Update from Alicante and Calpe

Greetings from Calpe where Torvar Mirsky and Damien Iehl have been knocking their opponents down like flies in the 1st two days of Open de España Match Race, the sole World Match Racing tour qualifier event in Spain.

The young Australian and the less young French match racers are sharing the top spot of the round robins with a perfect 8-0 score so far. Friday promises to be interesting as the match between them will take place in the last flight, probably deciding who's going to move to the quarter finals at the top. Unfortunately, I arrived late, and as a result, our report today will just be what Mirsky and his team are sending.

Nevertheless, it has been a very fruitful morning in Alicante with two quite interesting interviews. We first talked to Ken Read, Puma skipper, moments before he boarded "Il Mostro" for their trip back to Newport. Unfortunately, my video is embargoed as Ken talked about what will be officially announced from the team very soon, probably on Friday.... At least, there are a couple of shots.

The second interview was with Knut Frostad, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race, and touched all aspects of the world's premier offshore race. It will be published on Sunday, after the end of Open de España.

Puma's "Il Mostro" is ready for a 12-day trip back to Newport, Rhode Island. Alicante, 29 April 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Puma's "Il Mostro" is ready for a 12-day trip back to Newport, Rhode Island. Alicante, 29 April 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing