Meanwhile in Valencia ... waves and rain create great photo opportunity
A couple of weeks back we wrote that spring and the America's Cup were in the air in Valencia. Well, it isn't quite so!! The America's Cup is of course rapidly approaching but spring took a break today. A cold front was over Valencia bringing low temperatures and rain as well as rough seas. Although rough seas off Valencia's coast are not welcome by sailors they are a boon to photographers and tourists in Port America's Cup.
The usual routine is that America's Cup yachts are towed out of the port and hoist their sails once they have passed the end of the canal. When seas are very rough, hoisting the mainsail becomes cumbersome and teams prefer to do it in the safety of the port. This results in excellent photo opportunities as not only are the mainsails hoisted at a striking distance from shore, there can also be more than 5-6 yachts circling around at the same time. Add to that the fact that all challengers (with the exception of the Chinese) went out training today and you have a nice scenery, rarely seen outside of official racing days.
Unfortunately, rain sapped the wind off the yacts' sails and all teams returned to their bases frustrated. You don't have to be an Olympic sailor or expert in match racing to understand that with only three weeks till the start of Louis Vuitton Act 13 each and every day is worth a lot!! Finally, we should add that we only refer to the challengers since yachts of the Defender, Alinghi, still haven't been seen out of the boat sheds. There is lots of activity going on in the sail loft but SUI-91 and SUI-100 are both now behind closed doors inside the boatsheds.
It's rush hour inside Port America's Cup. Valencia, 12 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
From left, NZL-84 of Emirates Team NZ, ESP-97 and ESP-88 of Desafío Español, hoisting their mainsail inside Port America's Cup. Valencia, 12 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia SailingLuna Rossa
The Italian America's Cup challenger was the first team to lave the port and did it with just one boat, their newer ITA-94 and James Spithill at the helm.
Luna Rossa's ITA-94 being towed out of Port America's Cup. Valencia, 12 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
James Spithill waving at the surprisingly considerable number of visitors present at the port, despite the unusual cold and rain. Valencia, 12 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
The Luna Rossa armada heading to the race course. Valencia, 12 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia SailingEmirates Team NZ
Certain rumors have been circulating in Valencia and throughout the internet that the New Zealanders had suffered serious structural damages in their newest yacht NZL-92, last Wednesday. Apparently they were just that, rumors. Both boats were towed out, NZL-84 with the mainsail already hoisted but NZL-92 without it.
NZL-92 of Emirates Team NZ being towed out of Port America's Cup. Valencia, 12 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
NZL-84 of Emirates Team NZ being towed out of Port America's Cup. Valencia, 12 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia SailingBMW Oracle
The Challenger of Record couldn't obviously miss a day of training but was also the team that received most of the rain while towing out USA-98. Coincidently, this is the first time we get upclose pictures of the brand new American "rocket" with her mainsail hoisted and as a result they are a little bit fuzzy. Still, from what we heard from expert voices, there were some interesting details on the mainsail.
BMW Oracle's USA-98 being towed out of Port America's Cup. Valencia, 12 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
BMW Oracle's USA-98 being towed out of Port America's Cup. Valencia, 12 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
It's certainly not the prettiest picture I've shot but it is a sign that with the clock ruthlessly ticking towards the Louis Vuitton Cup, even heavy rain isn't an excuse not to train. Valencia, 12 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia SailingVictory Challenge
The Swedish team continue their daily training schedule onboard their "Wolverine" SWE-96, usually in conjuction with SWE-73.
Victory Challenge's SWE-96 being hoisted inside Port America's Cup. Valencia, 12 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
Victory Challenge's SWE-96 being towed out of Port America's Cup. Valencia, 12 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
Victory Challenge's SWE-96 being towed out of Port America's Cup. Valencia, 12 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia SailingDesafío Español
There is nothing extraordinary or unusual to report on the Spanish team other than that the local syndicate continues its intensive two-boat training with ESP-97 and ESP-88. Presumably, Paul Cayard was onboard one of the two yachts but we weren't able to spot him.
ESP-97 of Desafío Español being towed out of Port America's Cup. Valencia, 12 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
ESP-97 of Desafío Español being towed out of Port America's Cup. Valencia, 12 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
ESP-97 of Desafío Español being towed out of Port America's Cup. Valencia, 12 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
ESP-88 (left) and ESP-97 of Desafío Español being towed out of Port America's Cup. Valencia, 12 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing+39 Challenge
The last, but certainly not least, boat to pass in front of us was ITA-85 of +39 Challenge. Here as well, the program consists of daily training sessions with Iain Percy at the helm.
ITA-85 of +39 Challenge being towed out of Port America's Cup. Valencia, 12 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
ITA-85 of +39 Challenge being towed out of Port America's Cup. Valencia, 12 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia SailingLabels: +39 Challenge, BMW Oracle, Desafío Español, Emirates Team New Zealand, Luna Rossa, Victory Challenge
3 Comments:
Interesting details on USA98's mainsail? Come on you can't leave it at that. Need some details.
thats a hell of a lot of telltales on the head of Victory Challenges' Main. In fact, there seem to be quite a few differences in their sail, at least aesthetically. Check out the luff between spreaders 1 and 3. Any chance you can do a story on the different mains? Say, a photo of each syndicate>
thats a hell of a lot of telltales on the head of Victory Challenges' Main. In fact, there seem to be quite a few differences in their sail, at least aesthetically. Check out the luff between spreaders 1 and 3. Any chance you can do a story on the different mains? Say, a photo of each syndicate>
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