Meanwhile in Valencia... it feels like 2006 again !!!
Update 6pm Valencia Time: Representatives from Alinghi and BMW Oracle held another meeting on Thursday afternoon, together with the mayor of Valencia but also the President of the Valencia Region, a sign that the city and the region are eager to fully back the event. One of the main issues in discussion in the meeting was the mayor's desire to move the start of the regatta from Monday, February 8th to Friday, February 12th and from 3 races to 7, in order to make it more accessible and more interesting to the general public. Although all parties agree in principle with Rita Barberá, no formal agreement has been reached yet. For the record, here's the raw footage from yesterday's meeting:
Footage from Thursday's meeting between Alinghi, BMW Oracle and the city of Valencia. Valencia, 17 December 2009. Video copyright Valencia Sailing
I don't know whether it's the Christmas spirit but is sure feels nice to see Port America's Cup in Valencia getting busier by the day. At times it feels like 2006 again, only at a smaller scale with just 2 teams getting ready for the America's Cup.
In our quick visit earlier today, the Alinghi compound (consisting of the base and two tents) seemed to be ready and waiting for the dozens of containers, ribs and all kind of material to arrive from Ras al-Khaimah.
On the other hand, the BMW Oracle camp still looks suspiciously quiet. According to reliable sources, the American team will set up a kind of temporary "reception" base in the commercial part of Valencia's port while the city plans to clear the docks of ALL the southern bases (China Team, Mascalzone Latino, Desafío, Team Germany, Areva Challenge, Victory Challenge and Team New Zealand) in order to liberate a continuous space, long and wide enough to accommodate the 62 meters of length and 16 meters of width of BOR 90's wing sail!!
Starting next week we will start a series of in-depth articles on what it will take to organize this extraordinary America's Cup in Valencia and to what extent it will be different from the previous edition, held on the same waters 2 years ago.
General view of the Alinghi compound. Valencia, 18 December 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailig
Closer view of the dockside tent. Just in case you were curious, the car parked in front is a Toyota Auris, 4.2 meters long. Valencia, 18 December 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailig
Closer view of the lateral tent. Valencia, 18 December 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailig
All is quiet at the BMW Oracle base. Valencia, 18 December 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia SailigLabels: 33rd America's Cup, Alinghi, BMW Oracle, Valencia
15 Comments:
...and it still smells like it did in 2006
Read in Swiss Newspapers today that they agreed to a Best-of-7-Format. With days-offs, breakages and postponements due to weather conditions we will see two weeks of sailing, hopefully with changing winners. 5:0 is boring.
To the 5:54 PM Anonymous: If the format of the series is to the best of 7 races, then the winner will be decided with a 4-0 score, NOT a 5-0 score. That score (5-0) would be if the series is to the best of 8 races. I hope we agree.
If the boats aren't closely matched, 7 races will be more than twice as boring as 3.
Just great as talk at www.sail-world.com is SNG is backing out of the deal with VLC & GGYC as they want the race to basically be private. NO help to VLC, fans or anyone!!! Fend for yourselves :-(
ummm I think the previous posters both need to go back to school a 5-0 result is only possible in best of 9 races - oops
ummm - I think annon 5:54pm and Cristian both need to go back to school, a 5-0 result can omly happen in a best of 9 series - OOOPPPPPs
From 5.54 PM Anonymous to C.A. Palau, 7:56 PM, Agree, 4:0 is correct.
Alinghi def. BOR 4:0...
That was a nice suit that Camps was wearing.I wonder who his tailor is ?
To the 10:01 AM Anonymous: You are totally right. I miss one race. If the series is to the Best of 7, then the winning score is 4-0. If the series is to the Best of 9, then the winning score is 5-0. Sorry for the mistake.
Let's hope that, whatever the long of the series is (7 or 9 races long), we get to see a great America's Cup between this 2 monsters multihulls (BOR-90 and A5).
Best regards,
Cristian Palau
BOR never will change the starting date of 33thAC. This would open the door of the court for Alinghi again.
It would not surprise me if Oracle did not park their boat in the Darsena! The roughest piece of water in Valencia is at the mouth of the canal and I would not want to take my wing mast anywhere near it.
Bullshit !
Thanks Anonymous 7.18am.
It is always nice to see reasoned and constructive comment! Presumably you have never taken a boat out of the canal after a night of strong northerly wind.
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