CC Meeting -- In Progress

The Challenger Commission is in session today, with a number of delegates gathered around a speakerphone in VLC and others participating by phone from several cities around the world including Auckland, Milano, Paris and San Francisco. We are working primarily on the Notice of Race for Louis Vuitton Cup, and will report on our decisions and main points of discussion via a post here in the near future.



CC delegates gathered around the speakerphone at the Holiday Inn in Valencia this morning, with colleagues participating by phone from several cities around the world.

AC on TV: On the Money

From a CNBC news release today; in addition to the USA, CNBC is also widely available on cable and satellite systems around the world....


Series Reported by "OTM" anchor Dylan Ratigan Examines the Business and the Players Behind the Oldest Sporting Trophy in the World.

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, NJ - July 25, 2006 - "Inside the America's Cup," a three-part series on the most famous and prestigious competition in the high-risk and high-spending sport of yachting, will be broadcast on "On the Money," anchored by Dylan Ratigan, is CNBC's nightly program where the world of business intersects with popular culture, beginning Wednesday, July 26th. "On the Money" is seen nightly at 7 PM and 11 PM ET on CNBC, the Leader in Business Worldwide.

Ratigan, who previously participated in the grueling Baja 1000 off-road race and who was also invited to work the pits at the Daytona 500, traveled to Valencia, Spain in June and stepped into the world of America's Cup sailing. As part of the series, Ratigan examines the business and the players behind the oldest sporting trophy in the world.

"Interviewing many of the key players in this dangerous yet glamorous sport was an educational experience for me as it will be for our audience," said Ratigan. "I think it's one of the greatest sports in the world that is more challenging and difficult than anybody realizes."During the three-part series, Ratigan goes on deck with world-class sailors, the designers and engineers behind the meticulously crafted $150 million sailboats as well as the Fortune 500 companies that sponsor the teams and the billionaire owners who passionately love the sport of sailing. The series gives a vivid account of life on deck - the pace, the energy, the danger and the teamwork.

"Inside the America's Cup" also features Ratigan's key interviews with, among others, Ernesto Bertalli, an Italian-Swiss businessman and yachtsman who is also CEO and Deputy Chairman of Serono, a biotechnology company; Hugo Stenbeck, billionaire owner of the Victory Challenge; Dyer Jones, Regatta Director; and Salvatore Sarno, Captain Team Shoshoza and chairman of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) South Africa, who broke down the color barrier in yachting.

"On the Money," like the rest of CNBC, has experienced impressive growth in ratings in year-to-year comparisons. "On the Money" is up 17% in total viewers in July compared with July 2005. And Nielsen doesn't accurately measure CNBC's audience because a majority of CNBC viewership is out-of-home, in locations including health clubs, restaurants, bars and offices.

Valencia Crónica #54

The 20 July issue (says 20 June, but must be a typo) is available here. See the previous -- and by now familiar to regular readers -- VC posts here in the CCB for the fine print. Sorry for the delay in posting as Bridget had #54 out and on the wires Friday.

International Sailing Youth Exchange

Nice initiative by Shosholoza sponsor-partner T-Systems, with an invitation now extended to kids from all the AC 32 teams to participate. This letter was emailed around to the teams in the past few days, and Ms. Hirt was more than happy when we offered to blog it on the CCB....



T-Systems / Team Shosholoza
International Sailing Youth Exchange:
July, 24rd – July, 29th 2006
Valencia, Spain


Invitation to the International Sailing Youth Exchange


Dear All,

Last year T-Systems initiated a Youth Exchange Program between young sailors from South Africa and Germany in cooperation with Team Shosholoza, the MSC Izivunguvungu Foundation of Cape Town, the Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC) and the North German Sailing Association (NRV). The concept is simple: we would like to help young sailors to experience sailing conditions, techniques and competitions in other countries. Making friends across borders and getting to sample a different culture are, of course, also part of the aims of the Program and hence the theme, “sailing without borders.”


This year’s Youth Exchange Program will take place in Valencia, kicking off July, 24rd until July, 30th 2006. Nine young sailors from South Africa will travel to Valencia and join German and Spanish youths to talk, sail and have fun together for almost one week. Therefore we would like to invite all kids from the America’s Cup Family between 11 and 16 years of age to participate in this International Youth Exchange and experience a week of sailing and other fun activities. Advantageous would be the kids bringing their own boats (e.g. Snipe, Laser or Optimist) because only a limited number can be provided with boats from Real Club Nautico Valencia.


If interested please contact:

Carola Hirt
T-Systems Enterprise Services GmbH
Sport Sponsoring Manager
Brand Communications & Sponsoring
carola.hirt@t-systems.com
Phone: +34 9631 65172
Mobile: +34 600 720 204

ACM: August Break

A note from ACM's T & A emailed to the teams a few days back....

Please be advised that the ACM office will be closed from the 5th to the 27th of August. We'll be off on holiday! So if you need anything please make sure you ask us before the beginning of August.

Commuting Construction Update

Update, from this morning's Valencia Life newsletter:

BRIDGE DEMOLISHED
Two years late, workers have now started demolishing the flyover linking the Avenida Catalunia in Valencia to the V-21 motorway that eventually joins the AP 7 at Puzol. Its place will be taken by a new tunnel that is under construction as is a new, bigger roundabout, giving better access to Avenida Aragon and the north of the City. The Infrastructure Ministry has expressed the ‘hope’ that the works will finally be completed in time for the Americas Cup races next year. In the meantime, a provisional access road has been created, but this did not prevent the formation of huge traffic tailbacks during the rush hour that yesterday stretched as far as twelve kilometers.

Agua Limpia

Poster boys and girls for Agua Limpia? From a report today on the ACM website about Saturday's XIV Travesía del Puerto. Caption contest, anyone?

Commuting Chaos

Most Cup personnel live in the new apartments and hotels in the Avendia Francia/Alameda area (near the new El Corte Ingles) that some call "Cup Town." Then there is another cluster -- notably younger, friskier singles -- who live in and around El Barrio Carmen, a.k.a. Old Town.

Then there are two suburban clusters: one northwest of town out toward the airport where Valencia's old money resides, in and around an urbanizacion called "Santa Barbara;" the other, larger Cup commuting crowd is along the coast north of Valencia, most near the pueblo called Puzol (pronounced poo-THOL) where there are several "new money" gated communities.

Over the past two years, the CupTown crowd has had to endure 24/7 roadway and other construction in their immediate area -- to say nothing of the Pope setting up shop in their neighborhood last weekend. And getting in and out of Old Town and Santa Barbara can take 45 minutes, especially at peak commuting times, even though both areas are only a few km from the Port America's Cup.

Until now, those living in the Puzol area have had an easy commute despite living at the greatest distance. The 20km commute has taken only 20 minutes or so, thanks to the new and lightly-used V21 highway that runs along the coast, and the new boulevard through the Universitat Politècnica (Valenciano for "Polytechnical University") that goes from the V21 almost straight into the Port America's Cup.

For the Puzolites that all changed over weekend. On Sunday Valencian authorities closed the "flyover" bridge at the end of the V21 that had eased traffic into downtown, and revealed plans to demolish and replace it. They say it will take at least six months, but they want to get it done "before next year's America's Cup."

Well we got news for them -- the Cup is going on now, and has been for over two years.

Almost immediately a 15km+ tailback into town developed, making traffic jams in LA and Auckland look like childs' play. The stau appears to be here to stay, at least for the next six months, and not just during the rush hours. Ugh!

Monday and Tuesday many Cup commuters were caught in the ugly mess, their morning drives into the Port taking up to 90 minutes. Ironically, those who left early to try to beat the traffic may have gotten the worst of it, perhaps due to all the non-pilgrims flocking back to town after the Pope's visit.

However, in the best spirit of the brave, new America' Cup, the Puzol AC'ers have formed their own ad-hoc traffic cabal and are helping each other find ways around the problem, even to the extent of calling and texting each other with advice while commuting in and out of town each day. This effort has been graciously led by ACM's Niccolo "Viva Italia" Porzio and the Defender's Hamish "This Day in Cup History" Ross, which seems only fair since we are here because of Alinghi. By the way, there is no truth to the rumour that Hamish, out of sheer frustration with the traffic, has packed up his family and is heading back to Auckland for the rest of the (Northern Hemisphere) summer.

As they say in Valencia, it is never easy -- but always fun. Are we having fun yet?

Speaking of commuting, it is not the easiest place to get in and out of by air -- unless of course you are Ernesto, Larry or the Pope and have your own plane (although the Pope is obviously less well off -- His Holiness had to use planes loaned by the national airlines).

Getting to VLC from any distance means going somewhere else first -- notably London, Madrid, Munich or Paris. This being Spain the majority of flights in and out are with the national airline Iberia, which means through Madrid. Until recently that airport has also been a massive construction site, and a transiting nightmare.

