BMW Oracle test new 3Di mainsail in Valencia

On the eve of their all important meeting with Alinghi in Geneva and with Russell Coutts and the monohull sailing crew in Italy for the RC44 circuit, James Spithill, John Kostecki and the rest of the BMW Oracle multihull crew keep training in Valencia.

This is the third week the American team trains here in Valencia but unlike the first two, we only saw two yachts today. The first one was Groupama, with Franck Cammas on the helm, and the second one was a BMW Oracle Extreme 40 with James Spithill driving.

What caught our attention was the brand new 3Di mainsail from Northsails. It was the first time we observed it, although it might have been used since Monday. Are we going to see this technology on the BOR 90ft trimaran? Our understanding is that the America's Cup challenger of record will move back to San Diego in 3 weeks for a 2-month training and testing session aboard their monster trimaran, before returning to Valencia for further testing.

BMW Oracle test new 3Di sails on their Extreme 40 catamaran. Valencia, 22 April 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing


BMW Oracle test new 3Di sails on their Extreme 40 catamaran. Valencia, 22 April 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing