At around 2pm on Friday afternoon, Alinghi went back to water onboard its two Extreme 40 catamarans that sported the team's colors and logos. After a pause of several days, the Defender of the 33rd America's Cup took its black and white catamarans for a test sail off Valencia's coast.

Although it was a gorgeous day for tourists, with clear blue skies and spring-like temperatures, most probably Alinghi's crew didn't enjoy the most ideal sailing conditions. As one can easily see on the photos, I doubt whether wind speed went over 1-2 knots.

According to the Alinghi website, the team will start training from tomorrow. In addition, always according to the website, on board the white X40 were designers Jean Claude Monnin and Pierre Yves Jorand, and sailors Murray Jones, Nils Frei and Juan Vila. On board the black boat were designers Dirk Kramers, Daniele Constantini and Luc Dubois, and sailors Yves Detrey and Piet van Nieuwenhuyzen.  read more »

The 8 champions and their crews taking part in this year's edition of the Trophe Clairefontaine took possession of their boats and carried out their first test and training session, inside Port America's Cup Port in Valencia. Wind conditions during the training session could be defined as acceptable. Throughout the morning, a constant and quite strong breeze was blowing throughout the America's Cup race course as well as inside Port America's Cup. Unfortunately, training started a little bit late, we suppose later than what was initially planned. The 8 boats docked out past 5:30pm and at that time the thermal breeze usually has already started to die down and there the was probably 6-7 knots of wind. There is no doubt that racing will be spectacular once the breeze kicks in. One shouldn't forget that the race course is right inside the basin and yachts have to sail two legs (one upwind and one downwind) inside the canal, meaning that at times they get extremely close to its edges, as seen in the photos. Let's say, I could have almost grabbed Ed Baird's helm if I wanted!!  read more »

Alinghi's media day included a very instructional experience on the water. Not only were we able to watch the team's two Extreme 40 yachts train against each other we were also given the opportunity to hop onboard and witness the races from a privileged position.

The white boat was crewed by Ed Baird, Lorenzo Mazza, Rodney Ardern and Pieter Van Nieuwenhuyzen while on the black one by Murray Jones, Brad Butterworth, Nils Frei and Yves Detrey.

Ed Baird won all 5 of the exhibition match races but of course these results should be taken with a pinch of salt. They did in fact simulate a Deed-of-Gift match, with just one upwind and one downwind leg but the course was set very short, just 1 mile, in order to squeeze as many races as possible for the numerous guests. With such a short distance the two teams tacked and gybed once or twice in each leg, amplifying by much the importance of the start. Of course, one should always keep in mind that Baird is one of the most experienced and successful match-racers in the world, twice claiming the top position on world rankings.  read more »

In this final episode, our cruisers hike up a hill behind the bite on Norman Island. A million dollar view of the BVI awaits. The south side of Norman Island provides an ocean scape as our cruisers comment on a magnificent cruising vacation with our film’s producer, Gary Jobson. With their boats at anchor below, [...]

[Source: Alinghi] On Friday Le Black, the 41ft Alinghi catamaran designed by Jo Richards and Sbastien Schmidt and built in 2000 for racing on Lake Geneva, was relaunched by helicopter from the yard facility in Villeneuve in Switzerland. This high performance light air speedster is far from the future 90ft monster multi-hull that is to be built for the 33rd Americas Cup, but has been undergoing modifications by the Alinghi shore crew for use by the design team as a research tool with the Deed of Gift Match in mind. Alinghi's 41ft catamaran 'Le Black' is back on the water. Geneva, 4 April 2008. Photo copyright Loris Von Siebenthal/Alinghi Pierre-Yves Jorand, member of the sailing team, is a regular onboard: The original objective of this boat when it was first launched in 2000 was to compete against trimarans in strong wind and against catamarans in light air. Eight years later, the whole team is very happy to see such a successful boat back on the water. It is the perfect platform for team training and is not intended in any way to be used for racing. The 41ft catamaran has a winning pedigree having claimed the Bol dOr four times consecutively from 2000 to 2003.  read more »

TSC interviews Fred Cook of Schaefer Marine at the 2005 U.S Sailboat Show in Annapolis, MD. Fred demonstrates Boom Furler, Schaefer’s popular mainsail hoisting, lowering and reefing system. Unlike in-mast furling, Boom Furler accommodates a full-batten, high-roach sail for better cruising performance. Be sure to subscribe to this free video podcast series and our [...]

Alinghi carried out its first training session with the two catamaran and one could consider it raised the curtain for the 33rd America's Cup, at least as far as sailing is concerned. Although both its catamarans as well BMW Oracle's have already sailed various times off Valencia's coast it was the first time both of them were used in training simultaneously and with crews consisting only of sailors.

Valencia Sailing couldn't obviously be absent from the first "official" training for the 33rd America's Cup. Unfortunately, just like Friday, Saturday's wind conditions were excruciatingly light and the breeze was not to be seen anywhere. As a result, there was hardly any action and the otherwise exciting Extreme 40 yachts looked as if they were standing still on a lake.  read more »

Last Wednesday, one of BMW Oracle's Extreme 40 catamarans capsized while the 33rd America's Cup challenger were carrying out one of their usual two-boat training sessions. British journalist Tim Jeffrey was onboard the boat when it capsized and filed this report about the incident. Still, what is more impressive is the sequence of the capsize, captured by the lens of the team's photographer Gilles Martin-Raget.  read more »

The America's Cup might be going through a very difficult period but at least one thing is for sure here in Valencia, BMW Oracle will not let us get bored. All one has to do is go down to Port America's Cup at around 2pm, find a comfortable spot at the end of the canal and wait for the BMW Oracle catamaran to pass in front of him.

Not a day goes by without a different crew and helmsman and one can assume Russell Coutts, CEO of the team, tests sailors from all professional circuits (America's Cup, Volvo Ocean Race and TP52). In fact it was his turn today (Tuesday) to helm the catamaran under windy and bumpy conditions.

Once again, our friend and excellent Valencian photographer Ignacio Baixauli was at the right spot at the right moment, despite the cold, windy and rainy day. Other obligations have kept Valencia Sailing away from Port America's Cup but rest assured when the second catamaran arrives and the American team starts its two-boat training sessions we will have plenty of photos and video.  read more »

Valencia Sailing is back in earnest, reporting from what used to be the world's sailing capital, during a week that is probably the busiest inside Port America's Cup since a long time. We counted a total of 11 yachts either sailing off Valencia's coast or docked in one of the bases, although none of them was an America's Cup boat, in the strict sense of the word. There are now 6 Extreme 40 yachts, 3 belonging to Alinghi, 2 to BMW Oracle and another to Holmatro. In addition, 5 TP52 teams use the existing bases and facilities in order to fit their yachts or train in view of the imminent start of the Audi MedCup. The Defender of the 33rd America's Cup and the Challenger of Record continue their daily schedule of catamaran training, under excellent wind conditions. If only we could turn back the clock 12 months in order to enjoy the constant strong breeze of the last few weeks during the Louis Vuitton Cup last year. In addition to these 4 catamarans, another one has been purchased by Alinghi for the iShares Extreme 40 Cup while the 6th one is of Team Holmatro.  read more »