italy and third place for French team Marie Menaldo/Hélène Defrence, at three points from the leaders.

First place in 470 Men is for the leaders of the ISAF World Sailing Ranking lists Gabrio Zandoná/Andrea Tani (Joe Fly) (ITA). Second place is for French sailors Dreano/Floch Roman and third place is also for French team Pierre Leboucher/Vincent Garos (Lemer Pax).

The 49er was the only class that did not sail today due to the strong wind conditions. The favourite team in this Class is Spanish Olympic team Iker Martínez and Xabi Fernández (Grand Krust-Movistar).

The forecast for Tuesday calls for NNE wind 18 to 22 knots with 2 metre waves

Luna Rossa's ITA-94 already in the base in Valencia

Unlike China Team last Friday and Desafío Español next Wednesday, Luna Rossa's arrival this morning was low key, almost secret. The cargo ship arrived in the Spanish port of Tarragona at midnight yesterday and then left for Valencia at 2am. She arrived at the Luna Rossa base early in the morning and at 8:30am she was already inside the boat shed, taking the place of good old ITA-74.

ITA-74 is now outside the boat shed and the brand new yacht is behind closed doors, safe from all indiscreet eyes, including Valencia Sailing's... Sorry but we don't have any photos of the new Italian rocket, just the ones made public by the team. According to Luna Rossa, ITA-94 will be launched in January, without giving more details.

ITA-94 entering the Luna Rossa base for the very first time. Valencia, 18 December 2006. Photo copyright Luna Rossa Challenge

ITA-94 entering the boat shed of the Luna Rossa base for the very first time. Valencia, 18 December 2006. Photo copyright Luna Rossa Challenge

Patrizio Bertelli (left) and Francesco di Angelis unpacking ITA-94 inside the Luna Rossa base. Valencia, 18 December 2006. Photo copyright Luna Rossa Challenge

SWE-63 and SWE-73 at Victory Challenge's temporary base in Dubai

[Source: Victory Challenge] Just outside is the Palm Jumeirah, one of the most spectacular islands ever created by man. Opposite are a number of skyscrapers and even more are under construction. This is where Örn (SWE 63) and Orm (SWE 73) have arrived for Victory Challenge’s winter training in Dubai.

“It is looking good, but we’ve got a tough schedule in order to get the boats ready to sail,” says Sam Murch, Victory Challenge’s shore manager, who has arrived just as the keels and masts are to be put back on the boats after their transport on the two Antonov planes.

The temporary base of Victory Challenge. Dubai, 17 December 2006. Photo copyright David Renkwitz / Victory Challenge

Sam Murch will only have three days in the United Arab Emirates before he flies to Göteborg and Lindholmen Science Park, where boatbuilding manager Killian Bushe and more than 25 boat builders are in the final phase of SWE 96, the boat that Victory Challenge is building for next year’s challengers’ series, the Louis Vuitton Cup.

Site manager for operations in Dubai is the America’s Cup veteran, Scott McAllister. He has been in the United Arab Emirates a while, to establish Victory Challenge’s temporary base with a sail loft, office, meeting room etc.

“We have water and electricity, can shower and go to the toilet, and soon we will have the Internet too. With boats, masts and the tender boat in place we are beginning to get ready for the winter training,” says the Australian who was part of the historic victory in 1983, when the Royal Perth Yacht Club and Australia II took the world’s most prestigious sailing trophy, the America’s Cup, from the New York Yacht Club who had then held it for 132 years.

Scott McAllister, Sam Murch and a number of the sailing and shore team members are in Dubai where it is 23-24 degrees Celsius and they have been able to return to the clothes they are used to wearing during most of the year in Valencia (but not the last few weeks): shorts and t-shirts.

The temporary base of Victory Challenge. Dubai, 17 December 2006. Photo copyright David Renkwitz / Victory Challenge

For Victory Challenge, the winter training in Dubai is an important part of the preparations for the decisive phase of the 32nd America’s Cup. Or, as Magnus Holmberg, skipper and helmsman, expressed it when announcing the Dubai operation: “We have been given a unique opportunity to site our winter training there. Bearing in mind that the sailing conditions in Dubai are equivalent to Valencia in April and May, we calculate on having considerably more high quality training days on the water.

