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