32nd America’s Cup: New fleet




One month and we can see them circling again. America’s cup teams are now busy with fine tuning of their brand new boats. The AC Rules allow the 12 to build up to two new boats over the course of the 32nd America’s Cup. Each of the boats raced in 2005 have already measured in under the new Version 5 of the America’s Cup Class Rule, and thus could be eligible to sail in 2007. The following boats are the new ones built for the LVC Act 13 and The 32 America’s Cup Regattas and are already sailing in Valencia for training.

  • SUI 100 Alinghi
  • ITA 99 Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team
  • USA 98 BMW ORACLE Racing
  • ESP 97 Desafío Español 2007
  • SWE 96 Victory Challenge
  • CHN 95 China Team
  • ITA 94 Luna Rossa Challenge
  • FRA 93 Areva Challenge
  • NZL 92 Emirates Team New Zealand
  • GER 89 United Internet Team Germany

The following boats has been modified to improve performances. + 39 Challenge boat and Shosholoza Team’s boat will fight with the boat listed above. All the other boat has been tuned to face different wind ranges and racing conditions giving the bigger teams more opportunities

  • ITA 85 +39 Challenge
  • RSA 83 Team Shosholoza
  • ITA 86 Luna Rossa Challenge
  • SUI 91 Alinghi
    ITA 90 Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team
    ESP 88 Desafío Español 2007
    USA 87 BMW ORACLE Racing
    NZL 84 Emirates Team New Zealand

As Usual you can see interesting picture on Pierre Orphanidis blog

Today we take the stock of the Defender’s situation: Alinghi.
SUI 100 is sleeping in Valencia waiting for sisters and crews back form Dubai Trials. Ed Baird won the in house competition beating Perter Holmberg but this was not enough to give SUI 100 helm in his hand. The expected nominee was delayed:

Syndicate head Ernesto Bertarelli and team skipper Brad Butterworth explained at a press conference, also attended by Grant Simmer, managing director and Jochen Schuemann, sports director, that “it was too close to call” and Alinghi has scheduled further racing in Valencia before the team makes a decision on the helmsman.

Meanwhile Peter Gilmour joined the Swiss Team to provide an out of the box point of view to Baird, Holmberg and Batterworth.
Anyway you can see SUI in action on Alinghi website Multimedia Section and make aware how an in house competition helps teams to grow rapidly.
Watch this Bowman ( Bernard Labro or Pieter van Nieuwenhuyzen) and tell me if is there any other greater sport than sailing.

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