It is not only a unique opportunity, it has also been a great challenge to transport the team, boats, containers and other equipment from Valencia to Dubai.

Everything has been carried out according to plan, without a single upset.

Almost 70 people from Victory Challenge’s team will be there for the winter training in the United Arab Emirates.

The historic weather data is unequivocal; In Valencia, an America’s Cup team can only count on a few training days on the water during the winter - whilst conditions in Dubai are equivalent to those in Valencia during spring and early summer.

These are important extra training days for Victory Challenge, as only three and a half months remain until the final pre-regattas of the 32nd America’s Cup will take place in Valencia.

The temporary base of Victory Challenge. Dubai, 17 December 2006. Photo copyright David Renkwitz / Victory Challenge

The "Red Dragon" CHN-95 just arrived in Valencia ..

It was a very busy day in Valencia with America's Cup yachts coming and going. The first ever Chinese-built America's Cup yacht arrived early in the morning in the commercial port and after being loaded on a truck it was shipped to the Valencia Yacht Club.

I wish I could publish all the photos I took but for obvious reasons not all of them were cleared by China Team. After all, one doesn't have to be greedy since Santa Claus is bringing early Christmas gifts to all America's Cup fans in Valencia and around the world. On Monday, 18 December we expect the arrival of Luna Rossa's ITA-94 while two days later, on Wednesday, the brand new Spanish yacht ESP-97 will move from the King Marine boatyard to the team's base. Just like they did with ESP-88, the Spanish challenger will "parade" the yacht through Valencia's main avenues. Finally, sometime around Christmas, NZL-84 and NZL-92 are reported to be flown in from Auckland.

The brand new Chinese America's Cup yacht, CHN-95, in Valencia's yacht club. Valencia, 15 December 2006. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The brand new Chinese America's Cup yacht, CHN-95, in Valencia's yacht club. Valencia, 15 December 2006. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The brand new Chinese America's Cup yacht, CHN-95, in Valencia's yacht club. Valencia, 15 December 2006. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The bow of CHN-95. Valencia, 15 December 2006. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Closeup of the bow of CHN-95. Valencia, 15 December 2006. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Video of CHN-95 arrival in Valencia's yacht club

Video shot and edited by Golix. Valencia, 15 December 2006

.. while the "Red Bulls" SWE-63 and SWE73 have just left for Dubai

While China Team were receiving their "Red Dragon" CHN-95 at the port, Victory Challenge's two "Red Bulls" SWE-63 and SWE-73 were being loaded in the immense Antonov cargo plane with Dubai as their final destination, where they are expected to arrive in the wee hours of Saturday.

The Swedish America's Cup challenger will spend around 6 weeks in Dubai, taking advantage of the good sailing conditions in order to train with their two boats. In the meantime, SWE-96, the team's brand new yacht, is being in the final stages of construction in Sweden.

First, the two masts had to be loaded from the front of the cargo plane . Valencia, 15 December 2006. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

First, the two masts had to be loaded on the cargo plane. Valencia, 15 December 2006. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

SWE-73 being loaded inside the Antonov cargo plane. Valencia, 15 December 2006. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

SWE-73 is now sound and safe inside the Antonov cargo plane. Valencia, 15 December 2006. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

SWE-63 about to be loaded inside the Antonov cargo plane. Valencia, 15 December 2006. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Short videos on Luna Rossa's brand new ITA-94

Luna Rossa, the Italian America's Cup challenger, have just made public 4 short videos on their brand new ITA-94. The latest Italian yacht left the boatyard yesterday and is expected to arrive in Valencia on Monday. One of the videos shows the departure of the yacht while on the other three, members of the team give their view on the new Italian "rocket". You can watch the videos by clicking on the links here below. Remember that all videos can also be easilly viewed through the "Video" link on the top navigation bar of the site.

Departure of ITA-94 from the boatyard in Bergamo, Italy.

Boat designer Claudio Maletto talks about the new yacht.

Boat builder Richard Gillis talks about ITA-94.

Head of structural design Andrea Avaldi talks about ITA-94.

Mean Machine - First Volvo Ocean Race Team on the Water

[Source: Mean Machine] It was full speed ahead this week as the Mean Machine team began its intense testing and training programme. The second official entry in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008/09, Mean Machine took to the Solent onboard the latest addition to the Mean Machine fleet – a Volvo Open 70.

This 70-footer is none other than The Black Pearl, the Farr designed VO70, built by Green Marine (UK) only 18 months ago. The Pirates of the Caribbean VO70 captured second place in the last edition of what many consider to be the most extreme of round the world sailing races. After a seven week refit at Endeavour Quay in Gosport (UK), Mean Machine is on the water, proudly displaying the team’s traditional colours.

Commenting on the team’s acquisition of the VO70, Dirk de Ridder, Operations Director for the Mean Machine VOR team stated: “We were looking for a VO70 to begin our programme, with a view to defining the future design of the Mean Machine VO70. The Black Pearl became available and was ideal as she has all of the right equipment. Naturally, I know the boat well as I was onboard for the last race and I think it’s a great starting point for us.”

First sail of the new Mean Machine Volvo Ocean Race team. Portsmouth, 14 December 2006. Photo copyright Sally Collison / Mean Machine

The Mean Machine team has an impressive racing pedigree spanning more than 20 years. However, December marks the end of the team’s most successful year to date. Having won the prestigious Breitling Medcup earlier this year with the TP52 Mutua Madrileña-Mean Machine, Peter de Ridder, Founder and CEO of Mean Machine announced the team’s intention to take part in the next edition of the most prestigious round the world race with New Zealander Ray Davies as Skipper and Dirk de Ridder (NL) as Operations Director.

History suggests that the first team on the water has a strong advantage in terms of preparing for and winning this demanding race. Peter de Ridder’s vision for Mean Machine is clear and he is committed to putting the foundation and the best people in place to give the team the best chance to win.

An experienced Corinthian helmsman in the competitive Mumm 30 and TP52 one design fleets, de Ridder was looking forward to sailing on the Mean Machine VO70 this week: “I was genuinely pleasantly surprised with the speed and power of the TP 52 when I first took the helm at the beginning of the year. However today, as I took the wheel of the VO70, with 25 –30 knots of breeze and building, I reached to a entirely new level in terms of monohull sailing.”

First sail of the new Mean Machine Volvo Ocean Race team. Portsmouth, 14 December 2006. Photo copyright Sally Collison / Mean Machine

Having recently returned from the Mumm 30 Worlds (Miami), the Mean Machine sailing team were onboard this week with Peter de Ridder, with the exception of skipper Ray Davies who is currently training in New Zealand as part of his America’s Cup commitment to Emirates-Team New Zealand.

As the Mean Machine team looks ahead to the new year, sailing and strength testing is on the horizon for the VO70, as is Key West Race Week (15-19 January) for the Mumm 30 crew.

FRA-93 sails for the first time in Valencia

[Source: Areva Challenge] The winter continues to be rich in emotions for AREVA Challenge: FRA-93, the French Team's new boat for the 32nd America's Cup, sailed on the race course in Valencia, Spain for the first time today.

The first sail is always delicate for an ACC boat, and is carefully thought out with many precautions. But all went well for FRA-93 which successfully passed its first tests, as team members confirm:

Dimitri Nicolopoulos, Coordinator of the Design Team: I believe that we can qualify this day a “baptism of fire” for FRA-93. We are really satisfied with the way everything happened today, because we sailed with realistic wind and sea conditions (i.e approximately 15 knots of wind and waves) and thus putting pressure on the boat near to the maximum. We took a big step ahead with regard to confidence in the structure of the boat. Everyone is very happy.

Sebastien Col, Helmsman: We sailed today in ideal conditions to test reliability of the boat. We also had good surprises, the boat is really well balanced. For the moment there are only positive points, and you only had to look at the faces of all the people on board to realize that!

Thierry Peponnet, Tactician: For the moment the results are very encouraging and very satisfactory. We took the tension up gradually to take FRA-93 “in our hands” according to the protocol which we had established to check her reliability. We carefully did pressure taps everywhere and gradually analized and checked everything, and for the moment all goes well.

The first trainings and tests on FRA 93 will continue until Christmas, before starting again at the beginning of January.

FRA-93 of Areva Challenge sails for the first time ever. Valencia, 13 December 2006. Photo copyright Frank Socha / Areva Challenge

FRA-93 of Areva Challenge sails for the first time ever. Valencia, 13 December 2006. Photo copyright Frank Socha / Areva Challenge

Luna Rossa's ITA-94 on her way to Valencia

[Source: Luna Rossa] At 2.06 p.m. today Luna Rossa ITA-94 began her transfer towards the Team’s base in Valencia. Here the mast and appendages will be fitted and after completing her configuration the first on the water fine tuning tests will take place.

The hull left from Nembro (Bergamo) and will travel to Livorno then reaching Tarragona (Spain) via ship. Luna Rossa’s arrival at the Valencia base is expected by the 18th of December.

Luna Rossa's ITA-94 leaving the boatyard in Bergamo on her way to Valencia. Bergamo, 13 December 2006. Photo copyright Simon Palfrader / Luna Rossa

ITA-94’s construction follows three years of research and executive planning carried out by the Luna Rossa Design Team, 22 people from 10 different nations. The boat was built at the Persico Nautical Division yard by the Luna Rossa Boat Builder Team supervised by Kiwi Director Richard Gillies. The Team consists of 27 people from 9 different nations.

This morning Gillies stated: "I am very satisfied with the work we have done here. Today is a wonderful day although I’ll be able to breathe a sigh of relief when the boat reaches Valencia."

Luna Rossa's ITA-94 leaving the boatyard in Bergamo on her way to Valencia. Bergamo, 13 December 2006. Photo copyright Simon Palfrader / Luna Rossa

Claudio Maletto, Yacht Designer, was present at the yard representing the Luna Rossa Design Team. He commented: "This boat represents the result of three years of work of Team Luna Rossa. She is radically different from the first ITA-86 and a very interesting aspect for us has been the full scale testing we carried out on ITA-86. The changes we made on ITA-86 at the end of the last series of regattas allowed us to work on three boats. The ITA-86 that was launched was a transitional boat between those of the last Cup and ITA-94 which presents an extreme form. It makes no sense to ask oneself if ITA-94 is more beautiful aesthetically than ITA-86. From a structural point of view one can definitely appreciate the evolution of the hull lines."

The launch of Luna Rossa ITA-94 will take place in Valencia in January at the Team Base designed for PRADA and Telecom Italia by world re-known architect Renzo Piano. ITA-94 is the sixth hull designed and built by the Team since 1999. To this date Luna Rossa’s hulls have taken part in 154 match races: 46 for ITA-45, 9 for ITA-48, 74 for ITA-74 and 25 for ITA-86.

The official event which will open the 2007 program will be the Unveiling, in Valencia. It will be held on Sunday April 1st and on that day all Challengers will unveil their boats.

Luna Rossa's ITA-94 leaving the boatyard in Bergamo on her way to Valencia. Bergamo, 13 December 2006. Photo copyright Simon Palfrader / Luna Rossa

Do Red Bulls fly? Yes they do, at least in Valencia

What does the airplane here below have to do with the America's Cup?

The Russian Antonov cargo plane. Valencia, 12 December 2006. Photo copyright David Renkwitz / Victory Challenge

It is the first of the two Antonov cargo planes that will ship Victory Challenge to Dubai. It just landed in Valencia and will transport the team's containers, consumables, chase boats, etc while the two America's Cup yachts, SWE-63 and SWE-73, will fly aboard the second one.

Time is money and shipping the team by air rather than sea saves lots of precious days. This is not the first time though an America's Cup team charters an airplane to ship its boats. The first one to do so was Emirates Team New Zealand, more than 2 years ago, when it shipped NZL-81 from Auckland. Then in March 2006, BMW Oracle shipped its brand new USA-87 from the boatyard on the US west coast. Finally, Emirates Team New Zealand will once again use an airplane, this time for NZL-84 and NZL-92, once again from Auckland.

It's official: Paul Cayard joins Desafío Español as technical consultant

The official press release has been just published. Desafío Español, the Spanish America's Cup challenger, came into an agreement with Cayard Sailing Inc this afternoon, with the top international sailor providing the team with technical and sports advisory.

Paul Cayard will supervise the preparation and finetune of ESP-97, the Spanish team's brand new boat, during a period of two months prior to the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2007. After that period Cayard and Desafío Español will discuss the possibilities of further cooperation, although there are no concrete plans right now.

