Alinghi about to resume training with catamarans

Alinghi's two Extreme 40 catamarans were spotted this afternoon on the water in front of the team's base. Now that construction of the Formula 1 race track in that part of America's Cup Port has ended, the Defender of the 33rd America's Cup seems to be able to fully use its base once again.

We suppose that it is only a matter of days before the Swiss team resumes training after a pause of some weeks, weather conditions allowing of course. After a week of very cold, windy and especially rainy weather, Valencia is enjoying sunshine, clear skies and notably higher temperatures.

Both yachts have been now rebranded with Alinghi's colors and logos. My apologies for the photos but the ongoing construction makes it difficult to get a decent angle let alone get any closer.

While the Swiss are back on the water, a few hundred meters away BMW Oracle's only catamaran is back on dry land and has been there for quite some time. After some intensive sailing activity that saw various sailors helming the yacht, with Russell Coutts and James Spithill the most notable, the Americans seem to have paused.

CORRECTION: The last paragraph of the article could have been initially misleading. BMW Oracle haven't obviously paused all activities in Valencia, just sailing with the catamaran. It is our understanding Coutts, Spithill and other members of the sailing team are in Dubai, getting ready for the first event of the 2008 RC44 season, which starts in the Arab city on March 3rd. Coutts will be aboard the Team Omega boat while Spithill will be calling tactics on Team Ceeref.

Alinghi's two Extreme 40 catamarans are back on the water in front of the team base. Valencia, 21 February 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

After two weeks of daily activity, BMW Oracle's catamaran is sitting on dry land. Valencia, 21 February 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing