Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Desafío Español christen (and almost unveil) ESP-97

Today's main event in Valencia was undoubtedly the christening of ESP-97, Desafío Español's newest yacht. As we mentioned yesterday, we were expecting a rather symbolic and ceremonial event, given the fact the yacht had already been sailing and training together with ESP-88 for more than two months. Dozens of photographers and TV cameras were at the Spanish base not only because it is after all the yacht that will defend the Spanish colors but mainly due to her royal godmother, her majesty the Queen of Spain.

Still, we were offered a great surprise. The Spanish team decided to uncover most of the yacht and leave covered the bulb, while the keel was simply behind a shroud with the logo of the new sponsor and no big efforts were made to hide it. It really doesn't make too much sense to keep hiding the hulls since in any case they will have to completely uncover the boats in ten days. The first impressions are of a boat square at the back with a lot of volume just aft of the middle.

The ceremony itself was rather simple and quick. After the usual self congratulatory speeches by the team's director, Agustín Zulueta, and various political representatives, the Queen cut a Spanish ribbon that in turn caused the usual champagne bottle to splash on the yacht's bow. Moments after the family photo, the team's shore crew was already busy moving the newly christened yacht and her sistership ESP-88 back to the safety of their sheds.

Valencia and the rest of Spain are being battered by severe weather, with snowfall just 50km west of Port America's Cup and winds up to 40 knots in the race courses. To the best of our knowledge no team took the risk to train on Tuesday and it is highly unlikely they do for the following two days.

ESP-97 of Desafío Español. Valencia, 20 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ESP-97 of Desafío Español. Valencia, 20 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ESP-97 of Desafío Español. Valencia, 20 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ESP-97 of Desafío Español is now officially presented. Valencia, 20 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

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1 Comments:

At 11:42 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

As far as the bow's are concerned, 97 and whichever victory challenge yacht behind it in the first photo, might as well be carbon copies..

 

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