ACC yachts FRA-93 and GBR-75 towed from Valencia to Nice

With exactly 11 days left until the start of the Louis Vuitton Trophy in Nice, time is short, in particular concerning the 4 yachts the 8 participating teams will use during the regatta. As we said in the past, the yachts are provided by Mascalzone Latino (ITA-90 and ITA-99), Team Origin (GBR-75) and ALL4ONE Challenge (FRA-93). The two Italian boats were fitted out in their team's base, Team Origin's shore crew used the BMW Oracle base to bring GBR-75 to race mode while the newly-formed Franco-German ALL4ONE used the Emirates Team New Zealand base, having definitely vacated theirs next door.

The French and British boats left Valencia on Sunday afternoon, heading to Nice by a rather unexpected way. Instead of being shipped or trucked to the French city, they are being towed, covering a distance of roughly 450 nautical miles between the two ports. If everything goes according to plan the two America's Cup yachts will reach Nice late on Tuesday.

The two yachts were initially scheduled to leave Valencia on Tuesday but the adverse weather forecast for the following days left no option but to advance the departure. In fact, FRA-93 and GBR-75 started their trip to the French city immediately after ALL4ONE ended their 5-day training session.

Team Origin's GBR-75 towed out of Port America's Cup in Valencia to Nice. Valencia, 18 October 2009. Photo copyright ALL4ONE Challenge

ALL4ONE Challenge's FRA-93 towed out of Port America's Cup in Valencia to Nice. Valencia, 18 October 2009. Photo copyright ALL4ONE Challenge

Another team trained in Valencia last week in view of the Louis Vuitton Trophy was Synergy, the Russian newcomers on America's Cup boats. Although two Russian teams (Synergy and Valars) have been actively participating in the TP52 circuit for almost 5 years now, this was the first time they sailed on ACC yachts.

Synergy trains for the Louis Vuitton Trophy Nice. Valencia, 16 October 2009. Photo copyright Synergy

Synergy trains for the Louis Vuitton Trophy Nice. Valencia, 16 October 2009. Photo copyright Synergy