Meanwhile in Valencia ... United Internet Team Germany and Desafío Español train together

The only two active America's Cup teams in Valencia, Desafío Español and United Internet Team Germany, are waisting no time and try to take advantage of any single day with appropriate wind conditions in order to train. From what we understand the two teams have started training together in the last few days. Unfortunately, October's weather is proving to be very difficult, unlike 2005 and 2006 when teams were able to train 20-22 days throughout the whole month.

There isn't obviously any novelty or secret as far as their boats are concerned. Both teams use the ones from the 32nd edition of the event, GER-89 for the Germans and ESP-97 for the Spanish. The photos do have a degree of interest, especially for the German team, as they show new faces on the two yachts.

On the Spanish boat, the big difference is obviously the absence of helmsman Karol Jablonski and the presence of Paul Cayard in his place. Cayard has stated he would be the main helmsman of the Spanish challenger during the development phase of the team. Another new face we could recognize oboard ESP-97 was of Italian Bruno Zirilli, new navigator of Desafío Español, who came from +39 Challenge.

Jablonski didn't have to go very far when he left the green team since he's now the helmsman of the German boat. Another "refugee" from the Spanish team that joined Jablonski was Danish Mikkel Rossberg. We also spotted two familiar faces from Shosholoza, German Tim Kröger and South African Marc Lagesse. The former was the boat captain of the South African challenger while the latter was its navigator. The German team will make an official presentation of its team in November.

PS: For the curious readers, the construction cranes and trucks visible on the pictures are building the bridge over the canal that will be used by the F1 cars next year. The F1 race track will go around and through Port America's Cup.

Desafío Español's ESP-97 being towed out for a day of training. Valencia, 23 October 2007. Photo copyright Heike Schwab

Desafío Español's ESP-97 being towed out for a day of training. Valencia, 23 October 2007. Photo copyright Heike Schwab

Desafío Español's ESP-97 being towed out for a day of training. Standing, from left to right, Jorge Ondo, Miguel Jáuregui, Santi López-Vázquez, Paul Cayard, Bruno Zirilli and Carlo Castellano. Valencia, 23 October 2007. Photo copyright Heike Schwab

United Internet Team Germany's GER-89 being towed out for a day of training. Valencia, 23 October 2007. Photo copyright Heike Schwab

United Internet Team Germany's GER-89 being towed out for a day of training. Valencia, 23 October 2007. Photo copyright Heike Schwab