AUDI Medcup - Cartagena Trophy - Day 4: When the going gets tough Emirates Team NZ get going

I often refer to Emirates Team New Zealand as the "world's best monohull sailing team" and as a result I have received quite a few emails asking when was the last World monohull sailing championship held because they seemed to have missed it. Obviously, such a kind of world championship has never been held but if there was the slightest doubt about ETNZ it was surely dissipated in today's two races.

Saturday was a very tough and testing day with rough seas and strong breeze, reaching 25 knots. The schedule called for a windward/leeward race, followed by a 22-mile long coastal race. Emirates Team NZ showed their excellent form and dominated the fleet by scoring two bullets. I don't remember how many time I must have repeated this but they just sailed flawlessly while their yacht was "flying" in the fresh breeze. Not only did they win both races but the disastrous coastal race for Team Origin gave them the opportunity to leap to first place overall in the regatta. Team Origin where around the middle of the fleet in the reaching leg but after rounding the small rock island off the coast they broke their forestay and had to sail the rest of the race with just the mainsail on. The crossed the finish line inside the port in last position, certainly not the result they wanted in a race with weight 1.5 times.

I was onboard Matador in the coastal race and I have to admit it wasn't an easy ride. We got completely soaked 4-5 times, the waves were unforgiving and just avoiding falling doing was a demanding exercise. As a result, unfortunately, I had to put a premium on securing my gear over taking spectacular photos or video.

Riding the waves onboard Matador. Cartagena, 28 August 2010. Video copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The coastal race for Matador could be very well summed up in two sentences. The first one was voiced by Francesco Bruni, after rounding the mark at the end of the long upwind leg in second position behind Emirates Team New Zealand, and it was "The shore is good". Indeed the shore proved to be very good for Matador. The Italian brainpower onboard the Argentinean boat, Francesco Bruni and Vasco Vascotto, took the bold decision to part from the rest of fleet and go as close to the shore as possible. Not only did they find very strong breeze, I saw up to 25.5 knots in various occasions as we were almost touching the rocks, a positive current of almost 2 knots propelled them ahead to second place.

Unfortunately, the reaching leg to the small rock island of Las Palomas wasn't as successful and that's where the second sentence comes. Matador is an Argentinean boat and as a result, even if the long term tactical discussions are in Italian and the maneuvers are in English, Spanish is the prevailing language onboard. So, the second sentence that summarizes the coastal race on Matador is "El kukú cost us two places". As we were approaching the island, Matador were defending their second place but Artemis and Bigamist had threateningly closed in and were ready to grab every opportunity Matador would give them. Bruni and Vascotto had decided the next move was to do a peeling and go for "El kukú". As I was told after the race, "El kukú" is the nickname the crew has for a particular A3 gennaker they have. Unfortunately, sloppy crew work meant the gennaker couldn't come down, 2 minutes of furious yelling and shouting took place and when the gennaker was finally down, Artemis and Bigamist were ahead. Matador crossed the finish line frouth

Caja Mediterráneo Region of Murcia Trophy - Day 4
1. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 4+2+5+4+3+1+1,5= 20,5 points
2. TeamOrigin (GBR), 3+1+3+2+1+3+16,5= 29,5
3. Matador (ARG), 1+4+1+5+8+5+6= 30
4. Artemis (SWE), 5+6+2+10+4+6+3= 36
5. Quantum Racing (USA), 9+5+6+3+7+2+7,5= 39,5
6. Bribón (ESP), 7+11+4+1+10+4+12= 49
7. Luna Rossa (ITA), 2+7+9+6+2+9+15= 50
8. Synergy (RUS), 8+3+7+11+6+7+10,5= 52,5
9. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 6+8+11+8+9+10+9= 61
10. Bigamist 7 (POR), 11+9+8+9+11+11+4,5= 63,5
11. Cristabella (GBR), 10+10+10+7+5+8+13,5= 63,5

Cagliari set to deliver lighter winds for Region of Sardinia Trophy

[Source: AUDI Medcup] Strong winds have hampered the final training days before the Region of Sardinia Trophy regattas begins tomorrow. Cayard joins Artemis, De Angelis lines up with Audi Q8 and Vascotto sails with Airis.

Winds to thirty knots over the last two days have limited training time on the waters off Cagliari but for the final day of informal practice prior to the start of the Region of Sardinia Trophy the brisk breezes have been close to ideal for the ten TP52 Series and five GP42 Series teams who will compete here.

The muscular winds, which peaked around 23 knots today, are expected to moderate in strength, resuming sea breeze conditions, but the race organisers fully expect to complete the full programme before racing ends on Saturday.

Emirates Team New Zealand, leaders of the Audi MedCup TP52 Series, and winners last month of the Marseille Trophy, are looking to the same successful recipe as worked well for them in France as the Circuit takes to the waters off Cagliari for the second successive year, but the Kiwi team know well the contribution that starting errors and gear failure on the part of their nearest rivals made to their winning margin.

Under skipper Dean Barker (NZL) and tactician Ray Davies (NZL), Emirates Team New Zealand are intent on continuity with the same sailing team through the entire season. After competing as rivals recently on different boats at a major international regatta, with the skipper just getting the upper hand, the afterguard duo are back in the tight Kiwi unit, brothers-in-arms ready for battle.
“I think it is always good to have been away and done a different, really intense tough regatta like that away from the Circuit, and to now come back and get on the water like we did today. No matter how good the team is, there is always some rust there to get rid of before racing proper starts.” Said Ray Davies today.

While the top three teams ETNZ, Quantum Racing (USA) and Matador (ARG) are rigid in their personnel line ups on board for the moment, other teams have made changes. As planned Paul Cayard (USA) takes on the tactician’s duties on the Audi MedCup 2007 champions Artemis (SWE) in the absence of Russell Coutts (NZL). Francesco de Angelis Italy’s former Luna Rossa skipper is recruited to Riccardo Simoneschi’s Audi TP52 powered by Q8 (ITA). The fast rising Portuguese team on Bigamist 7 have Nacho Postigo (ESP) as navigator while in the GP42 Series Vasco Vascotto (ITA) – whose Pisco Sour TP52 programme has faltered now due to lack of funding – will sail with Airis (ITA).

The official TP52 Practice Race takes place Monday with points racing resuming for the Audi MedCup TP52 Series on Tuesday. The coastal race, round the point into the Bay of Angels, is due on Thursday. The GP42 Series practice race is on Tuesday.

Quotes:

Ray Davies (NZL), tactician Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL): "It was blown out yesterday but we had a good day before that. We have one new jib. Today we did two practice races and six starts. The boat seems to be going well.

This venue normally, we will sail in a sea breeze direction 13-18 knots. There are signs of a small Mistral coming back in later in the week. In the offshore, maybe a bit more shifty from the NW. The race course is quite a long way in the west side of the Bay and so last year it was pretty one-sided. The right side was favoured, but there were times when the left was favoured to and so you could not bank everything on the right."

Guillermo Parada (ARG) skipper-helm Matador (ARG): We have not done too much to the boat. We have a couple of replacement sails. After Marseille we were a little a disappointed because we gave up so many points (due to gear failure on the coastal race, but we are here ready to get them back. We will sail better, fast and smart. We are still very positive and we are still looking at the overall. It is still very possible.

It seems like the weather will be very different to what we have had these last few days. But as always we look to good starts, good speed and sail smart. It looks like medium breeze for the week. The boat goes really well in most of the conditions so we have nothing to complain about there which is a good thing. We are very close to the potential of the boat, but need to sail it closer to 100% for more of the time."

Paul Cayard (USA), tactician on Artemis (SWE): "We had a good day today, plenty of wind. Its my first day on the boat, seeing how they do it on the Artemis and just trying to fit in. I guess in a way I am lucky they have not won both regattas so far, so there is room to improve and hopefully I can help the team get a little better result than they did in Marseille. There is no special approach, at the moment I am just learning to communicate with Torbjorn (Tornqvist, owner-helm) and the crew. I am just observing at the moment really, quite a bit information gathering. I don’t know what their strengths and weaknesses are. Unfortunately we lost yesterday but we had a big, long day today, twelve starts and four races.

It is the usual suspects out there. Quantum and Team New Zealand seem good but even Team New Zealand had a major foul up at the first mark. They were first at the first mark and last at the leeward mark. It is a very competitive fleet.

Francesco De Angelis (ITA), tactician of Audi TP52 powered by Q8 (ITA): "This is a beautiful class, with a very high technical level and great crews, so I expect great races and a perfect week. The boats are very fast, and especially downwind are exciting. Cagliari is one of Italy's best race course areas: it’s pretty tough, and there’s is always wind, from Mistral or from the south there’s always plenty of wind around. I’m sure it will live up to its reputation.

And I have to make a crash course to try to understand the boat and to know the crew. Tomorrow I will try to to take advantage from the practice race, and then every day will be good to learn more and more."

Clarification: Vasco Vascotto - Quantum Racing

There is a clarification we would like to make on our article of yesterday regarding the issue of Vasco Vascotto being forced to, temporarily, put his TP52 Pisco Sour team on hold. It appears there was a certain degree of uncertainty as to the relation of Quantum Racing with it and in general with the cost-cutting measures we mentioned in the article.

First of all, at least in our opinion, it is obvious that if Vascotto has been unable to find the required funding to continue his campaign, no other team can be blamed for that. This is not even implied in our article.

Secondly, in no way whatsoever do we relate the two issues. Since we write about a team, former champion of the circuit, that is facing a tough financial situation we thought it would be wise to also comment on the cost-cutting measures the AUDI MedCup organisation is planning to implement. In this difficult global economic climate, all cost-cutting measures are welcome and the MedCup will not be alone in doing that. Just read Knut Frostad's, Volvo Ocean Race CEO, latest interview: "We have focused on cost-cutting while safeguarding the competitive element of the event". There is very little doubt the 34th America's Cup, regardless of who wins the 33rd, will focus on cost savings.

Last but certainly not least, Nacho Postigo, Technical Director of the AUDI Medcup circuit, doesn't explicitly refer to the Quantum Racing video we posted, the assumption is ours based on his words. Nor does anyone imply Quantum Racing cheated at any time. We only mention that, if the rules change as stated, this type of activity will not be allowed.

Vasco Vascotto's TP52 Pisco Sour not to race in Sardinia Trophy

Vasco Vascotto seems to be, unfortunately, another victim of the worldwide financial crisis that has also affected the sport of sailing. After five successful years in the TP52 Med circuit, the legendary Italian sailor took the decision to put his project temporarily on hold. Pisco Sour will not race in Cagliari, according to an article published by our friend Juanpa Cadario, bowman of Pisco Sour and South America's most influential blogger.

Vascotto's Pisco Sour took part in the first two event of the 2009 AUDI MedCup, in Alicante and Marseille but the absence of a sponsor makes it impossible to continue. The boat's modifications last winter as well as the campaign this year has been entirely financed by Vascotto himself. The boat will remain in Sardinia, in case a last-minute sponsor signs up.

Unless there is some last-minute addition there will be 10 TP52 yachts in the starting line in Cagliari, unfortunately, less than exactly 4 years ago when, in their maiden year, a total of 11 TP52 boats raced in the Copa del Rey in Palma.

Maybe in that spirit and in an effort to impose even stringer cost-cutting measures, the AUDI Medcup made it clear last week that they would even modify the sailing instruction of the next events in other to put a lid on practices that increase costs and widen the gap between the haves and have-nots of the Med sailing circuit.

Both Alicante’s historic Castillo Santa Barbara and Marseille’s Romano-Byzantine Notre Dame de La Garde basilica which built by the architect Esperandieu, sit atop their own iconic mountains which overlook the race course areas, great vantage points for the casual spectator, but there have been widespread rumours of teams using these for purposes other than sightseeing, studying architecture, prayers, or strength and fitness work. An e-mail is being circulated to teams asking them to behave responsibly, backed up by changes to the notice of race. Cagliari was a venue where there were obvious overtures to have support RIBs dedicated to weather information:

According to Nacho Postigo, "it is still a problem. An e-mail has been circulated to the teams effectively asking them to please behave and a modification will be made on the sailing instructions for the next events, penalising the teams which are using a system. Of course it is very difficult to prove and to control. Now that such rules will be in effect and someone takes a picture or video of someone on the top of a mountain speaking on the phone, it could be very compromising. So I hope that teams will react positively and say ‘right, let’s not play this game, because anyone else can play this game and it just becomes an extra cost for everyone. I hope."

It is more than obvious that Postigo refers to the following video, produced by Quantum Racing's media team, that shows the team's shore crew going the extra mile in Alicante. From now on you can only visit hilltop churches if you want to pray..

What is this?

It wasn't so hard and a number of readers sent the correct answer right away. It is Vasco Vascotto's modified Pisco Sour, on her maiden test sail in Valencia, on Monday afternoon. Unlike most of the TP52's, Pisco Sour is docked in Valencia's yacht club and was sailing by herself for some time before joining Desafío, Marazzi Sailing and AUDI Q8 for a small fleet regatta. The great novelty this year is that Vascotto will be calling tactics, having decided to hand the helm over to the young Italian sailor Alberto Bolzan.

The brand new Artemis as well as the first-ever Emirates Team NZ TP52 have already arrived and are being fitted out, the former in the BMW Oracle base and the latter in, obviously, her own home.

We are back in action and we start with a simple quiz. For the last 2 days we've been more than 8 hours a day on the water taking some interesting pictures but we can't publish them before Wednesday.

Still, there is a nice one from yesterday. What boat is this?

Vasco Vascotto's Pisco Sour on her maiden test sail. Valencia, 4 May 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Vasco Vascotto's Pisco Sour on her maiden test sail. Valencia, 4 May 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Vasco Vascotto's TP52 Pisco Sour getting ready in Valencia

The America's Cup seems to be in a long dark tunnel with hardly any light at its end but the buildup towards the AUDI MedCup continues unabated. It was the turn of Vasco Vascotto's modified TP52 Pisco Sour to arrive in Valencia.

She was put on the water early in the morning and the first training will take place in a couple of days. Wednesday and Thursday will be the official measurement days and all GP42's and TP52's present in Valencia will be checked in order to see if they comply with their respective box-rules.

Stay tuned to Valencia Sailing for all the information on the top fleet racing circuit. There will be some exclusive news and photos soon.

The modified TP52 Pisco Sour. Valencia, 28 April 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The modified TP52 Pisco Sour. Valencia, 28 April 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The modified TP52 Pisco Sour. Valencia, 28 April 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The present and future of Vasco Vascotto in the TP52's and the America's Cup

Vasco Vascotto, the legendary Italian sailor, doesn’t only speak about the TP52’s in this interview to ValenciaSailing and ZeroGradiNord a month before the start of the 2009 AUDI MedCup season. The Italian skipper of Pisco Sour (former Mutua Madrileña) also talks about the current situation of the America’s Cup as well as his Dabliu Sail Project challenge.

Question: We last saw you in New Zealand, where you were one of the cornerstones of Damiani Italia Challenge’s great performance, and we now find each other one month before the start of the AUDI MedCup, ready to jump into the game, despite the lack of a main sponsor. You will be leading Pisco Sour, the 2008 Mutua Madrileña yacht that has been modified not only aesthetically but also from a technical point of view.

Vasco Vascotto: Our boat was modified and updated based on Rolf Vrolijk’s latest thoughts. In her one can find come of the peculiarities that characterize the most recent yachts designed by the same office: Matador and Artemis. Work has been extensive and covered the hull, deck as well as sail plan. We have also retouched the mast: We extended the spreaders and moved the attachment points of the shrouds. In addition to that, we tried to make her more aggressive. Everybody opted for opaque coloring, that I personally find lacking elegance. On the contrary, we went full ahead with shiny black, which in my view is very, very chick. Another small charm we granted ourselves was our name, going back to being called Pisco Sour, a name that has followed us throughout our adventure in the TP52 class. The name stands out from the black hull and is made out of untreated carbon fiber. We are very satisfied and now it’s up to us to fine-tune her in order to make her sail fast.

The modified Pisco Sour

Question: All works have been financed by Dabliù in their entirety. From what we understand you are always looking for a sponsor.

Vasco Vascotto: Absolutely. Unfortunately the world is currently going through a financial crisis. Dabliu Sail Project has always made very big investments: we went to Auckland, to Lanzarote and we will now be in Alicante and I realize that we are among the very few that can still afford certain "games". As far as the Copa del Rey is concerned, we will always have Mutua Madrileña’s support, but for the AUDI MedCup circuit we are absolutely free, although a couple of very interesting contacts have already been initiated.

Question: Onboard the yacht, as far as the crew is concerned, are there any changes in view? Who’s going to be on your side?

Vasco Vascotto: Despite the fact my press officer Silvia Berti used to tell the press I was 25 years old during 8 consecutive years, this winter I thoroughly checked my ID card and I realized I was much closer to 40 instead. I think the time has come to look around me and trust someone younger, just the way Franco Corazza and other boat owners did with me. The main core of the crew will always remain the same, except for some that, due to other obligations already scheduled, will not be able to be with me. That’s the case with Cesare Bozzetti who is currently working on an important project in Venice, although he will join us in the later stages of the circuit. Nevertheless, the true novelty this year will be Alberto Bolzan taking the helm, a young guy that in my view is, looking into the future, one of the smartest and most serious young sailors of the entire Italian scene. The names will more or less be the same, starting with Matteo Auguadro, Michele Paoletti, but I will not reveal more, let’s say that the most important fact is indeed the introduction of Alberto Bolzan, as for the rest you will soon find out.

Question: Last year you had Nacho Postigo with you and in addition to being your navigator he’s one of the heads of the MedCup circuit and an advocate of the GP42 class joining it. What’s your view on the entrance of the GP42 class in the MedCup? Do you consider it positive?

Vasco Vascotto: This year as well I will have the honor to sail with Nacho, I’m very happy and proud of it. He’s a very intelligent person that has understood that the TP52’s and GP42’s, under the current conditions, represent the highest level of world sailing, also because the America’s Cup is out of the question right now. I think it is the best way to give the optimal visibility to a sponsor such as AUDI that continues with great dedication, and also reach the highest level possible in every event. It is undeniable that these two classes and the MedCup circuit, under the current conditions, represent a little bit what the Moto GP and the 250 represent in motorbike racing. I am absolutely convinced that Nacho and his associates will do a great job, just like they did last year.

The modified Pisco Sour

Question: Do you think that the three new TP52’s will be decisively superior compared to the rest of the fleet or are differences going to be less marked?

Vasco Vascotto: Matador, Artemis and Team New Zealand will be superior because they start on a stronger foot with greater resources than the rest of the teams. During the last years they have been the best performing teams and their crews are first-class. As far as the yachts are concerned, we have reached an ideal point because the whole group is really compact: last year in fact every boat finished at least one race dead last. These days one works on minimal differences and this make every race extremely close and emotional. It’s a unique show either onboard the yacht or from a spectator boat.

Question: Dabliù Sail Project is also an America’s Cup team. Since you presented your challenge you were personally present in all competitor meetings that took place under Alinghi’s auspices. What is currently the general feeling in these tough times?

Vasco Vascotto: I am extremely positive; I think the America’s Cup is a competition that will never die. I hope they find a solution to get back on the water. We sailors want exactly that. We are not politicians fighting a war, we only hope to be back sailing and racing as soon as possible, in a balanced America’s Cup accessible to everybody.

Question: If a Deed of Gift Match takes place in 2010 would you be interested in participating in eventual Acts or similar regattas?

Vasco Vascotto: It’s an option we are taking into consideration. Everything that will allow us to be present and competitive and that will serve to give our sponsors visibility is taken into serious consideration by us. These Acts could, undoubtedly, represent an injection of confidence in the sport of sailing. I will repeat that we will value any option just as we valued our presence in Auckland in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, similar to what we do for any event where it is possible to be duly prepared. I believe that in order to take part in such an event you should also check your wallet. I hope we will also be rewarded by sponsors trusting a team that has produced excellent results in the last 20 years.

Vasco Vascotto's Italia Challenge officially presents name sponsor Damiani

[Source: Italia Challenge] Damiani, the Italian high-end luxury jeweler, will take part in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series regattas, to be held in Auckland from the 30th of January until the 15th of February.

Following the success in the Mediterranean that from a number of year link Damiani with the sailing world through the Ourdream Maxi Yacht – winner of trophies such as the Pirelli, Zegna and Barca dell'Anno in 2006 – the Italian luxury brand enters the high-level international sailing circuit by sponsoring Italia Challenge, skippered by Vasco Vascotto.

"I have always been fond of the sea and I’m a very passionate sailor, stated Giorgio Damiani, Vice President of Gruppo Damiani. It’s a great honour and satisfaction for our group to be present in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series with a team that bears our name. We have been exploring the sailing world from some years now and today, with this participation, we cross the frontiers of the Mediterranean through a top-level event that will capture the attention of all sailing fans throughout the world".

"Damiani’s involvement has been for us an important operation, given the very high standing the brand enjoys throughout the world, commented Andrea Cecchetti, President of Italia Challenge. Sailing was certainly not unknown for Damiani and, by supporting this adventure, the Italian jeweler, known worldwide, will consolidate its passion for the sea".

"It’s an honor for us to have such a prestigious sponsor, concluded Vasco Vascotto, Skipper and Tactician of Damiani Italia Challenge. The team trained during the previous days in Valencia, we are ready to start this new adventure, aware of our means and the efforts made so far. We have created a united group and with Francesco Bruni we have great mutual understanding, something fundamental in Match Race events."

From left, Giorgio Damiani, Vice President of Gruppo Damiani, Vasco Vascotto skipper and Andrea Cecchetti, President of Italia Challenge. Milan, 20 January 2009. Photo copyright Zerogradinord

Vasco Vascotto's TP52 Mutua Madrileña is getting ready in Valencia

Despite the fact the America's Cup is currently in a limbo, there is increasing activity going on in Port America's Cup. In addition to BMW Oracle and Alinghi, a score of other teams are using the existing facilities for various TP52 and GP42 projects. One of them is Vasco Vascotto's Mutua Madrileña, whose brand new yacht arrived from Italy last Monday.

This is the third TP52 boat for the Italians sailor. Vascotto was in fact one of the founding pillars of the TP52 fleet in the Mediterranean since he sailed in its racing circuit from 2005, the year it was established. He grabbed the inaugural title of the circuit, called Breitling Medcup until last year, on Pisco Sour, a Botín & Carkeek design. In 2006 his mainly Mascalzone Latino crew took a break from the TP52 circuit in order to focus exclusively on the America's Cup.

In 2007, and with the arrival of Spanish insurer Mutua Madrileña as title sponsor, Vascotto returned to the Breitling Medcup aboard a new Botín & Carkeek design. Taking into consideration the fact Mutua Madrileña was aiming for the top spot in the circuit, last year was a clear disappointment. Mutua Madrileña finished 6th, the result of a 14th place in Puerto Portals and a 12th in Portimao.

The brand new Mutua Madrileña TP52 being fitted out in the Mascalzone Latino base. Valencia, 27 April 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Vascotto was busy in the Mascalzone Latino base, sweating under the strong Valencian sun and working with the rest of the shore crew in order to get their brand new boat in tip top shape for the racing season. This year, Mutua Madrileña will be competing with a boat designed by Rolf Vrolijk.

I talked to him briefly and the obvious question concerned the decision to have the new boat designed by Rolf Vrolijk. According to Vascotto, they "have always had an excellent relationship with Marcelino Botín. I think that last year he designed a boat more oriented towards light winds, probably the fastest one in light conditions. This year we decided to change because the events that take place in the Mediterranean almost always seem to have stronger winds. This year we feel more confident with a boat for heavier winds although of course Botín's new designs might prove to be better and beat everybody else".

The brand new Mutua Madrileña TP52 being fitted out in the Mascalzone Latino base. Valencia, 27 April 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The obvious question was why didn't they then stick with Botín and asked him to design such a boat that would outperform the rest under the conditions they considered more likely. Or is it that only Vrolijk can design a winning TP52 yacht? Vascotto was quick to answer that Botín was a "genius", an excellent designer but in life you have to take decisions and that was one they took. Vascotto decided to take the risk with Vrolijk and true to his Italian flair, he wished all other designers the best for next year's season...

The work schedule for the period leading to the first event of this year's circuit is very busy. The final measurement of the boat will take place on Monday or Tuesday and after that she will be taken out for her first test sail. After a couple of days of testing, Vascotto has assigned three spare days in order to make all the necessary adjustments and from May 5th, Mutua Madrileña will be in Alicante in order to train.

The new Mutua Madrileña TP52 has a three-spreader mast from Hall Spars. Valencia, 27 April 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

While Vasco Vascotto and the rest of the Mascalzone Latino crew were putting the final touches on the Mutua Madrileña TP52, their neighbors, the Spanish Desafío, trucked their modified GP42 to Italy earlier last week, for the opening event of the 2008 Quebramar GP42 Cup, while their brand new TP52 (another Vrolijk design) took her first sail on Thursday. Terry Hutchinson's Quantum Racing should also be coming to Desafío's green base shortly while this year's big guns, BMW Oracle, Artemis and Mean Machine are due in Valencia any time now.

On Sunday, we also spotted the modified Caixa Galicia carrying out as well their first (to the best of our knowledge) test sail. The Spanish TP52 boat was mainly going up and downwind not far from the Malvarosa beach, taking advantage of the day's excellent northern breeze.

The deck of the brand new Mutua Madrileña TP52. Valencia, 27 April 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Vasco Vascotto talks to Valencia Sailing

One thing most observers agreed upon last week was that Mascalzone Capitalia was one of the teams that showed most improvement and consistency. Finishing third not only were they the best Italian syndicate, they managed to position themselves a mere point behind Emirates Team NZ and ahead of the other top challengers BMW Oracle and Luna Rossa. Although they didn't win any of the races they never crossed the finish line worse than 6th.

A couple of days before the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup we talked to the Italian skipper, Vasco Vascotto, who was happy but certainly not relaxed. Although he is satisfied with the crew and boat, there is no time to rest and we managed to steal a few minutes on his way out to another day of intensive training aboard ITA-90 and ITA-99.

Valencia Sailing: I guess you are now one of the happiest people around the Port America's Cup.
Vasco Vascotto: First of all, we are happy we are really close to the competition. We are sportsmen, sailors and we like to race. We trained a lot during the previous months and we are happy to see and show others that this intensive training paid off and improved our performance.

Valencia Sailing: How would you rate Mascalzone Capitalia's performance in Louis Vuitton Act 13? Was it an important event for you?
Vasco Vascotto: It can be really important for some reasons but it can also be very dangerous for various other reasons. You have to be realistic and not over react to these good results. The fleet in Valencia has proven to be very competitive and there are 11 challenger boats that can win every single race. It is very important to keep working in the same direction and not lose focus on the essential things, the good maneuvers, the good tactics and excellent sailing. We want to be a team nice to watch because if we sail well we have more options to win the races.

Valencia Sailing: How were the first official races of ITA-99? Alinghi's Brad Butterworth stated she was one of the boats that impressed him.
Vasco Vascotto: I would just be crazy if I said we were not satisfied with her. Obviously, it is very good to be sure you have a boat that can race against any other yacht here and I think we have it. But as I said, we have to sail well. The boat is not a problem, we sail fast in almost all conditions, we raced in light air, 8-9 knots, and we were satisfied. It's not simply a matter of the boat being fast, it's also an issue of sails and crew work. Everybody in this team has worked hard in order to achieve better performance every single day. In addition, our sails have now allowed us a good improvement in conditions that were challenging in the past.

Valencia Sailing: Have you decided what boat you will race next week?
Vasco Vascotto: We are considering this decision these days. For example, yesterday ITA-90 won the race against ITA-99 and it will be a tough decision to make. We will opt for the boat that will provide us with more confidence.

Valencia Sailing: Three weeks ago I asked about the unusual weather conditions that still continue as we speak. Will the first week of the Louis Vuitton Cup prove to be tricky as well?
Vasco Vascotto: I'm still waiting for the famous "Valencia weather". It should be warmer, drier, not as wet. Nevertheless, sooner or later summer will arrive here and the moment it does the significant temperature difference between land and sea will produce a really good seabreeze.

Valencia Sailing: You personally, and your team's navigator, Nacho Postigo, are fleet racing maestros. Should we take your team's performance in the last Act with a pinch of salt? Is match racing going to be tougher for Mascalzone Capitalia?
Vasco Vascotto: First of all, I'm happy to know I didn't forget how to sail in a fleet race. Don't forget we have only been training match racing and this is what we have been focusing on. Sailing in these races is very similar. It's just a matter of sailing fast in the race course. For all these teams both fleet and match racing are almost identical. The most important issue is to have a good start. Our pre start helmsmen, Jes Gram-Hansen and Cameron Dunn, have been training very hard during the last year and they performed very well in the difficult pre starts of the fleet races.

Valencia Sailing: What about the rest of the challengers? How do you see them? You almost managed to steal the three-point bonus from Desafío Español.
Vasco Vascotto: Desafío Español had the opportunity to gain some points in the early years of the 32nd America's Cup. They had a really good boat package from OneWorld, one of the strongest boats from the previous Cup. They gained some points there and had the opportunity to learn a lot from that boat. Don't forget that we had to work hard with an older boat that was not fast and now that our boats are fast we see how much we have improved.

Valencia Sailing: So, your goal of being in the semifinals is still intact.
Vasco Vascotto: That's not my goal! I have always said that my goal was to sail well. Who knows? It could even turn out to be better than that but it could also be worse if you don't sail well. The goal is to sail well although I do agree with Brad Butterworth when he said that the America's Cup was a "design contest" and the faster boat would win. In Act 13 we saw it was a matter of speed but only for Alinghi.

Valencia Sailing: That was to be my last question. I think quite a few people share the view Alinghi are unbeatable.
Vasco Vascotto: Everybody can be beaten. No doubt about that. If at a given race they don't sail correctly, at their level, somebody will be there to beat them. They are not one of the top teams, they are THE top team. That's for sure, they have the crew, money, resources, experience and obviously an excellent boat. Nevertheless, this doesn't allow them to think they have already won the 32nd America's Cup. Everybody works hard to win the Cup and will fight for every single opportunity.

Vasco Vascotto talks to Valencia Sailing

It was yet another grim and rainy morning on Tuesday but our day started nicely, very early at the base of Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team where we had the chance to meet with the team's skipper, Vasco Vascotto, and have an interesting discussion about the Italian Challenger.

Valencia Sailing: With official racing starting in just a week can you tell us what goals you have for the Louis Vuitton Cup?
Vasco Vascotto: It's really tough to say what are goals are. I would like to sail real nicely on the race course. First of all, what we are looking for is to show what we have learned during the last two years. If we learned enough then the results will also be good, otherwise we will have to work better next time. We are quite confident we worked hard.

Valencia Sailing: You just talked about "good results". What is your definition of "good". I can't believe you haven't quantified it.
Vasco Vascotto: It's a matter of sailing properly around the race course. It's not a matter of numbers. Sometimes you can sail bad and finish first while you can also sail quite well and finish last. Personally, I want to sail the way we are able to do it. This is the most important factor, to show all our potential not just a part of it.

Valencia Sailing: Conventional wisdom here in Valencia wants Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team to be one of the teams with serious possibilities in getting the much-coveted fourth place in the Louis Vuitton Cup round robins. Would you consider it a failure if you finished at a lower position and didn't advance to the semifinals?
Vasco Vascotto: No, I don't consider it a failure. Obviously, in this fleet of 12 teams nobody has worked hard 2 or 3 years to be last or lose the races. Neither have we, of course. But once again, I believe that it's a matter of showing our best face. That's it. If we don't do it then I will be upset because it will show we haven't learned enough. In all the interviews people will think I keep repeating myself, but this is exactly how I feel.

There are 100 people working in this team. My message to them is always that if one person in the administration department carries out their duties better than another team then we have a point in our favor. If our press department is also more performing that's another point. It's not just a matter of the sailing crew winning, it's a combination of all these people trying to do their best. Each and everyone has to show his and her best face.

ITA-90 and ITA-99 training in Valencia. Photo copyright Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team

Valencia Sailing: Shorter term, the Louis Vuitton Act 13 begins in exactly one week. Do you have a specific target for the fleet race? How important is it for your team?
Vasco Vascotto: I think that all teams are still in a learning process, testing their new boats. For us as well, it will help us see where we are with our boat, our speed and the new things we are trying. There will be a lot of things to discover for us. As far as the Challenger Ranking is concerned, it will be very difficult to earn an additional bonus point since Desafío Español is 12 points ahead of us. It will also be very difficult to lose a bonus point since in our turn we are quite ahead of the three teams behind us. Nevertheless, we will have to work hard and still learn a few things before the Louis Vuitton Cup.

Valencia Sailing: Have you decided what boat you will use in Louis Vuitton Act 13?
Vasco Vascotto: No, not yet. We are sailing with our two boats right now and we are happy with both.

Valencia Sailing: That was going to be my question. How do you feel with the two boats, ITA-90 and ITA-99?
Vasco Vascotto: I'm quite confident we have worked correctly in this direction and have considerably improved all the aspects of the boats, such as construction, sails or appendages. This work is reflected in the results in our training races during the last two months and this is why people consider us a serious candidate for the fourth place. I think this America's Cup will be really close for everybody and I'm happy to be in the group of boats considered by people to be fast.

Valencia Sailing: Have you reached the desired level of the two boats?
Vasco Vascotto: For me and for the vast majority of the team members this is the first experience in the America's Cup. Every day we learn something new. Obviously, we haven't reached the peak performance of the boats but every day we are discovering something new. The first priority now is to collect all the positive out of this and Act 13 will be part of the process to decide what boat to use in the Louis Vuitton Cup.

Valencia Sailing: You have been sailing against other teams during the last two months, yesterday I saw you racing Areva Challenge. Do you feel confident when you compare yourselves to the rest of the challengers?
Vasco Vascotto: Honestly, the only question mark I have at this stage is the Chinese team because nobody has sailed against their new boat. All the other teams have won and lost races. All the boats and all the crews on the water have the potential to win races. As a result, we feel confident because in the last two months we have been able to win 85% of the races but I obviously can't give you more details. As you understand, it is an excellent result.

ITA-90 and ITA-99 training in Valencia. Photo copyright Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team

Valencia Sailing: Do you give your best in these training races or do you try to hold back and not reveal too much, especially against Desafío Español, Victory Challenge, Areva or Shosholoza?
Vasco Vascotto: I believe everybody gives their best. Nobody wants to lose even if they are not official races. I get really angry when I lose a simple game of cards with my friends, imagine losing an America's Cup training race. When you go out sailing you always try to give your best. Sometimes a team might be trying new material or ideas and that could be the only reason why they would intentionally hold back. In this competition, every single hour counts and nobody would waste their time on the water amusing themselves. Otherwise they'd better stay at home.

Valencia Sailing: Which of the challengers do you fear the most?
Vasco Vascotto: In my personal opinion, Emirates Team New Zealand is the best challenger. They are the ones with the best organization, teamwork, experience and results. Nevertheless, at this stage, anybody could beat any of the other teams on a given day. I'm sure we will see many surprises in the next few months.

Valencia Sailing: But then, last year we hardly had any surprises. Why should we have them this year?
Vasco Vascotto: It's true but don't forget that in the last Louis Vuitton Act 12, just 3 or 4 teams had a new boat. This time all teams have new boats, I could consider that even Shosholoza's RSA-83 is a new one. Right now, all teams have the opportunity to win a race. It's not like the previous America's Cup where you could see differences of 3 minutes in one race. This time differences will be less than 1 minute. I hope so....

Valencia Sailing: My final question concerns the most important factor in sailing, the weather in general and the wind in particular. It has been quite volatile lately. Do you think it could play a tricky game in next week's races?
Vasco Vascotto: Concerning the weather let me first point out one thing. We are very happy to have stayed in Valencia this winter since we enjoyed excellent conditions. We have been able to sail 90% of the time, 4-5 times per week. You can't really train more than 5 times a week for a long period, the crew will get exhausted. Obviously, we are a small team and we couldn't have afforded to move the base and the boats to Dubai, Auckland or another place. We have an excellent base here with everything we need. In that sense we have been lucky because as you remember 12 months ago the winter was more difficult.

Regarding your question, anything could happen of course in spring but I think that by late April it will be much warmer here. Don't forget that the seabreeze is created by the difference between the cold water and the warmer land. Right now the sea is very cold. All we need is a couple of really warm days and a nice breeze will build up. Don't forget that in February we had a week where the air temperature almost hit 30 degrees. Such temperatures will return quite soon. I have sailed many times in Valencia during the last ten years and know the situation quite well.