"Hispanic" TP52's train in Valencia

With just a few days left before the start of the 2009 AUDI Medcup in Alicante, Desafío is playing host to Matador and Bribón in their base and the three "hispanic" teams took advantage of Thursday's excellent conditions to carry out their last training sessions in the host city of the 32nd America's Cup before moving to the actual venue on Sunday. It was Valencia at its best today, with bright skies and a brisk southeastern breeze that reached 17 knots late in the afternoon, before dying completely.

The three teams were later joined by the Russian Valars and ended the day's training with a 4-boat fleet regatta. That race also marked the return of the Russians on the water after an unfortunate incident a month ago that resulted in a broken mast. The Russians had scheduled to race in HUBLOT Palmavela in mid-April but the breakage dashed their hopes. The first tests today proved successful and Valars was able to join today's race.

In addition to these 4 TP52 yachts, AUDI Q8 used the day to finetune their yacht while Emirates Team New Zealand were busy working on their 52ft boat, trying to make her a TP52. As surprising as it might sound, the yacht of the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup winners didn't measure and as a result it isn't a TP52 yet. According to the reports from the rest of teams, the kiwi shore crew has to slim the bulb by around 200kg before the class measurers put their stamp of approval. So if you answered, Emirates Team NZ TP52 yacht in our quiz, you were wrong. We don't know whether this setback will have any consequences on ETNZ's schedule.

With the TP52 action in Valencia winding down, we will publish an interesting interview with Terry Hutchinson on Friday. Last year's Med & World champion is already in Alicante and Quantum Racing has been training there for a couple of days.

Last TP52 training sessions before the start of the 2009 AUDI Medcup. Valencia, 7 May 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Last TP52 training sessions before the start of the 2009 AUDI Medcup. Valencia, 7 May 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Last TP52 training sessions before the start of the 2009 AUDI Medcup. Valencia, 7 May 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Last TP52 training sessions before the start of the 2009 AUDI Medcup. Valencia, 7 May 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

First, and successful, test sail of Valars after the mast breakage a month ago. Valencia, 7 May 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Last TP52 training sessions before the start of the 2009 AUDI Medcup. Valencia, 7 May 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Last TP52 training sessions before the start of the 2009 AUDI Medcup. Valencia, 7 May 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Last TP52 training sessions before the start of the 2009 AUDI Medcup. Valencia, 7 May 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Last TP52 training sessions before the start of the 2009 AUDI Medcup. Valencia, 7 May 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Last TP52 training sessions before the start of the 2009 AUDI Medcup. Valencia, 7 May 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing