ITA-99 of Mascalzone Latino Capitalia arrives in Valencia

Having left the Green Marine boatyard in Lymington, UK last Wednesday, the brand new Italian rocket arrived in cold and windy Valencia on Monday evening, at around 7pm. After crossing France and northern Spain and escaping the Kyrill storm that wreaked havoc in northern Europe, ITA-99 is now sound and safe inside the Mascalzone Latino Capitalia base. She is also the last boat of an America's Cup challenger to arrive at her home. All other challenging yachts are already here, with the exception of course of NZL-92 (Emirates Team New Zealand) and USA-98 (BMW Oracle) who are in Auckland.

The Italian team's shore crew will start working on the new yacht as soon as tomorrow morning and it won't be long before ITA-99 joins her sistership ITA-90 for two-boat testing and training. The Italian challenger's crew has been training on a daily basis aboard ITA-90, often match racing the other challengers that preferred to carry out their winter training here in Valencia. So far, January has been a very good month, with good winds from inland, although this has forced all teams to change their daily schedules and start training as early as 8am. It is remarkable that no sailing day has been wasted and all teams have been able to carry out their schedule exactly as planned.

ITA-99 of Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team arrives in the team base. Valencia, 22 January 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ITA-99 of Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team arrives in the team base. Valencia, 22 January 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ITA-99 of Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team arrives in the team base. Valencia, 22 January 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Who's the man that defied the cold night weather and came out in shorts to see the arrival of the brand new Italian rocket? It's Harry Dunning, principal designer of Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team. Valencia, 22 January 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ITA-99 of Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team arrives in the team base. Valencia, 22 January 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Smiling faces in front of the base of Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team as their brand new ITA-99 just arrived. Valencia, 22 January 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ITA-99 of Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team arrives in the team base. Valencia, 22 January 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ITA-99 of Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team arrives in the team base. Valencia, 22 January 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing