34th America's Cup TV Trials in Valencia: The best videos

The first of the three 34th America's TV trials ended on Sunday in Valencia and the media team of the current Defender is making public parts of the footage the dozens of cameras captured during the four days of testing. Some of the videos are uninspiring, others are interesting and a few are simply extraordinary. Since the America's Cup organizers sought viewer feedback, we post here the two videos Valencia Sailing rates as the best.

Both are from the last day (Sunday) of testing when the two RC44 sloops sailed in glorious conditions and it is my belief the best suited yachts for the next America's Cup, and beyond, must be fast monohulls. Having observed two of the four test days, I believe there is simply no comparison in the close action the two types of yacht can provide. It is, obviously, true the Extreme 40 catamarans are much faster than the RC44's. No doubt about it.

However, before arguing over what type of yacht we should use, we should beforehand think about how we want to sell the America's Cup. In fact, I had a very interesting conversation right here in Valencia, a few days ago, with a New Zealander that has a handful of America's Cup under his belt, while he was on his way to Barcelona for the AUDI Medcup. Do we want to claim that the America's Cup is the Formula 1 on water? Well, then we should opt for the Hydroptère. It's not any weird looking, one-man prototype, it is a conventionally looking sailboat that even the least knowledgeable non-sailors can recognize as such. In addition, it is officially the world's fastest sailing yacht, so there you have it.

On the other hand, the America's Cup is a match race, a kind of chess on the water where you beat your opponent not by sheer speed difference but by better positioning yourself on the race course, blocking your opponent while causing him to infringe the rules and receive a penalty. In that case only monohulls can deliver that. The Extreme 40's fly on one hull and produce the "wow factor" but that's short lived. Human and boat-on-boat action are few and far between.

One of the best videos, in our opinion, from the 34th America's Cup TV Trials. Valencia, 25 July 2010. Video copyright BMW Oracle

I have to admit I take my hat off to the person that came up with the idea of placing a camera at the end of the boom. The footage it produces is quite dramatic and captures the frantic action that takes place in the prestart. I suppose the camera is rotating and remotely controlled because otherwise it would miss half the race, each time the yachts tacked or gybed. It's a pity though there is no sound coming from it but then with so many microphones onboard that wouldn't be a problem, even less 3-4 years from now.

One of the best videos, in our opinion, from the 34th America's Cup TV Trials. Valencia, 25 July 2010. Video copyright BMW Oracle

Ultimately, BMW Oracle will choose the boat that will give them the best chances to successfully defend the Cup while stripping Team New Zealand from its strengths, as much as possible. There's nothing wrong with that though, that's the America's Cup...