Ian Williams and Sébastien Col train in Valencia

Given the absence of any important news this Sunday, this for once will be a "true" blog post!

Yesterday, after we left the two Alinghi catamarans continue their first training session, we spotted in the distance two yachts apparently involved in match racing. When we approached we were surprised to see the yachts helmed by two of the world's top match racers, Ian Williams and Sébastien Col.

Williams is the 2007 ISAF Match Racing World Champion and currently ranked 2nd in the ISAF Match Racing classification list while Col is close behind at 4th place. Just like the Defender of the 33rd America's Cup the two match racing stars had to put up with excruciatingly light wind conditions. At some point even the guests at the stern of the yachts could stand up with their hands in their pockets.

Most probably the two sailors were training for the upcoming events of the World Math Racing Tour. The morale of the story? The 32nd America's Cup definitely put Valencia in the world sailing map. Of all places, the two sailing champions chose Valencia to train and even they were here in relation to some sponsored VIP hospitality event, this fact only is a positive sign.

One only hopes that two parties involved in the 33rd edition of the world's oldest sports competition come to their senses and don't ruin it.

Ian Williams and Sébastien Col train in Valencia. Valencia, 23 February 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Ian Williams and Sébastien Col train in Valencia. Valencia, 23 February 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Ian Williams and Sébastien Col train in Valencia. Valencia, 23 February 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing