Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Press report: Alinghi rules out Valencia for the America's Cup

According to an article that appeared in today's edition of Las Provincias, Valencia's main newspaper, Alinghi might have definitely ruled out Valencia as a venue for the 33rd America's Cup. As we have stated quite often here, Las Provincias enjoys very good relations with the current local and regional governments of Valencia and it is most probable that some source within these two official bodies passed on the information. Nevertheless, the article's author doesn't unveil his sources.

According to the same article, although Valencia offers unquestionable advantages, such as the existence of the bases and the infrastructure used in the previous edition of the event, the Defender has based its choice solely on weather conditions. According to Las Provincias, Alinghi will choose a venue in the Northern hemisphere that can guarantee, as much as possible, light and stable conditions, not more than 8 to 9 knots of wind. Valencia cannot guarantee such conditions because weather conditions in winter are very unstable.

It appears that, always according to the article, BMW Oracle are aware that Valencia is to be ruled out and "fear" that an Arab country will be the venue of the 33rd America's Cup match, because of the light wind conditions and flat seas that prevail during the month of February. Nevertheless, other options closer to Valencia are also under consideration by Alinghi, such as Turkey.

Valencia Sailing contacted Alinghi asking for a comment on the article and the reply was that "the venue will be announced six months before the America's Cup Match". Nevertheless, the announcement of a venue other than Valencia might lead to even further legal action, since BMW Oracle have stated that, in their view, the court decision is clear in stating that if Alinghi opts for a venue in the Northern hemisphere it can't be other than Valencia. We shall see...

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

Alinghi resumes catamaran sailing under VERY light wind conditions in February 2008. Valencia, 22 February 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

United Internet Team Germany and +39 Challenge training under VERY light conditions in February 2006. Valencia, 7 February 2006. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

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5 Comments:

At 1:40 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Pierre,

Fairly easy to show hundreds of pictures shot in February with light conditions. Consistency is the keyword here and Alinghi cannot afford to possibly strong conditions, that, no doubt, you could illustrate by a bunch of photos you have in your archives.

 
At 2:04 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

While your photo "evidence" seems to infer that Valencia is a light air venue, Dirk is correct in saying that it is inconsistent. One week could have conditions as shown in your photos, and the next week could have strong gradient winds upwards of 40 knots. It was around that time of year when roofs of nearby buildings have been blown off.

 
At 10:04 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Alinghi wants to go back to court or as usual they are playing around with everyone. Once again they are a black eye for the sport

 
At 12:16 AM, Anonymous WetHog said...

Well based on Alinghi's latest letter to GGYC that states that Cahn's ruling of "anywhere" means anywhere it would appear Lake Geneva is in play as the venue. Sure would solve Alinghi's problem of figuring out how to transport Cheezy to the Med. And would also put BMWO in a tight spot making them transport DZ1.5 to the lake.

 
At 2:46 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wethog, I don't this is the real SAAC Wethog as he would know the Deed default race courses are too big to fit on Lake Geneva.

If SNG decides to not choose Valencia and goes somewhere else in the NH it will be another loss for them in court. What an embrassement to the sport they are and it looks like it's going to get worse before they are hauled in front of the NY AG before the Feb race.

Talk is that SNG is under investigation due to several complaints filed with the NY AG that SNG has has not fulfilled or breaking the trust laws of NY which the Deed is registered under.

 

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