America's Cup: Valencia tastes the whirl of a cup pre-regatta

By JULIE ASH


Slowly but surely, the America's Cup seems to be gripping the Spanish city of Valencia.

If residents were unaware of the size of the event they will host in 2007, the roadshow that has just hit town is giving them a good taste of what lies ahead.

The second America's Cup pre-regatta kicked off overnight. Giant billboards and signs overhang pavements, an old Japanese race boat is perched prominently in the entranceway to Spain's equivalent of Viaduct Harbour, and residents are venturing down to the waterfront by the thousands to check out these multimillion-dollar teams and their machines.

Syndicate bases were a closed shop in Auckland, but in Valencia it's the opposite. The boats are lined up side by side in their cradles, and with just a wire fence surrounding the compound, the public can catch a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes.

Eight teams will compete in the second and third cup regattas, which are both staged in this host city of about 1.4 million people.

Continuing on from the opening event in Marseille are Emirates Team New Zealand, defenders Alinghi, BMW Oracle Racing, French syndicates Le Defi and K-Challenge, and South Africa's Team Shosholosa.

Entering the pre-regatta arena for the first time are new Italian challengers +39 and their established countrymen Team Luna Rossa (formally Prada).

Team New Zealand finished third in Marseille but this time have their full complement of afterguard members available with British Finn gold medallist Ben Ainslie and American Terry Hutchinson entering the fray.

The New Zealand syndicate have already received plenty of attention in the Spanish city after flying their second boat to the regatta because NZL82 suffered serious structural damage during a storm at Marseille.

Many in Valencia have never laid eyes on a 25-tonne cup boat before so the idea of flying one across the world was taken as nothing short of remarkable.

"It's been all hands on deck to get the boat ready ... and it's great to actually get out on the water and be out sailing," said Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker.

"From the sailing team's perspective, it's just great we'll be able to race."

The Marseille storm also damaged the Alinghi and Oracle yachts. Alinghi repaired their boat, SUI64, but Oracle have switched to USA71, their second yacht, which was not raced in the last cup.

While many questioned why Alinghi did not use their second yacht, SUI75, syndicate vice-president and tactician Brad Butterworth said it was not ready to sail.

"It is not measured. It required too much work."

Oracle were the overall winners of the first regatta and, having spent more time together training than any of the other teams, are expected to dominate again.

"We were pleased with the result in Marseille," said chief executive Chris Dickson. "Alinghi beat us in the match-race, and Alinghi is the defender of the America's Cup, and Alinghi is the toughest boat always ... I'm sure Alinghi will be tough again but Prada we haven't seen before, and Emirates Team New Zealand is sailing another boat, +39 hasn't raced us before, so it'll be an interesting week."

While much has been made of the ideal sailing conditions off the coast, light winds are equally as common.

When asked how Valencia compares with Auckland and the Hauraki Gulf, Butterworth did not miss a beat: "It's a lot warmer here. It doesn't rain much here. We don't get any fruit thrown at us here ... so I like it here."