33rd Americas Cup - Valencia T minus 2
by Jean Philippe Jobé on 7 Feb 2010
From afar, Alinghi 5 is about to be launched, note the straight foils Jean Philippe Jobé
On our first day in Valencia, we had the opportunity to visit both teams, first and thank to a very nice welcome by the Oracle media people we were driven from their base to the port area where their trimaran is kept. The immense wing is under a huge tent, one part still being painted, sails being rolled and checked.
Although I was familiar with Oracle in pictures, I was impressed, especially by the size of the wing. It is quite a sight, in one of the picture you can see team member J. Ozanne explaining how the wing will be used either alone or with a gennaker or code zero. Behind him you can see the old mast that one could call plan B. There were several team members working on the boat as well.
Later the Owner's Press Conference started in the building Vent & Veles, a great opportunity to see the two adversaries shaking hands? Well, it did not happen, apparently a misunderstanding between the different parties and Ernesto was kind of lonely on the stand. He did mention that he was surprised that Larry was not present!
A couple of others comments he also made: 'The weather is quite different from when we left in July 2007, but I think the excitement is the same. I think there is about 600 accreditations which is just as much as last time and so there is a certain interest in this historic race.'
'We are all at the Alinghi team looking forward to the regatta putting forward our best.'
On the need for nerves: 'Every time you go to battle you have to feel nervous. Anytime I have gone casual to anything I was not my best. I think adrenaline and a bit of excitement are good, for anything you do and especially for a competition like this.'
On BMW ORACLE Racing: 'BMW ORACLE Racing is a formidable team. They have brought an impressive yacht with impressive technology. It is going to be very interesting to see two very different yachts trying to achieve the same thing.' He even admitted that the wing was possibly an advantage, but in fact reliability will a key aspect and this for both teams.
On the need for reliability and safety: 'In order to win you have to finish. Both teams over the last few weeks have been able to gauge their reliability. We have had problems. It is a bit like the beginning of the season in the Formula 1 grand prix. All is very good when the teams are here testing in Valencia. You go round the track once or twice and you put a good time. But on the Sunday of the first race you have to go around the track 72 times.
It is a bit the same thing. We have completed the course a few times. It is a long course, 40 miles. We have done it in between two and half to three hours which is a lot of ground to cover. If the wind comes from the shore, which is what it is looking like, then the start is going to be almost half way between here and Ibiza. I think everyone should be careful, especially spectators who are on the water. Remember we are not in the summer, but in the winter.'
On why he is helming Alinghi: 'Some other reasons are those that brought me to sailing, multihull sailing, speed and perfecting these boats on the lakes. My contribution this time has been very different. Possibly I have had more involvement with this campaign than ever before. My steering I think is a good thing.'
'It happens that I can steer a multihull, and I have brought on board since we had clear indication that we were going to sail multihulls those which we have competed against on the lake, those who I felt were the strongest competitors Alain Gautier and Loïck Peyron.'
On this America's Cup: 'I think this America's Cup will be remembered, I hope for the good reasons and it is going to be a formidable America's Cup because of the boats and the technology and possibly because it is a DoG match and once in a while you have one. The other thing is that we should be careful in not discouraging other people who want to participate.'
Then we were received by the Alinghi team at their base for a friendly happy hour chatting with some members of the team. Now I can confirm that the original S foils have been abandoned (one is in the exhibition at the team's base and the other is now in Switzerland, see my report about the museum in Nyon). There are three other pairs, two straight set and another S set less curvy than the initial one. Well, A5 was being launched with one of the straight set. I suppose they can reassess the decision on the morning of each race, it should take a couple of hours to actually switch sets at the base.
I suppose that the mast will be raised on Sunday morning, they have both masts available, the old one having been extended to the close to 60m length.
Although the temperature here in Valencia is still cold, the ambiance is actually warming up. Tomorrow the official inauguration will take place at 13h00 local time.
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