Victory Challenge plans

Magnus Holmberg comments on their 2005 season and looks ahead at what's in store over the winter

The year's pre-regattas are over, bringing phase one of Victory Challenge's challenge for the America's Cup to an end.

With a superb result in Valencia, disappointment in Malmö and acceptable results in Trapani the crew has again gathered at the base for the final autumn training for 2005.
In parallel to this, the intensive search for financing continues.

As the team again gathers at the base in Valencia it seems almost unbelievable that it's only six months since the challenge began, taking into consideration how much has been achieved during this time, thanks to the amazingly hard work put in by everyone involved:

- Modifications of both Örn (SWE 63) and Orm (SWE 73) according to the new class rules
- Recruitment of a team that is now made up of almost 50 people
- Participation in the Valencia Louis Vuitton Acts 4 & 5, Malmö-Skåne Louis Vuitton Acts 6 & 7 as well as the Trapani Louis Vuitton Acts 8 & 9.

There have been a surprisingly great number of highlights, as well as the set-backs that are natural for an America's Cup team. The team shocked the sailing world with their ranking fourth among the challengers after Valencia, after only two weeks' training, but the results weren't as expected in the following pre-regattas in Malmö. However, they were considerably better in Trapani, where Victory Challenge once again climbed the rankings.

The pre-regattas that have dramatically changed how preparations are carried out.
"In many ways it's been a fantastic first six months, fantastic fun and also fantastically tough," says Magnus Holmberg, skipper and helmsman.

"The feeling is that we've achieved the impossible, which we couldn't have done without our experience from the previous America's Cup challenge and our special way of working, with fewer involved than on the other teams, where we use all our specialist knowledge in a unique way. Where everyone is determined to work faster and harder than their competitors.

"It's also meant that we've been able to modify the boats in record time and complete each regatta, with a very good result overall, absolutely in line with our long-term aim of being ranked among the top four in the challengers when the Louis Vuitton Cup begins.

"Our results at home in Sweden were a disappointment, but the preparations for 2007 aren't only about short-term results but also the long-term. For us, we had to use Orm (SWE 73) in Malmö, so that we could learn more about the boat for the sake of Mani Frers design work with the new boats."

The next step for Victory Challenge - phase 2 - has a plan that includes training with two boats (instead of with one as was done in 2005) and new boats. It is this phase that will move the team further forward.

"We have been open and clear about this from the start. When we began we didn't have full financing until 2007. Just like many of the other America's Cup challengers we still don't. The efforts to obtain further funding to make the challenge financially secure has been, and still is, going on with full strength," says Martin Grävare, project manager for Victory Challenge. "We expect that the issue of sponsorship and partnership can be solved in a satisfactory way."

Both Örn and Orm are back in Valencia after the summer's regattas. It's here that the foundations of a permanent base have been built. It's here that the team - like the other America's Cup teams - will continue their preparations for 2007. Next year's pre-regattas are all planned to take place where the main competition will be.

"With the boats and with the team in place we'll round off the year with autumn training which will continue for as long as the weather allows. Normally that's until December. Two-boat training is a little delayed due to the mast problems we had in Trapani. We also need to make further modifications to Orm. During this time we'll train with one boat - and against the other teams who are back in Valencia," says Magnus Holmberg.