Again this week Iberia has been on strike, and many of those who left town for a brief respite after Act 12, or to avoid the Pope Fest, had one hell of a time getting back. This from yesterday's Valencia Life:

MORE CANCELLATIONS
National carrier Iberia yesterday cancelled a total of fourteen flights in the Valencian Community on the second day of the pilots’ strike. Whether the strike will continue will depend on a meeting between Iberia and the pilots union SEPLA that is set to take place later today.

But then there was some good news, too:

Meanwhile it was revealed yesterday that Virgin Express is intending to increase its presence in Manises airport. A statement from the company revealed that Valencia is the third most important city in the world for the airline, whose planes flew at a 76% capacity over the last year, and that will fuse with SN Brussels Airlines in the autumn.

LOL, maybe we can get Richard Branson to set up a heli service for those living in Puzol.

Lest we forget, as we speak Valencia Airport is also in an urgent and massive state of reconstruction -- to be done, they say, "before the America's Cup."

Brits: Kicking the Tires

The Cup misses the Brits and the Aussies. While there are plenty of people from both countries involved with the twelve teams in AC 32, there is no Challenger from either nation. Given the heavy historical involvement of both, one hopes that next time around there might be.

So good news in The Times (London) yesterday. While the article speaks of a recky Keith Mills and the Rod Carr did here in VLC in May, we first met Mr Mills at the Malmo Act last year where he was already kicking the AC tires. Let's hope they now move to the next stage, and are front and center for AC 33. In the meantime, nice ink for Plus 39's Iain Percy....


Best of British to the fore in America’s Cup
By Matthew Pryor

SAILING closer to the wind than John Prescott, Iain Percy exploded his old boat in Valencia nine days ago. “I can’t wait for our new one,” a beaming Percy said afterwards. It is a familiar refrain at the America’s Cup, even repeated, hopefully ironically, by teams who are in new boats that are stalling.

You could be forgiven for not noticing, but a sailing race has been unfolding in the Mediterranean — the 32nd America’s Cup, the oldest prize in sport. The absence of a British-based challenge, after the unfortunate ducking of Peter Harrison’s dream in the wake of the 2003 Cup, has switched many off. The last preliminary races of 2006 have finished, but when the Cup reaches a climax from next April, there will be plenty of British interest.

A rich seam of talent from these shores runs through the first Cup being held in Europe since the schooner America came in 1851 to beat the best Britain could offer off the Isle of Wight. Even the architect of the signature building in the remodelled port of Valencia is English.

Percy, the 30-year-old Olympic gold medal-winner from Winchester who has something of the swashbuckler about him, is at the helm of +39 Challenge, one of three Italian boats. Ian Walker, skipper of the GBR Challenge, is the tactician and Andrew Simpson completes a trio of Britons on board. Even with the new boat, they will struggle to be among the leading challengers to unseat Alinghi, the holders, but even with the old boat Percy has been beating some of the bigger guns at the start.

Those who bemoan the lack of a British challenge and pin their hopes to the mast of Keith Mills, the man who helped to bring the 2012 Olympic Games to London and is trying to draw together interest for the next America’s Cup after Valencia, are perhaps missing the point.

Full Story



Iain Percy: former Finn and Star Class World Champion,
and 2000 Olympics Finn Gold Medalist.

More USA TV Coverage

As previously reported, USA rights holder OLN increased its coverage of the AC 32 with highlights reports that ran twice daily over the final weekend of Act 12. Now comes news that they will continue to run AC highlights shows through July. Those of you in the USA may wish to click here for the details, and to sign up for their email newsletter with schedules of upcoming AC programming.

Good news, too, that they have appointed their on-air team to include the veteran Al Trautwig along with the Annapolis-based sailor/commentator Tucker Thompson (USA). Rumoured to be joining Messrs Trautwig and Thompson on OLN is ACM on-course commentator Andy Green (GBR, and a member of the GBR Challenge afterguard during AC 31), though this is as yet unconfirmed.



Andy Green commentating for TV during last year's World Match
Race Tour event in Malaysia. We reached Andy by phone this
morning; he said reports of his joining the OLN commentary
team were premature, and that he has yet to commit to any TV
network. So where will Randy Andy land this Cup?

Another New Sail Number

Update Fri 14 July -- Congrats to Areva Challenge, who announced today that they are constructing FRA 93.


This morning ACC Technical Director Ken McAlpine informed the teams via email that he has allocated sail number 93, meaning that another team has commenced construction of a new yacht.

What is auspicious about that number? Mr McAlpine will be pleased, for a change, to see a non-mathematical reference to a new sail number posted here: 93, as in Quatre-vingt-treize, was the novel about the French Revolution by Victor Hugo. But not being able to resist a bit of technical team teasing, we note that 93 is also the atomic number for neptunium -- the first of the transuranium elements that scientists must normally synthesize as they rarely if ever occur in nature.

With new sail numbers expected to be allocated regularly for the next weeks given the time it takes most teams to build and ship a new yacht to Valencia, we thought our readers might appreciate a quick review of the ACC sail numbers issued since the end of the 2003 Cup:

RSA 83 -- Shosholoza, launched early 2005.
NZL 84 -- Emirates Team NZ, launched late 2005.
ITA 85 -- Plus 39, in Valencia being fitted out, expected sailing shortly.
ITA 86 -- Luna Rossa, launched in Q2 of 2006, raced in Acts 10-12.
USA 87 -- BMW ORACLE Racing, launched in Q2 of 2006, raced in Acts 10-12.
ESP 88 -- Desafio Espanol, launched in Q2 of 2006, raced in Act 12.
GER 89 -- United Internet Team Germany, in Kiel being fitted out, expected sailing shortly.
ITA 90 -- Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team, launched in Q2 and sailing in VLC, not raced.
SUI 91 -- Alinghi, launched in Q2 and sailing in VLC, not raced.
92 -- allocated 10 days ago.
93 -- allocated today.

The Technical Director only reports numbers allocated, not to which team. To our knowledge so far no team has announced having received 92 or 93.

Teams may build a maximum of two new yachts during AC 32. From media and other reports, additional new yachts expected before the end of AC 32:

CHN -- first new yacht.
ESP -- second new yacht.
FRA -- first.
ITA/LR -- second.
ITA/MLC -- second.
NZL -- second.
SUI -- second.
SWE -- first.
USA -- second.

Presumably two of the nine projected above are numbers 92 and 93, leaving seven more to come during AC 32 -- making for an even 100. Inasmuch as the Challengers have to be ready for the start of the LVC in the middle of April next year, whereas the Defender has until the start of the AC Match on 23 June, assuming we do get there will it be SUI 100?

If, however, Mascalzone does not build a second yacht (as some today have suggested will be the case), the last boat for AC 32 would appear to be 99. All this begs the question whether the ACC class will be used for the next Cup with numbers going above 100.

Anyone know the answer to this tricky Cup trivia question -- since he began doing so in 1990, which two numbers were not allocated by the Technical Director in sequence as required under the ACC Rule?

Valencia Crónica #53

When it rains, it pours. As in three Valencia Crónica posts in a row. Bridget Baker is back in the swing of things after having their new son, Jack, and your Ed. is catching up with blogging after the hectic weeks before during and after Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 12.

Valencia Cronica #53 is now available to download -- as always password-protected for AC families only.

Otherwise, no rain in site in VLC. Glorious summer weather here topped off today by the presence of His Holiness Papa Benedicto. It puts an exclamation point on, and uplifting ending to, what has otherwise been a sad week here in our adopted home town.

In VC #53, Bridget wrote movingly of the subway tragedy that occurred here last Monday. In that regard, since our earlier post we have learned that one of those who died in the accident was a popular young volunteer with the ACM race committee. A student, he had not worked Act 12 due to final examinations.

AC 32 would not be without the concerted efforts of literally hundreds of volunteers, mostly from Valencia but from elsewhere in Spain and, indeed, the world. Our hearts go out to his family and others who are grieving their loss, and the Cup's.

Valencia Crónica #51 and #52

Valencia Crónica #52 (25 June issue) is now available. And for some reason we did not receive VC #51 some weeks ago, but Bridget has re-sent it and is now available here. Sorry for the delay.

As always VC is password-protected to protect the privacy of contributors' phone numbers and email addresses. To obtain the password, or to be added to the email distribution list for each week's Crónica, please write Bridget at valenciacronicaspain [at] yahoo [dot] co [dot] nz.

A couple months back we put many back issues of VC (#23 through #48) into one zipped (compressed) archive folder for easy download by any of you with the password. It's a 5.5mb file, so better if you have a fast connection. To download the VC archive, click here. Or just scroll down through the CC Blog, or check the monthly Archives in the sidebar, for previous issues.

Again, a reminder that Valencia Crónica is not intended for general consumption, but for use by team members in Valencia and their partners/families. VC contains little information of interest to, or use by, the general public.

Tragedy

As far as we know this morning, no one directly involved in the America's Cup was among those who were injured or died in yesterday's tragic subway accident here in Valencia.

Flags at the team bases were lowered to half mast yesterday afternoon, and last night's big ACM party was cancelled out of respect for those who lost their lives and their grieving families.

At least for the next year, this is our hometown, too. The Cup community shares their grief. Our heartfelt condolences to those who lost a loved-one yesterday.