First test sailing of China Team's CHN-95

China Team couldn't have asked for better conditions in this first day of sea trials and last day of the chinese year of the Dog. Not too strong, not too light, just the perfect wind conditions for the first sail test of a brand new America's Cup yacht.

We couldn't follow this first sail till the end and as a result we are not able to report on the outcome and the first observations and impressions from the crew and technical team of the first-ever Chinese America's Cup challenger but as far as we could observe everything went smooth and as planned. After hoisting the mainsail and sailing with it for some time, the crew hoisted the genoa and continued with upwind maneuvers, the usual routine in a first sail.

Video of CHN-95 in her first sail

First test sailing of China Team's CHN-95. Valencia, 17 February 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

First test sailing of China Team's CHN-95. Valencia, 17 February 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

First test sailing of China Team's CHN-95. Valencia, 17 February 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

First test sailing of China Team's CHN-95. Valencia, 17 February 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

First test sailing of China Team's CHN-95. Valencia, 17 February 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

First test sailing of China Team's CHN-95. Valencia, 17 February 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing