Captain Sarno: This America's Cup is very expensive; Shosholoza will not take part

An unknown outside South Africa, Captain Sarno became a household name in the sailing world when he built from scratch Shosholoza, the first ever America's Cup challenger from Africa. An Italian by birth but a fervent South African at heart, Captain Sarno showed the world what the new South Africa was able to do by entering the world's oldest sports trophy competition and managing to have a decent performance despite being absolute beginners with a relatively low budget.

Sarno spoke to the Italian newspaper "Quotidiano Nazionale" about Shosholoza, the America's Cup and why there won't be any South African entry in this edition:

What is happening? Do you ever get stopped by sailing fans that want to ask you about Shosholoza? Can you tell us what they tell you?

"Well, it happens much more often than I would have ever imagined. Shosholoza has remained alive in the minds of sailing fans because everybody could have been in the role of one of my guys. I'm asked whether we'll take part in the next America's Cup and I reply it will be very difficult. Many people want to know what my guys are doing and they are not surprised to learn that almost all of them went back to their original jobs."

Let's step back a few years. How was Shosholoza born?

"Shosholoza was a dream and now it's a reality."

How do you make a dream come true?

"It costs tremendous stress. My son who is an excellent surgeon has always told me there two types of stress: the good one and the bad one. The good one is a product of work you like and projects like Shosholoza: something that tires you but doesn't make you sick. The bad one is produced by people's wickedness but also form work that you don't like. One can fall ill and have his health deteriorate, just like it happened to me due to the wickedness after Shosholoza. I have always been a dreamer, just like the song of Peppino di Capri. As a child, at my home in Nocera, I used to climb the mountain to see a glimpse of the sea, and dreamed of conquering it, one day, sooner or later. I have never stopped, I have always believed in it and in every thing I have done I have always put all my effort and above all my passion."

Is there a secret in all that?

"The secret is simple and complex: you really have to believe in your dream, even if it's a big one; never re-dimension it or settle with anything less. Of course you need a thorough analysis of a project but the most important ingredient is passion and that strange thing you feel in your chest when you think about it, that thing called "feeling" in English. Having that thing you are able to transmit the passion to the rest of people, those that have to follow you and, above all, those that have to finance you. I can guarantee you that people can see if there is true passion."

So, we now come to Shosholoza. When did the adventure really start?

"In the moment I started having a crew of black guys, in 2001. I thought it would be possible to show the world that in the new South Africa, blacks and whites could achieve something good working together, and what stage could be better than the America's Cup? That's when I talked to my sons and wife."

What was the first real step towards the Cup?

"Surely the name. I would have liked to use "Madiba” which is how black people called Mandela, but then I thought someone would insinuate that I wanted to use Mandela, and I profoundly love and respect him to let somebody insinuate something like that. This is why I chose Shosholoza, which is a hymn to team work, just what we wanted."

Professionalism at the highest level, no set working hours and always a thousand unexpected things around the corner. How does the table of sailing's giants look like?

"It's much easier than you think and in any case much easier than my normal job that is full of uncertainties and difficulties of any kind."

And now, that everything seems to have changed with the new catamarans, what will happen to the dear old America's Cup?

"(The expression on Sarno's face becomes dark) It's not a beautiful thing… Larry Ellison has let Coutts do everything, and I think the result is absolutely catastrophic. Aside from the spectacular yachts they wanted to go too far with the evolution. The 90-foot yachts proposed by Alinghi would have provided the same spectacle and would have cost less."

Mascalzone Latino as Challenger of Record?

"Onorato has accepted too many of Russell Coutts' ideas. He offends the intelligence of all Italian sportsmen when he states, in agreement with Coutts, that costs have been reduced and then goes on to say that you need a budget of 80 million euros. By increasing the entry fee to one million and the performance bond to two, they wanted to restrict the number of possible participants. Team Origin and the Germans have stated that a challenge costs much more than the 25 million many have budgeted (including ourselves at Shosholoza). Even if one appreciates the sportsmanship, it seems ridiculous to me that a team has to go to New Zealand to do more or less a sailing course, in order to then think about beating the teachers. Everybody should know that in the previous edition, the French, the Germans, the Chinese and the Swedish had a real budget of 25 million, +39 was at around 20, the New Zealanders at 35 and ourselves at 17. You now need 3 million just to start and then go to New Zealand to train on the fixed-wing catamaran. In short, as stated by the organizers themselves, you need between 40 and 70 million for 3 years: Crazy in these times!"

What will the next America's Cup look like? Putting aside the last strange challenge, can it be better than the 32nd where Shosholoza took part?

"The 32nd America's Cup will go down to history as the most beautiful sailing competition ever. I will never forget Trapani. We will never repeat a similar number of visitor and a similar enthusiasm. The Acts provided that extra thing to the final competition. Without any doubt the next Cup will be spectacular and the yachts (I can't say how many, 4 or maybe 5?) will give a nice show but it won't be match racing. A sort of Formula 1, perhaps that, but is the public ready for such a drastic change? Probably we will need some more time and in any case I hope that at the end, sailing, with or without a fixed wing, will continue to amaze."

However, will a new African challenge be possible again?

"Certainly yes, but not in this edition. The world is still in crisis and the way I see it, mobile phones can only sponsor one or two boats each time..."

Statement by Captain Salvatore Sarno, Managing director Team Shosholoza

Statement by Captain Salvatore Sarno, Managing director Team Shosholoza:

“I am shocked and outraged at the way Team Shosholoza has been treated this week and condemn in the strongest terms the audacious action taken by the Consortio Valencia 2007 who have used the Spanish Police to seal off the South African America’s Cup base in Port America’s Cup in Valencia, Spain, and ordered us to empty the base and vacate it immediately.

“I personally went to Valencia in September last year to meet with the Mr J Gisbert, the Managing Director of the Consortium and we agreed on 28th March as the deadline for vacating the base. In addition I have paid 90 000 euros to cover arrears in rent which became effective when Alinghi declared that there would be no more America’s Cup in Valencia. We have also supplied declarations from the Spanish Receiver of Revenue that Team Shosholoza has no outstanding debts or tax owed in Spain. In addition, because they were threatening to impound our equipment, we also supplied certificates of insurance and our custom bond as we need custom clearance in order to move our equipment.

We started packing up the base some months ago and had made arrangements for all the team’s equipment to be moved to storage facilities elsewhere in Valencia. However we were unable to start affecting our move because BMW Oracle Racing team, who occupy the adjacent base, had moved their containers and other equipment onto the quayside in front of the doors to the Shosholoza base during recent racing for the 33rd America’s Cup.

Yet incredibly, with over two weeks still in hand before our deadline to move expires, the Consortio Valencia decided not to honour their word and instead used the police to assist them in this audacious and outrageous action.

This is not a polite way to be treated. It is an abuse of power and not right what they have done to us. I have expressed my fury and disappointment in no uncertain terms in an open email to Mr J Gisbert of Consortio Valencia. The email is as follows:

Dear Mr Gisbert

I have been astonished to hear that this morning police officers have been at the base with a Court order to lock and seal it. Mr Moctar Fall who was preparing the material for the trasportation to the contracted wharehouse has been forced to leave the premise.

It seems that you had been duly informed of our preparation to leave the base and nevertheless you have preferred that the police sealed the base because you were under an erroneus impression

Your action remember to me the old racist apartheid regime who was governing our Country twenty years ago: same system, same action. Certainly you feel now very proud for having given a lesson to the Africans.

I want just to recall you that Team Shosholoza, the africans, played an important role in Valencia to have the public partecipating effectively to that historic event which was the 32nd Americas Cup.

We were the first team to take delivery of a base and establish the Team in your town. As you know from the certificate of Debt Clearance from the Receiver of Revenue, we have no debt in Valencia and we have duly paid our taxes. When we met in september I simply explained to you our situation; you agreed with me on the proposal I suggested and then.......you failed to respect the agreement.

Due to the above we stress to the public our dissatisfaction on the way you and the Authorities have treated guests in your country. I hardly believe that somebody can utilise such a bad determination against honest people like Team Shosholoza. Remember that your national soccer team will be guest in our Country in three months time: would you like that our Authorities will treat them in the same way??

Mr Gisbert you and Valencia 2007 are guilty of abuse of power and Team Shosholoza request that formal apologies be forwarded to the Team, miss Shirley Mullins and mr Moctar Fall.

It is understood that in case the closure of the base will delay our packing,transfer we will not be responsible anymore for such a delay.

Reacting to an article by editor Pierre Orphanidis posted on his Valencia Sailing Blogspot last night, Captain Sarno said the police seals had been removed this morning and that Team Shosholoza is now in the process of moving: Said Captain Sarno: “We are moving but I would like to stress that it is certainly not a sad end for Team Shosholoza.”

Meanwhile in Valencia... Sad end to Team Shosholoza

For anyone involved in the America's Cup, the ups and downs constitute a fact of life. If you happen to be the winning team, then the moment your yacht crosses the finish line victorious, a brand new cycle starts. On the other hand, if you are any of the remaining teams, an uncertain future lies ahead of you. It has always been like that and this time it isn't any different.

Yet one thing is to wind down in an orderly fashion and a completely different story is what we saw on Thursday morning in Port America's Cup. To our great surprise, the main entrance of the South African base has been sealed by the Spanish Police and the team has been ordered to empty it and vacate it. This must have taken place on Wednesday or Tuesday. The boat shed is open and, most probably, the shore crew will have to start packing very soon and try to find a temporary storage somewhere else.

We have no information as to why the Police took such action. Whatever the reason might be, this is a truly sad end for the first ever America's Cup team from the African continent.

The Spanish police seals the Team Shosholoza base. Valencia, 11 March 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The Spanish police seals the Team Shosholoza base. Valencia, 11 March 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The Spanish police seals the Team Shosholoza base. Valencia, 11 March 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Salvatore Sarno: I welcome this week’s NY Court of Appeals ruling.

STATEMENT BY CAPTAIN SALVATORE SARNO
Founder and Managing director of Team Shosholoza
South African America’s Cup Challenger

In response to Thursday’s ruling by the New York Supreme Court of Appeals.

"I welcome this week’s New York Court of Appeals ruling. I am really glad that finally, after almost two years of waiting, there is a decision.

“I think that it is the right verdict and that Alinghi and America’s Cup Management (ACM) made a mistake in accepting the challenge for the 33rd America’s Cup from Spain’s Club Nautico Espanol De Vela.

“Now at last we can move forward, although in my opinion it is out of the question that a multi-challenge America’s Cup can be held in 2010 or even 2011. In fact I don’t think it could be before 2012. We are experiencing the worst economic crisis in a century. We need time to come out of this and time to allow the world to regain confidence in sports sponsorship.

“Maybe in the meantime we will find a good solution to keep the competition alive but it won’t be the America’s Cup.

“In the meantime I will be giving my full attention to staying in command of my ship in order to ride the rough waters until the economic storm is over. And when the sea is calm again I will be ready to lead Shosholoza to new heights!

“I will be looking forward to that,” said Captain Sarno, who is also the chairman of the South African division of Mediterranean Shipping Company. MSC is the second biggest container shipping company in the world.

Second victory for Greek Challenge in LV Pacific Series

On a beautiful day on Waitemata harbor, hundreds of spectator boats witnessed an exhilarating victory for Greek Challenge. Not only did the new America’s Cup team score their second victory in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, they beat the team that a mere two days past defeated the America’s Cup Defender, Alinghi. Greek Challenge nurtured a slight advantage at the start line into a huge lead of 1 minute 26 seconds at the finish.

The two aggressive match racers, Gavin Brady on the Greek boat and Paolo Cian for the South Africans, had a tight and close pre-start. The two boats hit the starting line on an equal footing, the Greeks on the left and the South Africans on the right, both powering towards the left side of the course. Nevertheless, Greek Challenge soon got a slight speed advantage over Shosholoza, allowing them to be ahead in the first cross. Brady’s astute match racing tactics forced Cian to do 2 additional tacks, slowing the South African boat even more. Greek Challenge rounded the first weather mark with a comfortable 35-second advantage.

Despite being the novice crew in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, Greek Challenge sailed with confidence in the first run, doing a fantastic job in gybing under tricky conditions, and increased their lead to 38 seconds in the leeward gate.

From there on, it was plain sailing for the Greek crew, their Kiwi teammates and the South African navigator onboard Greek Challenge. They did a magnificent job in covering their opponent, putting an excellent display of teamwork and realizing their motto of “sail with your heart, win with your mind”.

The two teams will now face each other again next Tuesday in a race that will decide the 8th and 9th positions in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series.

Greek Challenge score a convincing second victory over Shosholoza. Auckland, 7 February 2009. Photo copyright Konstantinos Tsigkaras / Greek Challenge

Quotes of the day

Gavin Brady (NZL), helmsman of Greek Challenge: "Everything came together very well today, from start to finish. We had a good start, our tacks and gybes were excellent but more importantly there was good communication on the boat. We were calm, relaxed and quiet, undoubtedly the quietest day so far. Boat handling is undoubtedly getting better by the day. After yesterday’s unfortunate chain of mishaps we rallied and won the race.

All Greek sailors that took part in this regatta are now in a position to impress anyone on a Cup boat, no matter what team they might end up with. They could very well crew any big boat and I urge them to do it this summer in the Med."

Marc Lagesse (RSA), navigator of Greek Challenge, on beating twice his former team: "…[Big smile]"

Sotiris Buseas (GRE), aft grinder and Greek Challenge CEO: "It was a great day and I have to thank the entire team for this very positive end to the Round Robins. Poseidon was on our side, as he always was. Our goal when we first arrived here was to sail correctly and participate. We finish the Round Robins with two victories under our belts but the most important thing is what we learned from the New Zealanders on the boat in two short weeks. We faced the world’s best sailing teams and we feel honored to take part in such an event".

H.E. Evangelos Damianakis, Greek Ambassador to New Zealand and 18th man today: "This is my first time on a sailing yacht and I’m exhilarated. I was also told this was the second victory of the team and Greek Challenge proved they were up to the challenge. I’m proud I was part of the crew even if as a simple spectator at the back. It was a wonderful experience and I was surprised by the coordination and teamwork required in order to sail these yachts, let alone win a race.

I have to congratulate Mr Buseas for accomplishing this Herculean endeavor, bring a team down here to New Zealand and achieve two victories. I wish him all the best and I really look forward to a continuation".

Video: TV New Zealand reports on the challenges teams face with the unknown boats

TV New Zealand's Martin Tasker sends another interesting report from the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series and the continuing preparations, especially of the 8 teams that will have to race on the BMW Oracle and Emirates Team NZ yachts.

Gavin Brady and Paolo Cian, helmsmen of Greek Challenge and Shosholoza respectively, talked about the feeling at sailing these boats. Brady, former BMW Oracle helmsman, pointed out that they had 5 years at the American team in order to get ready for the America's Cup while the Greek team has only 5 days. Despite the fact there are more medalists on the Greek team than BMW Oracle, the learning curve is extremely steep. On the other hand, for Cian it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn their secrets. A few months ago they would have paid a fortune to do it while now it's free, according to the Italian match racer.

Even Ben Ainslie, helmsman for Team Origin, has to take things slowly. The former second helmsman of Emirates Team NZ might know the boats and his kiwi opponents inside out, he will have to tame his aggressive sailing in order not to ruin the event by crashing the yachts on the first day.

Martin Tasker reports on the strange sights of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series . Auckland, 25 January 2009. Video copyright TV New Zealand

Shosholoza confident after first practice day

[Source: Shosholoza] Team Shosholoza came off the water buoyant after the first of five days of practice racing in Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour yesterday in the countdown to Friday’s 30 January start of the first -ever Louis Vuitton Pacific Series (LVPS).

“It was a good day to start learning how to race on these unfamiliar boats because the wind was very light. The yachts are definitely different and more sophisticated than Shosholoza RSA 83. We have a lot to learn and we will, very quickly!” said Shosholoza skipper and helmsman Paolo Cian.

The practice racing schedule is a critical part of the LVPS match racing regatta as the crack ten international teams competing in the event will share four 80 foot Louis Vuitton Cup yachts.

The two yachts, NZL 92 and NZL 84 are on loan for the event from host team Emirates Team New Zealand and the yachts USA 87 and USA 98 from America’s BMW Oracle Racing.

First practice day for Shosholoza. Auckland, 24 January 2009. Photo copyright Team Shosholoza

Each pair of yachts has been modified to make them even and simplify boat handling. The modifications include disabling the rig tuning devises and sail inventory.

During racing a daily draw will determine which of the four yachts each team will sail with the proviso that the New Zealand yachts will always be raced against each other and likewise with the BMW Oracle Racing yachts. Teams will fly their national flag from the stern of the yacht when racing plus carry their respective country’s name and sponsor’s logos on the main and spinnaker sails..

Saturday’s (24 January) first day of practise racing started with an onboard orientation session supervised by key crew members from the respective team’s loaning their boats. Two crew will also remain onboard each yacht throughout the practice racing period to give advice and technical assistance.

With so many teams needing to be accommodated practice racing slots are for a period of just two hours a day so the pressure is on to get the most out of every minute on the water before the regatta gets underway.

Shosholoza’s first practice race on Saturday was on NZL 84 against Britain’s Team Origin on NZL 92. On Sunday the team will practise race on USA 87 against USA 98.

“For me as helmsman there was a very different feeling on the rudder. We have so much to learn but these are challengers that we enjoy because we are used to sailing on a range of different boats on the World Match Racing Tour,” said Cian

“But for instance Team Origin’s helmsman Ben Ainslie - who besides being Britain’s most successful Olympic sailor ever - was the B helmsman for Emirates Team New Zealand in the 2007 America’s Cup so he has a good knowledge of the angles, setting and tuning of these New Zealand yachts.

First practice day for Shosholoza. Auckland, 24 January 2009. Photo copyright Team Shosholoza

“So there will be some skippers and crew who might have an insider’s edge on us but we have come straight from a very good and very intensive 10 day sail training session on Shosholoza RSA 83 in Valencia. Even though it was freezing in Europe we got into a good groove and built excellent team spirit. Time is tight now for optimising our performance, but then it is the same for all the competing teams,” said Cian.

Cian said the narrow race course area between North Head and the volcanic island of Rangitoto was likely to be tricky as there was current and tides to contend with and constantly shifting winds.

Meanwhile the Shosholoza crew are revelling in the typically warm Kiwi welcome, the sunny 25 degree temperatures, turquoise seas and exquisite island scenery that characterises New Zealand’s city of sails

Most of the crew arrived in Auckland on Friday. Sunday saw the arrival of pitman Solomon Dipeere, who took time off from a diamond mine in northern South Africa where he works as an engineering draughtsman and David Rae (traveller) who flew directly from Salvador, Brazil after a record breaking line honours finish as crew on ICAP Leopard in the Cape to Bahia trans-Atlantic race.

Tactician Tommaso Chieffi and strategist Cameron Appleton arrive Monday direct from Miami’s Acura Key West 2009 regatta. Shosholoza is banking on Appleton’s local knowledge as he is the only Kiwi on board.

K-Challenge trains in Valencia with Alinghi while Luna Rossa and Shosholoza practice match racing

Sunday turned out to be a very good day in Valencia for the 4 teams that continue training in view of the Louis Vuitton Pacific series, starting in less than 2 weeks. The initial weather forecast called for a light breeze early in the morning, dropping down to 5-6 knots at noon and completely dying in the afternoon. Instead, what we had was the opposite. After a light start at 9pm, under blue and clear skies, the breeze built up throughout the morning, reaching 14-15 knots early in the afternoon. As a result, K-Challenge with Alinghi and Shosholoza with Luna Rossa were able to carry out a number of pre-starts as well as 3-4 full races, on short courses, emulating the ones that will be used in Auckland.

Valencia Sailing was aboard FRA-93, the K-Challenge yacht. The French team held its second day of training on the America's Cup boat, after a very long absence from the Valencian waters. Nevertheless, FRA-93 had been sailing throughout the week, crewed by newcomers Greek Challenge. The French will train in Valencia on Monday and Tuesday and then leave for Auckland.

K-Challenge - AlinghiThe French had the America's Cup Defender as their sparring partner. The two teams had 4 pre-starts and then carried out a full race, won by Alinghi. One absence on SUI-100 was Brad Butterworth.

K-Challenge trains with Alinghi. Valencia, 18 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

K-Challenge trains with Alinghi. Grinder Virgilio Torrecilla is one of the many sailors from Desafío that will be scattered almost through the entire fleet in Auckland. Valencia, 18 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

K-Challenge and Alinghi in dial up. Valencia, 18 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Philippe Mourniac, K-Challenge navigator, checks upon Alinghi. Valencia, 18 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi during the prestart against K-Challenge. Valencia, 18 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi during the prestart against K-Challenge. Valencia, 18 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Match racing maestro Sébastien Col helms K-Challenge in the race against Alinghi. Valencia, 18 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi during the prestart against K-Challenge. Valencia, 18 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi during the prestart against K-Challenge. Valencia, 18 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

K-Challenge trains with Alinghi. Valencia, 18 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

K-Challenge trains with Alinghi. Valencia, 18 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Shosholoza - Luna RossaThe South Africans trained today together with the Italians, very close to the beach and the race course used by Alinghi and K-Challenge. In fact, the breeze allowed for the two courses to be almost parallel to the beach, allowing for a great spectating opportunity. I was not able to fully watch their races but I counted 3, and, unless I missed any result, Luna Rossa won all of them with ease.

Shosholoza in the prestart procedure against Luna Rossa. Valencia, 18 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Luna Rossa is leading the race against Shosholoza. Valencia, 18 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Meanwhile in Valencia... Luna Rossa's STP65 is back on the water

Not all action in Valencia is related to the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series or the America's Cup. Luna Rossa put their brand new STP65 back on the water, while the team is training on ITA-94. From what we understand, the maiden race of the new Italian yacht will be the Hublot Palmavela next April.

As we speak there are three teams today training on America's Cup yachts. Luna Rossa on ITA-94, Shosholoza on RSA-83 and Greek Challenge on the K-Challenge FRA-93. Vasco Vascotto's Damiani Italia put an end to their training here and SWE-73 is back in the Victory Challenge base.

The Luna Rossa STP65 yacht. Valencia, 15 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Luna Rossa, Damiani Italia and Shosholoza train in Valencia

Training for the upcoming Louis Vuitton Pacific Series started in full earnest today in Valencia. Luna Rossa, Damiani Italia and Shosholoza trained for the first time together and of course Valencia Sailing was there to capture the action. Vasco Vascotto's Damiani Italia was luckier as they docked out very early and were able to take advantage of the remains of the front that whipped Spain for the last few days.

As the morning advanced the skies cleared and the breeze died down completely. Nevertheless, at around 1:30 pm, the usual Valencia breeze kicked in and the three teams were able to carry out their training match races under a northerly wind between 8 and 10 knots.

Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures from the actual races since we had to get back to port before 2pm. I was offered a ride on the local television tender and the cameraman and producer had to rush to the TV station to prepare a brief piece for the 3pm news. Valencia Sailing will have more coverage of the practice races in the following days.

Luna RossaIt didn't take long for the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup finalist, albeit with a different crew, to get back on the water. ITA-94 was masted yesterday and Saturday marked the first day of training for the Italian team.

We didn't notice any addition to the crew compared to last November, when Luna Rossa took part in the 2nd Desafío Trophy, except for Nacho Braquehais. He was Luna Rossa's mainsail trimmer in the 32nd America's Cup and then joined Desafío. After the Spanish team fired all sailors last week Braquehais is back at Luna Rossa, although we don't know whether it's permanent. It wouldn't surprise anyone to see more former Desafío sailors looking for a spot on one of the teams that will race in Auckland in 3 weeks or in the European summer season.

Peter Holmberg and the rest of the Luna Rossa crew wait for the breeze to kick in. Valencia, 10 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Luna Rossa train for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. Valencia, 10 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Luna Rossa train for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. Valencia, 10 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Luna Rossa train for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. Valencia, 10 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Damiani ItaliaVasco Vascotto's Damiani Italia were on their third day of training aboard Victory Challenge's SWE-73 (not SWE-63 as we mistakenly reported yesterday). Similar to the previous days, they docked out very early, at around 9:30am, and were able to take advantage of the nice breeze that blew until around noon. From there on, they suffered, just like the other 2 boats, for more than one hour until they breeze kicked in at 1:30pm. We were able to follow them for a little while and when we had to return to the Port we were informed they were scheduled to practice match racing together with Luna Rossa.

Damiani Italia train for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. Valencia, 10 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Damiani Italia train for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. Valencia, 10 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Damiani Italia train for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. Valencia, 10 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Damiani Italia train for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. From left, Alberto Bolzan, Francesco Bruni, Vasco Vascotto and Piero Romeo. Valencia, 10 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ShosholozaThe South African challenger joined the other two teams off the Malvarosa beach for the day's training session. There are some members of the crew that I don't recognize but there is one irrefutable fact; the language spoken on the boat is Italian and as a result one could joke that 3 Italian teams trained today in Valencia.

Shosholoza train for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. Valencia, 10 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Shosholoza train for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. Valencia, 10 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Shosholoza train for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. Valencia, 10 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Test videoHere's a very short video of Damiani Italia sailing upwind. The videos on this website are sometimes criticized for their quality. Please bear in mind that this is a blog, not Reuters or Bloomberg. I shoot with a handheld camera and the website's traffic makes it necessary to host the videos through Google, meaning that the quality of the original file is considerably reduced. This particular clip was shot with the Nikon D90, a great camera that allows to switch from 12.5 megapixel photos to videos with the click of a button.

Meanwhile in Valencia... Damiani Italia and Shosholoza train in "polar" conditions

This is probably the closest we can get to "polar" conditions, at least for the taste of most Valencians. It's freezing and raining in Valencia while it's snowing 50 km from here and roads are closed. Yet, at least four America's Cup teams are training or are about to do so and probably a couple more are expected in the next few days, in view of the upcoming Louis Vuitton Pacific Series in Auckland.

We snapped the newly-formed Damiani Italia its way out of the canal while Shosholoza was already out on the water. Fortunately, the choppy seas off Valencia's coast forced the South African boat to come back in the canal in order to hoist the mainsail on more tranquil waters.

Luna Rossa's shore crew was putting the mast on ITA-94 while in the K-Challenge base FRA-93 was being fitted out as training is scheduled to start on Monday. Finally, the arrival of Greek Challenge is expected this weekend while it shouldn't be long before we see Alinghi's SUI-100 off the Malvarosa beach.

Damiani ItaliaDamiani Italia, the team skippered by Vasco Vascotto, helmed by Francesco Bruni and sponsored by Italian jewelers Damiani, went out today for their 2nd training session aboard Victory Challenge's SWE-73, the oldest of the two Swedish boats.

Damiani Italia is using Victory Challenge's SWE-73 to train. Valencia, 9 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Francesco Bruni is on the helm, Vasco Vascotto on the phone while there is a patchwork of logos from 32nd AC teams among the crew. Valencia, 9 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Damiani Italia is entirely crewed by, you guessed it, Italians. Valencia, 9 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ShosholozaThe South African boat had docked out earlier than the Italians but we got lucky. With the sea being very choppy they were forced to return to the canal in order to hoist the mainsail. It is interesting to notice that the crew is almost entirely Italian.

It's been a long time we haven't photographed RSA-83 in action. Valencia, 9 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Shosholoza crew ready to hoist the mainsail. Valencia, 9 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Shosholoza's RSA-83 "disappears" on Valencia's choppy waters. Valencia, 9 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Luna RossaThe Italian team's shore crew was masting ITA-94 while we were there and from what we understand training could start as early as tomorrow. Around 40 people are expected to arrive in the base on Friday and Saturday.

Luna Rossa's shore crew masting ITA-94. Valencia, 9 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Meanwhile in Valencia.. Shosholoza prepares RSA-83 for training

The end-of-year holidays are definitely over in Valencia and activity is gradually picking up around Port America's Cup, mainly in the bases of the teams that will race in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series three weeks from now.

Shosholoza's boat shed was wide open and RSA-83, the South African team's ACC yacht, was clearly visible, with shore crew working on her, getting her ready for the upcoming training sessions off Valencia's coast. According to the information we have the Italian-African crew will train for around 10 days before heading to Auckland at the end of the month.

Shosholoza's RSA-83 getting ready for the team's training sessions in view of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. Valencia, 7 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

K-Challenge's boatshed door was also open but the team's ACC yacht, FRA-93, was inside. It appears the shore crew was working on her since the French America's Cup challenger have stated they would also train here in Valencia, in conjunction with other teams.

The K-Challenge base. Valencia, 7 January 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Shosholoza's RSA-83 sails in Velalonga regatta in Naples

After a year of inactivity in Valencia, Shosholoza's RSA-83 is back on the water, this time in Naples, Italy. The South African America's Cup boat took part in Velalonga, one of the most popular sailing events held in the southern Italian city. More than a racing event, the Velalonga is a popular nautical festival and the brightly colored boat, once the pinnacle of sailing technology, had to share the Gulf of Naples together with another 200 boats.

Although it was a purely exhibition race, it is always nice to see that there is still some activity in the America's Cup field, even if indirectly related. It is also a clear sign that, given the right conditions, the South African team at least has the intention to return to the America's Cup.

Had this edition of the world's oldest sports competition gone according to schedule, we would be most probably preparing now for the first Act in Valencia and Shosholoza's crew would be busy training off the Malvarosa beach. Instead, these yachts, are gathering dust in Valencia or sailing in exhibition races with amateur boats.

After a year of inactivity, Shosholoza's RSA-83 sails in the Velalonga regatta. Naples, 2 June 2008. Photo copyright Shosholoza

After a year of inactivity, Shosholoza's RSA-83 sails in the Velalonga regatta. Naples, 2 June 2008. Photo copyright Shosholoza

After a year of inactivity, Shosholoza's RSA-83 sails in the Velalonga regatta. Naples, 2 June 2008. Photo copyright Shosholoza

Shosholoza refutes media claim that team has "gone bust"

[Source: Team Shosholoza] Team Shosholoza has issued a statement categorically denying reports in the international media at the weekend that the team has “gone bust.”

Team managing director Captain Salvatore Sarno said that on the contrary a busy schedule was planned for 2008 and the structure of the team hadn’t changed since July last year.

“Our helmsman Paolo Cian will continue to lead Shosholoza in the 10 events of the 2008 World Match Racing Tour. In fact Paolo is third on the ISAF match race rankings and was runner-up at last week’s tour qualifier, the Marseille International Match Race in France. It was the first big event for Shosholoza this year.

“Shosholoza RSA 83 and her crew is also scheduled to compete in two Italian regattas this year. In June we will be at the popular annual Velalonga in Naples, a traditional sailing regatta open to all classes of boats. In October we will be at Trieste’s spectacular Barcolana, which with over 2000 competing yachts is the largest sailing race in Europe..

“We also plan to compete in a series of America’s Cup Grand Prix events, if and when they take place," said Captain Sarno.

“In South Africa our naval architect Alex Simonis and his team is working on our new AC 90 campaign yacht. We are going ahead even though the rules and dimensions might change. But we want to be ready and prepared.

“In Valencia, Spain, we continue to operate from our base in Port America’s Cup with the same skeleton staff we've had since July last year when Shosholoza was accepted as a challenger for the next, 33rd , America’s Cup," said Sarno.

He said MSC Crociere was still on board as chief sponsor of Team Shosholoza. Breil of Milan, a new sponsor announced in November last year, is currently structuring their new marketing campaign around Team Shosholoza.

Captain Sarno was responding to an article by Greg Ford first published in New Zealand’s Sunday Star Times at the weekend (16 March) that claimed : “South African and German syndicates that sailed in the last Cup and had entered the 33rd edition, on the provision it went ahead in 2009, went bust during the week. Although court action was pending they could not hold on any longer and there is strong suspicion Britain's highly-touted team, bankrolled by Sir Keith Mills, will be the next to fold.”

Ford’s article explored the ramifications of the dispute between America’s Cup defenders the Swiss Team Alinghi and the American team BMW Oracle Racing currently being decided by the New York Supreme Court.

It also discussed the subsequent writ issued by Team New Zealand against Alinghi for breaking an agreement that the next America’s Cup would be held in 2009.

“I can’t speak for the other syndicates but nothing has changed for us," said Sarno. "We can only call for a full re-grouping of the team once we know the outcome of the court case and once we have fixed dates for the next America’s Cup."

“The disarray in the America’s Cup is regrettable but it gives us more time to secure our position, especially since we are still actively seeking a South African title sponsor.”

Shosholoza announces new designer and plans to re-group in December

[Source: Team Shosholoza] Team Shosholoza has appointed a new naval architect to lead the design and build in South Africa of a radical new 90 foot “giant” campaign yacht for the next America’s Cup.

Shosholoza managing director Captain Salvatore Sarno said well-known Cape Town based naval architect, Alex Simonis of Simonis Voogd Design, has signed with the team for the second South African America’s Cup challenge. He will head a largely South African team of designers and hopes to utilize specialists from the previous challenge.

Simonis' appointment coincides with the announcement by America's Cup Management of a new event format, new racing schedule and rules for a new bigger, faster and more demanding 90 foot yacht, the AC90, for the next Cup which will be held in Valencia, Spain in 2009.

“It will be a giant of a racing boat. Everything about it is extreme and that’s what will make it so exciting for both sailors and spectators!” said designer Alex Simonis adding that the prospect of designing the new Shosholoza was as exciting as his new appointment.

Shosholoza's new 90 footer will be designed and built in Cape Town. A boat yard will be set up in January next year (2008)and building will start in March. The completion date is set for September.

The yacht will be launched in Cape Town in October 2008 with sea trials starting in Table Bay immediately after. The yacht will be re-launched in February 2009 in Valencia, Spain, ahead of the start of racing in April 2009.

The new AC90 Rule, published last week after an exhaustive six week consultation process between all the entered challengers and America’s Cup defender, the Swiss Team Alinghi, is designed to produce a new class of yachts that will be way more "visually impressive, spectacularly faster and more challenging to sail" than the current Version 5 (V5) America's Cup Class yachts.

The new AC class yacht will have a 90ft overall (27.4m) length with a 6.5m in draft while racing, retracting to 4.7m. The beam will be 5.3m, up from 3.5m for many of the previous V5 boats.

It will have a displacement of 23 tons, a massive mast height of 37.9m above the deck, a maximum bowsprit distance of 15.5m from the mast and unlimited spinnaker area. There will be about 50 percent more sail area and a crew limit of 20 people - three more crew than the current V5 yachts. The crew weight limit has also been removed in recognition of the demanding nature of the new yacht.

“I don’t think there is anything out there anything like it at the moment,” said Simonis. He said he had been in constant contact with Nycola Sironi, an Italian engineer and International Sailing Federation measurer who represented Team Shosholoza at the consultation meetings in Valencia. They scrutinized every step of the rules as they developed.

“It’s a bit like the star wars programme. We are going where no one has been before. But we have had experience of designing a boat of this magnitude and although we will be squeezing two years design work into five months we are looking forward to the challenge,” said Simonis.

Simonis is best known for his 90 footer “Nicorette” which won line honours in the 2004 Sydney-Hobart race three weeks after her launching. His first “Nicorette”, an 80 footer, won the 2000 Sydney-Hobart on line honours and handicap. The Simonis 70 footer “Broomstick” was the first IMS rated maxi to be launched world-wide and won the trans-Atlantic Cape to Rio race in record time only five weeks after launching.

Simonis Voogd Design has received numerous international awards for “best boat of the year” and designed countless winning South African racing yachts. They are also the new designers for the full range of yachts produced by the well known European boatyard Dehler

Captain Sarno said he was proud to announce the appointment of Simonis. “I’ve known Alex for the 20 years I’ve lived in South Africa and always admired and tried to beat his yachts. He is a very passionate man like me and this is the main reason I am convinced that together we can do something very good.”

Sarno said Team Shosholoza would re-group next month (December) in Cape Town when he would call a meeting for all sailing, build, design and shore crew.

The first pre-regattas for the next America's Cup will be held in June/July next year (2008) when all racing will be contested in the existing V5 yachts. The new giant AC90 yachts will make their racing debut in April/May 2009 with the start of the America's Cup Trials. The 33rd America's Cup Match will start on 18 July 2009.

Captain Sarno said he hoped to retain the core Shosholoza crew from the last campaign, 85 percent of whom were South Africans, plus employ the best local sailors for the remaining places. A professional coach will be hired to manage the team and enhance performance. The team will also continue to draw on the expertise of match race helmsman Paolo Cian, currently rated third on world rankings and the multiple America's Cup experience of Tomasso Chieffi as tactician.

Shosholoza strategist Ian Ainslie and crew Solomon Dipeere and Golden Mgedeza had also gained further experience by competing on the World Match Race circuit during the European summer.

Captain Sarno said MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) South Africa would continue to support Team Shosholoza. T-Systems, the team’s chief sponsor from the previous campaign has been given an option to renew their sponsorship.

"We have done good work together and I hope they will be back. The sport of sailing is still transparent, honourable and an ideal tool for a big company to promote themselves especially in view of the 2010 Soccer World Cup being held in South Africa.

“Team Shosholoza will be the South African ambassadors in Europe for 2010 and a testimonial to the world that South Africa is a wonderful place to visit. Our first campaign showed the world our new country after 10 years of democracy. Now our aim is to invite soccer fans to come to our shores,” said Sarno.

Sarno who underwent heart surgery 10 days ago is already back at work “stronger than ever before”. He said the only limit placed on him by his specialist and his son, also a medical doctor, was that he may not run a marathon in the next 15 days.

“But since the Comrades Marathon (South Africa's world famous ultra-marathon) was over long ago in June I have no problem with that. I am ready to start our second campaign!” said Sarno in typical fighting spirit.

Shosholoza officially lodges America's Cup challenge in Geneva

[Source: South African Sailing] The South African flag will once again fly high at the next edition of the world's premier sailing event, the America's Cup, following the lodging of a second challenge in Geneva, Switzerland yesterday (Wednesday).

Team Shosholoza founder and managing director Captain Salvatore Sarno confirmed by telephone last night that he had personally lodged a Notice of Entry and submitted the required performance bond and necessary certification with the Swiss Société Nautique Genève (SNG), the defending yacht club of the 2007 America's Cup winners Team Alinghi.

Speaking with the same characteristic passion and commitment as he did four years ago when he lodged Africa's first ever challenge for the America's Cup, Captain Sarno confirmed that Cape Town's Royal Cape Yacht Club would again be the South African challenge club.

As in 2004 his bold move comes with no signed sponsor to back his ambitious vision of pursuing a second South African campaign.

"I am looking for a proudly South African sponsor and I am positive that we will find one to support the African dream to bring the Cup home," said Sarno.

"We want to present ourselves as a testimony for South Africa's capacity to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup. We showed a different side of South Africa at the last Cup and everyone liked what they saw. We want to remain the country's best ambassadors on one of the world's most influential platforms. We will be making sure that everyone wants to come to South Africa for the soccer." said Sarno.

Team Shosholoza were hailed as victorious first timers when they bowed out of the competition in 7th place in May this year after three years of relentless training and competition.

"We showed what novices can achieve. We earned the respect of our competitors by punching way above our weight and our indomitable spirit captivated hearts and inspired millions around the world. Now we want to do another campaign. It would be silly not to. We have acquired a lot of knowledge; our crew have achieved a level close to the best in the world. We are hungry to get better results! We want to win.

"In life you must have courage. If you don't have courage you will get nowhere,” said Sarno who often says that “impossible” is a word that does not exist in his vocabulary.

Alinghi did not give a venue or a date when the protocol for the 33rd America's Cup was announced earlier this month.

"But my personal feeling is that it will be in Valencia and I think we can expect an announcement from Alinghi next week," said Sarno.

He said Team Shosholoza's second campaign budget would depend on the next America's Cup being a two year event culminating in 2009 and on the event being held in Valencia, the Spanish host city for the last Cup, where purpose built infrastructure is already in place.

"I wanted to submit our challenge early because I believe this next America's Cup will attract more challengers than the 11 that contested the 2007 Cup. I also want to make sure that we maintain our present base in Valencia's Port America's Cup as previously this was allocated according to the date of presentation.”

If the South African challenge is accepted it will be the second South African America's Cup challenge in the 156 year history of the event. Team Shosholoza will also be the first challenger to challenge Alinghi after the Spanish Club Nautico Espanol de Vela. The Spanish are the "Challenger of Record" as they were the first to challenge Alinghi when the Swiss won the 2007 America's Cup in Valencia, Spain, earlier this month.

The Commodore of the Royal Cape Yacht Club in Cape Town, Mr Craig Middleton, said it was an honour to be the Challenge Club of the South African entry at the 33rd America's Cup.

"We are extremely proud to once again to be South Africa's representatives at the next event," said Middleton.

The Royal Cape Yacht Club is one of the oldest and best known yacht clubs in South Africa. Famous for its warm hospitality the club is situated at the foot of Table Mountain on the Atlantic Ocean in Cape Town - Africa's century’s old tavern of the seas.

Royal Cape Yacht Club has generated entries in many international events including the Whitbread, the BOC, the One Ton, 1/2 Ton and 3/4 Ton World Championships. Locally it is the centre of offshore yacht racing in South Africa. It is the trustee of the Lipton Cup in South Africa and is well known for their summer Table Bay Week regattas and high profile trans-Atlantic Cape to Rio yacht races. .

T-Systems Minute 09-05-2007

Today was a milestone for Shosholoza as it marked the end of their journey in the 32nd America's Cup. The final race for the South Africans was against Areva Challenge, the French team, for the seventh and eighth place in the Louis Vuitton Cup rankings. It was a close and exciting race and despite their slow start, Shosholoza beat the French by 14 seconds.

Unfortunately, Shosholoza's aspiration of reaching the semifinals was not achieved but their overall performance was very satisfactory, taking into consideration the fact it was the first ever participation of a South African team in the America's Cup.


Video shot and produced by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

T-Systems Minute 07-05-2007

It was supposed to be an easy race but it turned out as a disappointment for Shosholoza. Their rival, Italian challenger +39, sailed very well, had a better start and kept control over Shosholoza during the whole race. Despite their efforts, the South Africans never threatened Iain Percy and his crew and the final gap tells the story. The Italians finished the race almost a minute ahead of Shosholoza.


Video shot and produced by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

T-Systems Minute 06-05-2007

Despite being mathematically eliminated from the Louis Vuitton semifinals, South African challenger Team Shosholoza fought hard on Sunday and won a very difficult race against Mascalzone Capitalia. Shosholoza's helmsman Paolo Cian managed to outsmart the Italians in the prestart and get them a penalty.

Mascalzone Capitalia was always ahead of the South Africans throughout the race, and when Shosholoza ran into trouble after a gybe in the final leg, they managed to speed ahead and build a 150-meter advantage. Nevertheless, the lead was not large enough and winds had gotten lighter, allowing Shosholoza's RSA-83 to zoom past the Italian ITA-99 when it was offloading the penalty. Shosholoza crossed the finish line just 6 seconds ahead of Mascalzone Capitalia.


Video shot and produced by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

T-Systems Minute 02-05-2007

Wednesday was probably one of the toughest days for Shosholoza so far in the Louis Vuitton Cup as the South African challenger had to race against the two top teams, BMW Oracle and Luna Rosssa. Unfortunately, both resulted in defeats but the South Africans sailed very well, fighting hard and even leading against BMW Oracle during the first half of the race.

Shosholoza's tactician, Tomasso Chieffi, describes today's two difficult matches that demonstrated the immense progress the South Africans have achieved in the last 2 years. Still, both BMW Oracle and Luna Rossa showed as well why they are currently at the top of the leaderboard.


Video shot and produced by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing