Alinghi carries out first two-catamaran training session in Valencia

Alinghi carried out its first training session with the two catamaran and one could consider it raised the curtain for the 33rd America's Cup, at least as far as sailing is concerned. Although both its catamarans as well BMW Oracle's have already sailed various times off Valencia's coast it was the first time both of them were used in training simultaneously and with crews consisting only of sailors.

Valencia Sailing couldn't obviously be absent from the first "official" training for the 33rd America's Cup. Unfortunately, just like Friday, Saturday's wind conditions were excruciatingly light and the breeze was not to be seen anywhere. As a result, there was hardly any action and the otherwise exciting Extreme 40 yachts looked as if they were standing still on a lake.

We followed Alinghi's two catamarans for about an hour, from 2pm to 3pm, and it appeared sailors wanted to use the first session in order to get familiar with the boat. Training first started with a long upwind leg where the two yachts tacked probably 2-3 times. After that the yachts hoisted their spinnakers and proceeded with another long downwind leg at the end of which they gybed and headed north east.

According to Alinghi, fifteen sailors were out racing the Alinghi Extreme 40s on Saturday including Ed Baird, Dean Phipps, Yves Detrey, Warwick Fleury, Murray Jones, Lorenzo Mazza, Francesco Rapetti, Pieter van Nieuwenhuyzen, Juan Vila, Nils Frei, Curtis Blewett, Rodney Ardern, Nicolas Texier, Luc Dubois and Pierre-Yves Jorand.

The white catamaran was helmed by Ed Baird and the black one by Murray Jones, at least during the period we followed them.

I have also included a short video from the long downwind leg that was taken from a certain distance and as a result its quality is not optimal. Although Alinghi at no time prevented us from approaching the two yachts at our will, we always kept a safety distance.

Alinghi carries out first two-catamaran training session. Valencia, 23 February 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi carries out first two-catamaran training session. Valencia, 23 February 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi carries out first two-catamaran training session. Valencia, 23 February 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi carries out first two-catamaran training session. Valencia, 23 February 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi carries out first two-catamaran training session. Valencia, 23 February 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi carries out first two-catamaran training session. Valencia, 23 February 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi carries out first two-catamaran training session. Valencia, 23 February 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi carries out first two-catamaran training session. Valencia, 23 February 2008. Video copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing