First training session of ESP-88 in Valencia

It was an excellent sunny day with very good wind conditions that Desafío Español 2007 chose to allow us photograph their brand new boat ESP-88 during her first training session off Valencia's coast. The boat has been already tested several times during the last two weeks, but today it was the first complete training session with ESP-65.

According to team manager Agustín Zulueta, the Spanish America's Cup challenger is very satisfied with the performance of ESP-88 so far and has the intention to race with her during Louis Vuitton Act 12, three weeks from now. The team will use every single day in order to perform intensive two-boat training sessions together with ESP-65, taking the opportunity to maximize as well the performance of their older boat, in case there is a last-minute change in plans.

For obvious security reasons we were considerably limited in our freedom to photograph, but still we managed to capture interesting pictures of this fast new boat.

Raising the flag before leaving the base. Valencia, 2 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ESP-88 being towed out of Port America's Cup. Valencia, 2 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ESP-88 of Desafío Español 2007 getting ready to start the day's training session. Valencia, 2 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Getting ready to hoist the genoa aboard ESP-88. Valencia, 2 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ESP-88 ready to start the day's training session. Valencia, 2 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ESP-88 training. Valencia, 2 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ESP-88 during her first training session. Valencia, 2 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ESP-88 during her first training session. Valencia, 2 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ESP-88 during her first training session. Valencia, 2 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ESP-88 during her first training session. Valencia, 2 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ESP-88 during her first training session. Valencia, 2 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Karol Jablonski at the helm of ESP-88. Valencia, 2 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ESP-88 during her first training session. Valencia, 2 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ESP-88 during her first training session. Valencia, 2 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ESP-88 during her first training session. Valencia, 2 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ESP-88 during her first training session. Valencia, 2 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ESP-88 during her first training session. Valencia, 2 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ESP-88 during her first training session. Valencia, 2 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ESP-88 during her first training session. Valencia, 2 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ESP-88 during her first training session. Valencia, 2 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing