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.