Valencia Trader

Exclusive: The Act Four of America's Cup match Racing Finishes up Today

After 6 days of matches the winners will be decided and the prizes will be handed out at the Darsena this afternoon by the local officals.

The sailing results were in question this morning because the Italian Team Luna Rossa had protested the race. They had been sailing against Oracle when they claimed that a jury boat had interfered on the course during the start. That leaves the big four and the aspiring teams to duke it out for the middle ground.

Racing has been fairly predictable in terms of the top tier of teams but Oracle/BMW and Team New Zealand will be fighting for second place and Luna Rossa will still be in the hunt and putting on pressure.
   
The most interesting racing has been in the middle field of new players like Victory Challenge and Desafio Esp. 2007.  Both teams have displaced K-Challenge from her normal place in the middle ground but she was also beaten by United Internet Germany who has the oldest boat and oldest sails. On other hand the Germans have done an excellent game of cat and mouse by not really engaging in serious classical matching but rather diving into the spectator fleet when necessary. They will have new sails for Sweden and they will be really competitive if have a decent boat.

In the meantime the bottom end of the fleet is going through their teething problems. Going into the last race there are four teams with three wins to their names. While China Team (Le Defi), Mascalzone, and +39, are all tied, Shosholoza just would like to get on the scoreboard.      

The first couple of days the wind was somewhat variable especially on the North course where there were stray remarks about Valencia being chosen for the venue which immediately found a energenic response from the Spanish sailing media. The rest of the days the wind has been great and the South course definitely has much cleaner and constant breeze.

As we got started today on the course, the wind was light, and the most interesting match was be between Victory Challenge and Desafio Espanol. At the start, Victory Challenge incurred a penalty and would have to do a 360 degree circle to make amends.
Just before the finish line at the end of the race, she completed her turns and finished just before the Spanish Team.

On Thursday of this week will start the fleet races which will add a whole different flavor to the sailing which up until now has been one boat vs another.

Come take the #19 bus and watch the boats go out or in the evening when they return to enjoy the sailing and mega-yacht atmoshpere.  Most people have found it quite entertaining to see the mega-yachts and how the well to-do have their fun.  

RANKING (as of 21st June 2005 - 16:12)
1 Alinghi
2 Emirates Team New Zealand
3 BMW Oracle Racing
4 Luna Rossa Challenge
5 Victory Challenge
6 Desafio Espanol 2007
7 K-Challenge
8 Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team
9 +39 Challenge
10 United Internet Team Germany
11 China Team
12 Team Shosholoza

This article has been written exclusively for the Valencia Trader by Lyn Hines our special correspondent at the 32nd America's Cup in Valencia.