Alinghi, the Defender of the 32nd America’s Cup, has spent the past two weeks touring the America’s Cup around Switzerland, culminating this past weekend in Geneva, where it was supported by the 32nd America’s Cup on Tour - the travelling ‘embassy of the America’s Cup’.
Source: www.americascup.com

A new weapon in the Swiss arsenal A new weapon in the Swiss arsenal
SUI 91 as been out sailing on the waters off Valencia this week, as Alinghi work up their first of two new boats.
Source: www.americascup.com

act12060701vb_1043w Valencia, 01 07 2006Valencia Louis Vuitton Cup Act 12Luna Rossa Chalenge comes back to the base showingits battle scars.

Source: www.americascup.com

Rafael Trujillo, +39 Challenge Rafael Trujillo, +39 Challenge
Born in Cadiz in 1975, Rafael Trujillo started sailing in the Optimist at just eight years old. He progressed rapidly through the dinghy classes and went on to win the Finn Olympic silver medal in Athens 2004. Now he is a key member of the Italian team +39.
Source: www.americascup.com

Alinghi begins training in Dubai Alinghi begins training in Dubai
“We are here to continue developing the boats, so we’ll be doing more testing, but also to train as a race crew, so there will be more racing too,” said skipper Brad Butterworth at a press conference at the port.
Source: www.americascup.com

Giovanni Ceccarelli - head of design, +39 Challenge Giovanni Ceccarelli - head of design, +39 Challenge
Soaking up 58 000 hours of research, involving 11 people for 24 months, ITA 85 is not only the pride and joy of the Italian +39 Challenge, but the product of a long and detailed research programme. Chief designer Giovanni Ceccarelli describes the new boat, which was christened at the team base in Port America’s Cup on Saturday night, as highly innovative.
Source: www.americascup.com

act12060623ff__1436w Valencia, 23 06 2006Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 12Luna Rossa and Victory Challenge.

Source: www.americascup.com

The Defenders of the America’s Cup, Alinghi, rebounded from their worst Louis Vuitton Act finish - a fourth in Act 10 - to dominate the fleet of challengers in winning Louis Vuitton Act 11. The Swiss followed up their success on the water by marking an important milestone in their defence, christening SUI 91 in a small ceremony on the team base.
Source: www.americascup.com

The America’s Cup at home in Geneva The America’s Cup at home in Geneva
Alinghi, the Defender of the 32nd America’s Cup, has spent the past two weeks touring the America’s Cup around Switzerland, culminating this past weekend in Geneva, where it was supported by the 32nd America’s Cup on Tour - the travelling ‘embassy of the America’s Cup’.
Source: www.americascup.com

The Areva Challenge hits the water as the word ‘weekend’ no longer applies The Areva Challenge hits the water as the word ‘weekend’ no longer applies
The newly decorated Areva Challenge boat sailed on the waters off Valencia for the first time this year on Saturday for a training session. The team had taken the boat earlier last week, but hadn’t sailed.
Source: www.americascup.com

Areva Challenge makes changes Areva Challenge makes changes
Areva Challenge has made some changes to the afterguard of its race boat following Louis Vuitton Act 12.
Source: www.americascup.com

Source: www.americascup.com

img_5232 Valencia, 24 06 2006Valencia Louis Vuitton ACT 12BMW ORACLE Racing vs Alinghi.

Source: www.americascup.com

act12060701cb_1827 Valencia, 01 07 2006Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 12China Team.

Source: www.americascup.com

In the starting box In the starting box
Although the big four teams dominated Louis Vuitton Act 11, no one was left with any doubt as to the level of competition further down the rankings. To finish fifth was an impressive result and the Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team knew it. With its new boat waiting in the wings, the team had the best launch pad for the next phase in their campaign.
Source: www.americascup.com

act12060701cb_1874 Valencia, 01 07 2006Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 12BMW ORACLE Racing.

Source: www.americascup.com

A day in the life The lawyer - General Counsel A day in the life The lawyer - General Counsel
“For me the America’s Cup is a passion. I like this work more than anything; it is a very challenging environment and you work with very smart people. Even when there is conflict, you are in conflict at a very high level! So it’s a very challenging, but exciting work environment.”
Source: www.americascup.com

act12060630sg_4576 Valencia, 30 06 2006Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 12China Team.

Source: www.americascup.com

Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team Italian flair Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team Italian flair
As one of three Italian teams, and the last of the three to challenge, Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team has had a busy year in 2005, establishing the team, acquiring and modifying boats, and racing in the six Louis Vuitton Acts.
Source: www.americascup.com

act12060625ff_3852w Valencia, 25 06 2006Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 12BMW ORACLE Racing.

Source: www.americascup.com

“We are yellow, we are blue, we are Swedish, who are you?” was the rallying cry from the men in yellow shirts.

“Come on England, come on England!” replied the men in white.

This was the scene at the Victory Challenge base on Tuesday night when the team opened its doors to sailors, families and friends to watch the Swedes play England in the World Cup. It had the potential to be a divisive match for Victory Challenge where the majority of the sailors are Swedes but with a strong British contingent as well.

“It has been 38 years since England has won over Sweden in a football match,” said skipper Magnus Holmberg, trying to stir things up. “And if the Brits win tonight, they will have a very hard time on board the boat the rest of the week!”

In the best possible result for the future of Victory Challenge, the game ended in a 2-2 draw - an even result that you’ll never see in an America’s Cup Match. With the result both teams advance to the next stage of the competition.

Meanwhile, the scene in the Victory Challenge base will no doubt be repeated time and again amongst the 12 teams of the 32nd America’s Cup over the next few weeks as the World Cup grinds along.

Alessandro
Source: www.americascup.com

A special guest in the Port America’s Cup A special guest in the Port America’s Cup
With Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 12, the last regatta period of 2006, having started, the environment in the Port America’s Cup has changed. It’s busier, with people hustling around - the team members are working hard, as are the organisers. The public crowds stroll at a leisurely pace, soaking up the atmosphere and the sunshine.

The “Veles e Vents” building dominates the Port America’s Cup. Its a space that is part public area and partly reserved for special guests of the event. Today when I approach the building, it is even busier than usual. There are a lot of cars parked in front, and a group of students are here on a visit to the Port America’s Cup.

Suddenly, the children shout with enthusiasm at the arrival of an official car. The door opens and it is Prince of Spain! He has come today to sail with Desaf o Espa ol, the Spanish team, as 18th man.

It’s so strange to take a gentle morning walk in the Port America’s Cup and have the atmosphere turn electric so quickly. The wide variety of people is one of the characteristics of the 32nd America’s Cup you never know who you’re going to bump into maybe even a Prince!

Cristina
Source: www.americascup.com

America’s Cup racing returns to New York America’s Cup racing returns to New York
The New York Yacht Club was home to the America’s Cup for 132-years. Now a form of Cup racing is back in New York, but on a smaller scale.

The race course is on a small lake in Central Park. The host of the racing wasn’t the NYYC but the Central Park Model Boat Club, where USA 87 (like BMW ORACLE Racing) and SUI 75 (like Alinghi), did battle. Thus the defender and the challenger of record tangled in International One Metre model boats.

The Model Club was founded in 1961 and has had a brush with the America’s Cup before. John Bertrand, the winning Australian skipper in 1983, showed up at the park to race against the members.

So, although it wasn’t quite on the same scale as the racing in Valencia, the American team will be hoping the model boats foreshadowed an eventual Cup match-up in 2007 on the Mediterranean Sea.
Source: www.americascup.com

China Team - conquering a country China Team - conquering a country
The America’s Cup rewards experience like few other sports. For evidence, take a look at the people involved with the top four teams on the 2006 Louis Vuitton ACC Championship. There simply aren’t too many rookies on board. It’s hard enough to tackle the America’s Cup as an experienced challenger, with all the intellectual property, hardware and know-how gained from previous campaigns.
Source: www.americascup.com

Ready, aim, fire: the ‘Tomatina de Bu ol’ Ready, aim, fire: the ‘Tomatina de Bu ol’
The small town of Bu ol in the province of Valencia celebrated the ‘Tomatina de Bu ol’ today, one of the most unique festivals in Spain. It’s part battle, part sport and all about chaotic fun.

The idea couldn’t be simpler: thousands of people throw tomatoes at each other in the streets of this town, some 40 km west of Valencia.

Last year there were over 40 000 participants, throwing more than 100 000 kilograms of tomatoes. Even more are expected to participate this year.

It all started in 1945, when a group of young men started to throw tomatoes at each other during a fight. The following year the experience was repeated, just for fun this time, and since then it has been celebrated every year on the last Wednesday of August.

Today, the quiet town of Bu ol is filled with tourists from all over the world who come to participate, or just to watch and enjoy the party.

But if the Tomatina is spectacular, no less impressive is the way the people of the town clean up their streets afterwards. By early afternoon there will be no evidence of the ‘battle’ from the morning people here have the clean-up down to a science 61 previous editions of the festival to practice certainly helps!
Source: www.americascup.com

Farr 40 glory for Mascalzone Latino Farr 40 glory for Mascalzone Latino
Vincenzo Onorato, the man behind the America’s Cup team Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia, has achieved a long-standing sailing goal by winning the Farr 40 world championships. The Farr 40 class is among the most competitive fleets in the world, attracting top sailors as crew for the owners, who steer the boats.
Source: www.americascup.com

SUI 91 as been out sailing on the waters off Valencia this week, as Alinghi work up their first of two new boats.
Source: www.americascup.com

Neal McDonald goes to Victory Challenge Neal McDonald goes to Victory Challenge
Victory Challenge is the team that has recruited more sailors since the end of the Valencia Louis Vuitton Acts 2006. In four months, the team has recruited 15 new crew members and the last one is one of the most respected sailors in the world, British Neal McDonald, who will have a role as traveller/strategist.
Source: www.americascup.com

Motorcycle riders take the helm Motorcycle riders take the helm
On the weekend the final round of the Moto GP World Championship took place at the Valencia racetrack and the stars of motorcycle racing didn’t miss the chance to take a look at the premier event on the sailing calendar.
Source: www.americascup.com