As far as the new boat is concerned, Agustín Zulueta, general manager of the Spanish America's Cup challenger, stated that ESP-97 would leave the King Marine boatyard in 9 days from now, on December the 20th. It will then be fitted out inside the team's base in Port America's Cup for approximately a month and Zulueta was confident the first structural tests could start on January the 22nd, early next year.

Paul Cayard joins Desafío Español 2007

This is off the press..

Paul Cayard, one of the world's greatest racing sailors, joined this afternoon Desafío Español 2007, the Spanish America's Cup challenger.

Cayard will initially be employed for two months as consultant for the Spanish team and helmsman of the second boat.

After that period, Cayard and Desafío Español will jointly agree on his role in the team. The Spanish America's Cup challenger are aware of their weaknesses in match racing and are trying to strengthen their skills.

More news later..

Alinghi to choose helmsman and afterguard in "Defender Trials"

[Source: Alinghi] Alinghi is wrapping up the first period of the Dubai winter training camp at the Dubai International Marine Club with the first event of their Defender Trials Series. These Defender Trials will span the period in Dubai and later in Valencia and will have for long term aim the crew selection and later the racing yacht selection.

Dubai Defender Trials

Pre-trials: This warm-up event for the “UBS Dubai Defender Trials”, will take place from the 12-15 December when helmsmen Ed Baird and Peter Holmberg and their respective crews will go head to head over a four day event. There will be two races per day on an America’s Cup course.

Round 1: Kicks off the first of two “UBS Dubai Defender Trials”, from the 31 January-3 February, which will include two races per day and a prize-giving at the end.

Round 2: The second of the “UBS Dubai Defender Trials” will be from the 16-19 February and will result in the helmsman and afterguard selection for LV Act 13 in Valencia.

Valencia Defender Trials

Further rounds will be announced to be held after LV Act 13 in Valencia.

The Defender of the 32nd America's Cup training with SUI-64 and SUI-91. Dubai, 24 November 2006. Photo copyright Thierry Martinez / Alinghi

Final training in Valencia for Victory Challenge; next stop Dubai

[Source: Victory Challenge] Victory Challenge has carried out the year’s final sailing training in Valencia. After three months of intensive two-boat training it is time to pack up for winter training in Dubai. “We have definitely had more time on the water than we counted on, we’ve succeeded in carried out what we planned in an excellent manner,” says Magnus Holmberg, skipper and helmsman.

Two-boat training began on 11 September. But, for the majority of the sailing team, training has been carried out since 12 July, when they returned from the week’s holiday that followed the Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 12 (2006’s final pre-regatta, in which Victory Challenge sensationally beat the America’s Cup Defender, Alinghi).

These have been tough months for a growing number of those involved. The sailing team has been enlarged with another 17 people for the two-boat training, which has also required more boat builders and more sailmakers.

“It is natural that there is some unrest because of the growth of the team. But it has gone surprisingly well,” says Magnus Holmberg.

Bowman Pepe Ribes signaling in one of Victory Challenge's last training sessions in Valencia. Photo copyright Victory Challenge

The way the two-boat training has so far been carried out was very different in comparison to the preparations for Victory Challenge’s first Louis Vuitton Cup, in Auckland in 2002.

“Then it was more about learning the basics, sailing the boat in the right way.”

Now the focus has been on technical development and tests associated with the ongoing building of SWE 96 at Lindholmen Science Park in Göteborg. New masts have been configured, new sails have been developed.

This technical development and these tests have been alternated with training matches against eight of the other teams (Emirates Team New Zealand moved their winter training to Auckland early and BMW Oracle Racing is now also in Auckland; +39 Challenge and China Team have had limited activities in Valencia over the last few months).

Bowman Pepe Ribes signaling in one of Victory Challenge's last training sessions in Valencia. Photo copyright Victory Challenge

“The competition has got tougher since Auckland, there were no in-between teams with such big investments as those that are taking place now,” says Magnus Holmberg.

He means, for example, Desafío Español and Mascalzone Latino, two of the teams that, like Victory Challenge, are battling for the fourth semi-final place (the majority seem to regard the big teams of Emirates Team New Zealand, BMW Oracle Racing and Luna Rossa Challenge as more or less certain to take the three other semi-final spots).

To have a chance of reaching the semi-finals – which is Victory Challenge’s aim with these intensified efforts – the extensive technical development work has been necessary.

It is to further increase this chance that Victory Challenge has decided to site its winter training in Dubai. The historic weather data is unequivocal; there will be considerably more high-quality training days on the water in Dubai than in Valencia during the winter, and the wind conditions on the waters off the United Arab Emirates are equivalent to those in Valencia in April, May and June. That is why the America’s Cup Defender, Alinghi, has also situated its winter training there, while BMW Oracle Racing has done the same as Emirates Team New Zealand and is training in Auckland.
Historically, the number of possible sailing days in Valencia in November, December and January is limited.

“But there have been considerably more in November and December this year than there were last year,” says Magnus Holmberg.

One of Victory Challenge's last training sessions in Valencia. Photo copyright Victory Challenge

Still, it has become lonelier and lonelier on the water for Victory Challenge over the last few weeks. This year’s final training day in Valencia was spent racing against the German United Internet Team, one of the few teams that are still training in December out of the eight America’s Cup teams that haven’t sited their winter training somewhere else.

In addition, there have often been very long days for Victory Challenge’s team. Many days they haven’t arrived back at the base with Örn (SWE 63) and Orm (SWE 73) until sundown, as the last team of all to finish their sailing training.

Victory Challenge move to Dubai for winter training

[Source: Victory Challenge] Victory Challenge announced today that the Swedish America’s Cup challenge is situating its winter training in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. ”We have been given a unique opportunity to site our training there in January. Due to the sailing conditions in Dubai being equal to those in Valencia during April and May, we are counting on considerably more high-quality training days on the water”, says Magnus Holmberg.

It is not only a unique opportunity; it is also a great challenge to transport the team, boats, containers and other equipment from Valencia to Dubai.

Örn (SWE 63) and Orm (SWE 73), which weigh 24 tons each must, for reasons of time, be transported by air between Spain and the United Arab Emirates.

This will take place in less than ten days, using two Antonovs – enormous Russian transport planes. For a while now, Victory Challenge has had a smaller team in place in Dubai in order to prepare this logistically complicated operation.

In asociation with the boat transport this will be reinforced with parts of the sailing team, boat builders and sailmakers, in order to prepare for winter training. A temporary base with a sail loft, necessary workshops and offices, is being established at Jumeirah Beach.

The historic weather data is plain. In Valencia in the winter, an America’s Cup team can expect five training days on the water – whilst in Dubai conditions are equivalent to those in Valencia during the spring and early summer.

”The two-boat sailing we have had during the autumn in Valencia has been very effective and we have achieved our goals. But, according to plan, the focus has been on boat development and less on racing and crew work,” says Magnus Holmberg.

A lot of sail development and rigging testing, etc., has been carried out to prepare for SWE-96, the new boat which is now being completed at the shipyard in Lindholmen Science Park in Göteborg.

”The first period of time after launching an America’s Cup boat is about structural tests and optimization. It takes some time before you can start to sail full out. Therefore, it is impossible to say no when we have a chance to add so many days of pure sailing training," says Magnus Holmberg.

Alingh's Peter Holmberg wins Monsoon Cup

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] In one year the Monsoon Cup will conclude the 2006-’07 World Match Racing Tour schedule. But it’ll be hard-pressed to deliver a more exciting final than today’s series between Peter Holmberg and Mathieu Richard.

Holmberg (ISV), the 46-year-old helmsman candidate for America’s Cup defense syndicate Alinghi, defeated Richard, the 30-year-old French surgical match-racer, 3-2 to win the 2nd annual Monsoon Cup.

The series was a sea-saw affair, with each crew landing and absorbing repeated blows. Holmberg, however, pulled out the championship despite being on the verge of elimination just 36 hours earlier.

“The team has to do it, not just me,” said Holmberg, who captured his fifth career victory on the World Tour. “It’s really shifty and tricky here. The team that figures it out, that’s what gets them on the right track.”

Holmberg’s Alinghi crew included Rodney Ardern, Lorenzo Mazza, Piet Van Nieuwenhuyzen and Dean Phipps. They finished with a 14-9 record and won MYR250,000 (approx. $69,500) of the MYR 1 million (approx. $278,000) prize purse.

“Dean and I got in synch and started reading the pressure better,” Holmberg said. “The crew, I had Rodney on main, Piet on bow, Lorenzo trimming … you couldn’t find a better workhorse than that trio.”

Richard sailed with regulars Thierry Briend, Greg Evrard, Olivier Herledant and Yannick Simon. The Saba Sailing Team finished with a 14-10 record and won MYR150,000 (approx. $41,700).

“It was very exciting and very close,” said Richard. “Maybe I would say we are disappointed because it was so close. But generally speaking, I am very happy with the event. It was a fantastic event. It was a great result for my team and me.”

Holmberg and Richard got to the final by beating Peter Gilmour (AUS), PST, and Ian Williams (GBR), Team Pindar, respectively. Each match was decided by 2-1 scores.

In the Petite Final, Williams solidified his position atop the Match Racing World Championship standings when he defeated Gilmour 2-1. Williams now leads the series with 62 points, 12 points ahead of Richard who leaped into second with his runner-up finish.

Richard opened the final by winning the first race. He started to the right of Holmberg, worked the right side of the beat and rounded the first windward mark with a lead of about 8 seconds. From there he covered for a 1-0 lead.

Holmberg rebounded, however, and took a 2-1 lead. He won the second race by playing the right side of the racecourse. He won the third race by virtue of a penalty on Richard. The Frenchman was penalized on the second beat when he tacked to port to cover Holmberg, who had just taken his transom. The umpires deemed that Richard, now the windward boat, didn’t keep clear.

Still, Richard led to the finish of the race where he tried to pull off his penalty turn. His crew doused the spinnaker, hardened up on port and then tacked to starboard. But as they completed their tack Holmberg charged down on port jibe. Richard didn’t bear away soon enough to complete his turn before Holmberg had to crash jibe, his boom draping all over Richard’s headstay. The umpires penalized Richard again because he had no rights as an exonerating boat, and Holmberg won the race.

Richard evened the series 2-2 in the fourth flight, despite carrying another penalty. This time he was penalized for failing to avoid contact after Holmberg asked for room to tack from an obstruction. Richard told him to tack and when Holmberg did there was contact and the umpires determined Richard failed to keep clear. This time, however, Richard performed his penalty turn around the pin end and got his bow across the finish line a scant 2 seconds ahead of Holmberg.

That set up a final race, winner-take-all showdown in Flight 5. Holmberg started to the right of Richard, and it paid off. Halfway up the beat Holmberg rode starboard tack across Richard by about one boatlength. He rounded the windward mark about 8 seconds in the lead, extended that to about 11 seconds at the leeward mark, and then covered relentlessly for the win.

In retrospect, the right side of the racecourse was a key to the racing.

“If I don’t take that right every time,” Holmberg said, somewhat exasperated. “Every time we gave it up, the guy got ahead of us.” Holmberg, a noted user of the rules, also felt his experience played a part in the penalties against the younger Richard. “Age has its virtues. I’ve seen and done a few more than him. He did fall in a few traps I set for him, so I was happy with that,” Holmberg said. “The guys’ good. He’s calm, cool, fast and knows what he’s doing. He’s a nice, clean guy to sail against. I enjoyed it.”

Puerto Calero Match Race

In the beautiful island of Lanzarote, one of Spain's Canary islands, the second Puerto Calero Match Race is currently taking place. It is a predominantly local race counting towards the Spanish championship and three America's Cup sailors are participating. They are Jesper Radich of Desafío Español, Iain Percy of +39 Challenge and Marcus Wieser of United Internet Team Germany.

Unfortunately, we have very little information concerning this race. We do know that all races in the second day (Friday 1 December) were cancelled due to lack of winds. Radich is sharing first place with two other Spanish sailors while Percy is fourth, just behind them with the same number of wins but one more race. Finally, Marcus Wieser is tenth with two victories.

The forecast for Saturday calls for stronger winds, up to 8 knots, and the race committee has scheduled racing at 9am in order to carry out as many flights as possible.



Iain Percy racing at the Puerto Calero Match Race. Lanzarote, 1 December 2006. Photo copyright Nico Martinez

Jesper Radich racing at the Puerto Calero Match Race. Lanzarote, 1 December 2006. Photo copyright Nico Martinez