Identify the boats

We received a great number of replies and the first correct one came considerably fast, one hour after posting the quiz, from a reader in Copenhagen. Here are the correct sailnumbers of the boats, in the order they appear from the top: USA-87 (BMW Oracle), ITA-86 (Luna Rossa), FRA-93 (Areva Challenge), ITA-94 (Luna Rossa), ESP-97 (Desafío Español) and USA-98 (BMW Oracle).

So far our quizzes have been limited to some obscure parts of a racing boat. Today we focus on the big picture and our test will consist of identifying 6 America's Cup yachts being towed out of Port America's Cup. All photos were taken today Thursday while the boats were on their way out to another day of training, taking advantage of the considerably good wind conditions so far. Some might be obvious while others, hopefully, not so.

The first person to correctly identify all boats will receive a surprise gift from Valencia Sailing. As a result and in order to be able to reach you, please send your replies by email. Don't leave an anonymous comment at the bottom of the article since we will not know who you are.

Speaking of wind conditions, Paul Cayard's comment this morning on his website is very revelatory: One thing I think could throw a curve ball at some teams is the weather in April. April is still definitely spring and the previous racing in Valencia has never started this early. February was 15-20 knots 75% of the time. Most teams have designed their boats for 9-14 knots which is expected in June. But to get to June, you have to survive April and May. The competition is going to be tough. I think there will be a number of "upsets". All this will mix up the results a bit more than expected and create some anxiety for the teams that are "supposed" to be there in May.

It will be fast and furious for six teams; the regatta will be a three week event for them. You only have to look at that reality to become extremely motivated.

Valencia, 22 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Valencia, 22 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Valencia, 22 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Valencia, 22 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Valencia, 22 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Valencia, 22 March 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Modified America's Cup boats

With the return of BMW Oracle and Emirates Team NZ to Valencia during the last weekend and the imminent reappearance of their boats, we will run a series of articles and photos on the pretenders to the throne, that is the Louis Vuitton Cup and, of course, the America's Cup.

The America's Cup rules do not oblige teams to build brand new boats for this edition of the event in Valencia. The only constraints on teams were to participate with a yacht built in their country of origin and modified to the newer version of rules, called Version 5. Nevertheless, all of them have built either one or two new yachts after the end of the previous edition in Auckland.

In addition, some of the first generation of newly-built boats have undergone substantial modification, often less than a year after their initial launch. As a prelude, we publish comparison photos of the two boats where the modifications are more evident, Luna Rossa's ITA-86 and Shosholoza's RSA-83.

Luna Rossa ITA-86
Luna Rossa's ITA-86 being towed out of Port America's Cup. Valencia, 20 April 2006. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Luna Rossa's ITA-86 being towed out of Port America's Cup. Valencia, 24 February 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Shosholoza RSA-83
Shosholoza's RSA-83 being towed out of Port America's Cup. Valencia, 13 June 2006. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Shosholoza's RSA-83 being towed out of Port America's Cup. Valencia, 28 January 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing