And a word from the campaigns

We speak to Vincenzo Onorato, Francesco de Angelis, Bill Trenkle and a variety of other players

Derek Clark - Chief Designer, GBR Challenge

TDS: What do you know about the winds in Valencia?

DC: Based on the wind speed, I think they are talking about the sea breeze. In the months when the Cup is promulgated June-Sept, there is a good afternoon sea breeze [at this point we hadn't heard that the Louis Vuitton Cup and America's Cup were happening from April through until June]. Some of the data we looked at suggests 12-15 knots. I did a 50ft regatta there three years ago and we had 13-18 knots but it was quite a late sea breeze starting from 2-3pm. We were sailing very happily at 6.30pm.

TDS: Why is it that late?

DC: That’s how it sets up there. It is the local thermal breeze. It is pretty flat and locally very flat. To the west there is an area of marshland and that may be one of the influences of the sea breeze and it gets very hot, but the water temperature is warm which is why it takes that long to get going. It is not as breezy as Fremantle by any stretch of the imagination, but the number of days lost will be significantly loss and there will be much more predictable times of starts and it is interesting that they are talking about varying the race length to a time

TDS: We thought that more of the sailors wanted it to go to Portugal.

DC: Certainly that would have been more like a Fremantle weather pattern, but in reality David Howlett went there with Iain Percy in the Star for the Europeans and they found that although the conditions were very interesting they were very one sided. There is a very large mountain range to the north and the breeze tended to be northwesterly. Where they were talking about sailing the regatta, which was a long way from the base in Lisbon, there were still big wind shifts coming down from the mountain range. In Valencia, you don’t get that. It is an on-shore breeze. It would be fantastic if they set up this stadium arena because we would literally be starting a few hundred metres away from that. And because it is a sea breeze it means that is where we will start and finish so it is really in tune with the vision that they [ACM] have and what they are trying to create.



Stephane Kandler, General Manager K-Challenge

For us French and being behind the Marseilles candidacy we are a little bit disappointed but I think as ACM Management said, all the candidacies were very strong. We know Spain a lot because we have been sailing there for more than 15 years. I am sure they will be very efficient there. It is not far from Toulouse where K-Yachting is based. The good news is that now we know finally [where the venue is] and that is important for the sponsors as it gives a better view of the event. That every year there will be events, it is possible one will go to Marseilles, where we will be based before go to Valencia.




Above: Dennis Conner with Bill Trenkle

Bill Trenkle, Director of Operations Team Dennis Conner

TDS: Have you any experience of sailing in Valencia?

BT: No, I’ve never been there myself. I’ve talked to some people who were there recently for the IMS regatta and they said it was very nice sailing with a nice sea breeze every day, very predictable. So not a very shifty breeze, not tricky like the Hauraki Gulf

TDS: How will that affect the racing?

BT: It makes for a different sailing style. It puts a bigger priority on speed and there may be less passing.

TDS: How about the design of the boats?

BT: The design of the boats will definitely lean towards the conditions. In Auckland you had to have an all-round boat. In Valencia you may be able to target a more specific wind range. I haven’t done the weather studies yet, but from what I understand it is a narrow band, so it will be more like San Diego where you target a band for your design space. With Auckland you couldn’t target any band, you had to be all round.

TDS: What have you heard about the possible rule changes?

BT: I don’t think they will be that significant. It will be the same thing where you’re going to be trading off sail area for length and deciding where you want to be - on the light side of the band or the higher side of the band.

TDS: Is it true that you have sold your boats to the Toscana Challenge?

BT: It is not a done deal, but we are talking to them.

TDS: I see that the Dennis Conner party line is that it is going to be too expensive for competitors to rely solely on sponsorship next time round

BT: For sure. New Zealand was an inexpensive place to campaign. Shipping costs and airplane tickets weren’t expense. The dollar was cheap. There were a lot of marine facilities there and a lot of marine suppliers so it was easy to get things at a low cost. So it was inexpensive. And now they are talking about this format where you have to take your boats to venues for preliminary regattas - that adds a lot of cost to it, moving about teams and boats and having to have your team up and running full time for a much longer period of time, that adds a tremendous amount of money.

TDS: Ignoring normal inflation how much more do you think it will be?

BT: A lean two boat programme like ours that would cost $40 million is going to cost $80 million, not to mention whatever they tell us about the rule and what they have done to it and however much more money you have to plough into the R&D because you have a new class of boat to analyse.

TDS: So that will push more people out of the Cup?

BT: It could end up being a two boat regatta. Alinghi and Oracle have such an advantage over every one else, it is hard to imagine everyone else catching up. It’s not going to attract more people into it. Maybe they’ll surprise us when they tell us what the rules are.



Brad Butterworth, Tactician, Alinghi

TDS: Have you had any experience sailing in Valencia?

BB: No, only in Palma, so I don’t know much about Valencia. My mates have. They like it. It is a sea breeze driven sort of area and it has got plenty going for it. The wind is regular. It blows up and down the coast and there are different days and like any venue we’re going to have to learn all we can about it

TDS: Is it going to be more of a drag racing sort of an event?

BB: Yes, it could be, but there is always little shifts or something that happens. I think the racing will be very close and maybe closer than before, especially the way the format is. We can sail against the challengers all the way up to the beginning of the regattas

TDS: All these 'pre-regattas' are going to make it a lot more expensive than before, what's your view on that?

BB: The vision I know that Russell [Coutts] and myself have had is for the cost to come down and to have more participation. So it will be a test for ACM to see if they can do the right thing, now that they have control of it. If they can lower the costs for competitors and try and get more participation it will be good, if it is going to be more expense then it is going to be bad.

TDS: They appear to be trying to go for better value?

BB: We were a little team in 1995 and you can do it, but you have to spend your money wisely and the event management has to do the right job by you.

TDS: And what about the new recruit?

BB: I’ve always had a lot of respect for Peter Holmberg. We’ve sailed against him a lot and he’s one of the guys we’ve always been impressed with and when we looked at who we wanted after the alst Cup he was top of the list and I’m pleased he’s on board



Franecsco d’Angelis, former Prada skipper

TDS: What do you think about the America's Cup going to Valencia?

FdeA: I think it has been a difficult choice, because of the venue and the four different cites. From a sailor point of view it is a very good choice for sure. It is a very nice racing area and Spain is a nice country, so I am sure they will do the best for the event.

TDS: Have you raced there? What are the conditions like?

FdeA: Yes, the wind is between 10 and 20 knots, thermal, really nice sailing conditions and also a place where you sail every day. You are quite surprised if you can’t sail. It is a factor that is very important for the organisers and for everyone related to the television.

TDS: How it will affect the racing?

FdeA: I think it is too early to make those comments, because we don’t know much about the format of the event. We know the race will be shorter it will go back to the tactics and the racing skills or the teams.

TDS: Are you employed at the moment?

FdeA: Not yet! I set myself a deadline of three weeks time to decide what my future will be.




Paolo Cian, currently looking to set up an Italian challenge

TDS: What do you think about Valencia getting the bid?

PC: I come from Naples and of course I would be happier if Naples was the location for the next America’s Cup, but I’m sure the ACM did an amazing job interacting with the cities, giving them the opportunity to organise pre-events and analysing at the details that make the candidature reliable. I know they went very very deep, so I think the decision is good and Valencia will be a very good location for the next America’s Cup, so congratulations to them.

TDS: Have you sailed in Valencia? What do you think of the conditions?

PC: The thermic breeze, as in most parts of the Mediterranean Sea is very reliable, as they said. And probably the average in summertime is 15-17 knots. That is perfect in flat water for these kind of boats.

TDS: Will it make it less tactical?

PC: Not at all. I think match racing is always tactical even in steady breeze.


Five time Olympic and 1988 Finn Gold medallist Dr Jose Luis Doreste Blancho was in Geneva representing a prospective Spanish challenge. Obviously with a Spanish port chosen Dr Doreste saw an upturn in their prospects of raising the necessary funds.

TDS: How far have you got with your campaign?

JLDB: We have many sailors in Spain, so we didn’t want to have the event in Europe without Spain being involved. We have been working for about a year to be there, but we are looking for funding still.

TDS: What will your role be?

JLDB: I am trying to help because I know sailing and I’ve been in five Olympic games and a gold medal. But I don’t want to be in the boat - I am a doctor.

TDS: Is this related to previous Spanish AC campaigns?

JLDB: No, but there are many guys involved with our project who have been involved with them. We want to learn from both the good things and the bad things and we want to learn from the Swiss model.

TDS: Have you appointed anyone yet?

JLDB: No. Designers no. We have spoken with some designers but we can’t close it because we don’t have the budget yet.

TDS: Having the America's Cup in Spain must be a huge advantage

JLDB: Of course, particularly when it comes to getting the funds. We aren’t in the same position today that we were in yesterday! But we can’t go so fast. We have to sit down with some sponsors who want to get involved with our program. So I hope tomorrow I will be more optimistic.

TDS: Do you think the King Spain's interest in yachting helped the bid?

JLDB: Everyone says this, but I don’t think it influenced ACM. They are very serious and pragmatic. However it is always very good to have a king involved.

TDS: Is your challenge based anywhere?

JLDB: Not yet. I live in Barcelona, but the others live in north of Spain and some in Madrid. Valencia will be difficult because I think that it will be the city of Alinghi. We have good contacts with Mallorca.

TDS: Are the any other campaigns in Spain?

JLDB: It is difficult. The money is too much. Italy is a very strong country and has much more industry than Spain and much more sailors. Spain has good sailors, but not that many. I don’t see that Spain will have more than one project. If there are more then we should join together. Spain must be there, but we must be there in a good condition.

TDS: What kind of crew will you go for - only Spaniards?

JLDB: We have to get experienced people. When all the projects like Oracle and Alinghi are starting from 50-60% we can’t begin from zero. So as soon as we have the money we will have to bring people with experience into our project. We have good sailors but we don’t haqve that experience in America’s Cup, at least not in the last one. From the ones before that doesn’t count so much.

TDS: What the conditions in Valencia like?

JLDB: When we were speaking about Valencia recently we always said that from a meteorological point of view Valencia had very good conditions. It has a sea breeze but not the typical sea breeze of some places where there is always a one-way race. Valencia is very open - you never know if the right or left will pay. So the race will be open. And the sea breeze is strong, but not that strong. It shouldn’t be stronger than 20 knots, but it is always over 10 knots whereas in Majorca you always have sea breeze, but it is not that strong.

TDS: Why is the sea breeze like that?

JLDB: It is very flat but with mountains behind. So from a meteorological point of view it is good decision.




Vincenzo Onorato, head of the Mascalzone Latino campaign.

TDS: What do you think about the announcement?

VO: My reaction - I am sad because I come from Naples, but I am also happy because Valencia will be a wonderful place to host this regatta. They have magnificent conditions. It is one of the best places in the world to sail.

TDS: In your opinion why did it go to Valencia?

VO: I don’t know. I think this question must be turned to Mr Bertarelli. One thing for sure is that Valencia is very good for the wind and the regattas

TDS: You are launching another campaign?

VO: Mascalzone Latino will be in Valencia for the America’s Cup for sure.

TDS: Who is on your campaign so far?

VO: The team will be around Vasco Vascotto as skipper and Flavio Flavini as driver. And myself of course!




Ross Blackman, Chief Executive Officer, Team New Zealand

TDS: What do you think about Valencia?

RB: It makes a difference to know. It gives us more certainty when we are presenting to sponsors, so for that we are excited. It is a venue some of our sailors have sailed in an enjoyed which is positive. Spain is not the most expensive country in Europe which is an important factor for us as well. And all the Spanish people I’ve met I’ve liked. So for us it is a positive result.

TDS: People say the sea breeze there seems quite regular, you do think that will affect the style of boats

RB: The sea breeze is always regular until you start the America’s Cup…

TDS: Some people are also saying that mounting a challenge could cost twice as much as last time with all the pre-regattas

RB: There is no doubt that the pre-regattas will add considerable cost. There is no doubt about that. We have done initial costings, but our understanding is that the cost of attending the regattas may be offset someways by the host city of that regatta, so it is very difficult for us to budget the whole proposal. If it is too expensive we just won’t be there. If it is reasonable then we will be there. Certainly in our game you use every chance you can get to sail against the competition and this time we’ll be sailing against the defender as well. For us the cost of coming to Europe as opposed to remain at home is considerable. We estimate our budget will double from the event in Auckland.

TDS: Have you got any sponsorship yet or are they waiting on today’s information?

RB: The sponsors we have been in negotiation with are interested in the venue, but it wasn’t a ciritical factor in their decision. We are just head down negotiating and working out the issues an America’s Cup that is in 2007. For the average corporate that is quite a long way away in their marketing planning. So we haven’t signed sponsors yet, but we are having really position discussions and we have some verbal arrangements in place.

TDS: I understand you have a deal with the New Zealand government whereby they have given you $5 million in seed money and there's more to come?

RB: That is right. The government announced some time ago that they would contribute up to NZ$30 million on a one for two basis. So for every NZ$2 million Kiwi that we raise from sponsorship they would contribute another million with a cap at 30 million. In return for that they become our major partner. Our relations with them will be through New Zealand trade and tourism and they will be partnering with us in quite a lot of promotion for our country.

TDS: It is worth winning it back in purely economic terms...

RB: Certainly, but as with all sponsorships it has also got to be worth it if we don’t win. So the commercial model we run on that will give the New Zealand government a good solid return on their investment.

TDS: Have you got the numbers for how much the AC was worth to New Zealand this time round?

RB: Not yet, they will be published shortly. I think it will be close to what it was last time. Last time it was 640 million NZ$ new money to the country.

TDS: So it will be rather valuable for Valencia...

RB: That is a matter of record now. Perth did a lot of analysis. San Diego didn’t leverage the event. That's not a criticism, but the city didn’t fall in love with the event and embrace it as Auckland did.




Loick Peyron, is head of the French syndicate Team France, which he has set up with former Team New Zealand driver Bertrand Pace

TDS: What do you think of the Valencia deal?

LP: I am pretty sad for Marseilles because for a French sailor like me Marseilles was interesting and is still interesting. Something will go there. To be precise it is bad news for Marseilles, but it is not bad news for Team France. Imagine that they won, for France it would already be done and the sensation could be enough just to have the event. It is not enough not to have it. The best way to get the Cup is to win it.

TDS: How about Valencia as a sailing venue?

LP: Bertrand knows the place and he says it is not very interesting. I don’t know if he is right or not. It is still wind and sea... Maybe it will be less tactical. I hope it is not like that with the thermal breeze exactly starts on time and then sailing up the first beat at 130deg and so on - I hope that is not the case. Hopefully you have a good ‘ventilator’ and the wind is never coming from the same position.

TDS: Today's announcement affect Team France's prospects?

LP: We are waiting like a lot of campaigns for today. It is important to know the place. In a lot of people’s minds the Cup was still in Auckland. Now we have a new point on the map and we know where the place is and where the other events will happen in the next years. Tomorrow they will give us more details and schedules, so we are going to have more tools and weapons to fight over the next months. That will be very useful for us. I am really positive.

TDS: Will Team France be solely a French affair?

LP: No. Today we have most of the French talent. Bertrand is going to find the foreign sailors. We have been in contact for many months with good foreign people. The question we ask to them is are you prepared to learn French?

TDS: Do you eat snails?

LP: And frog’s leg. And now the question is are you prepared to learn Spanish? As I've said before for many years the America's Cup was apart from the rest of the French sailing world and I’d like to be a bridge between the two. And I am in a position to do that. I like to do match racing and it is interesting to mix that but it is a hard job.

We have also the support of the French Sailing Federation. They chose Team France two months ago and we will be presented at the Salon Nautique on the FFV stand. That is signficant. One of the objectives of Team France is to win the Match Racing World championship with Bertrand and with Mattieu Richard and three Equipe de France teams in match racing - we are creating that with the French Federation and with TF1 and Eurosport which are supporting us. They understand the match racing story which is absolutely not known in France, which is a pity.

TDS: How about your trimaran prospects?

LP: Some people thought that I was working on the Cup to find money for a trimaran. Absolutely not. It is the worst way to find money for a trimaran! The story is still Team France, but I feel for the sailors that it can be a very saturated story for the Cup, so I really like to push them to sail everywhere else - on multis, on records and for this reason for sure the 60ft tris are very interested. That is why Michel Desjoyeaux and Franck Cammas support Team France. Why? Because if you look at the crew of the 12 boats during a trimaran Grand Prix you can find 20 people who are capable of sailing with us.

TDS: What is your deadline for finding money?

LP: As soon as possible, by the end of the year. As you know we are not alone in this case. We don’t want to do another campaign to just for the pleasure of sailing the boat. We want to do a winning project. So for a winning project 'as soon as possible' is the timing. We will stop if we don’t get all the budget.