Four ACC yachts & over 70 cruisers at Trofeo Desafío Español
by Neus Jordi 6 Nov 2008 18:14 GMT
7-9 November 2008
Murray Jones (Alinghi), Robert Scheidt (Luna Rossa), Javier Moner (RN), Ben Ainslie (TEAMORIGIN), Manual Chirivella (CNEV), y Laureano Wizner (Desafío Español) before the Club Nautico Español de Vela regatta © Jose Jordan / Trofeo Desafío Español
Luna Rossa is the fourth team racing in the ACC v5 regatta with Desafío Español, Alinghi and TEAMORIGIN
The second annual regatta of the Club Nautico Español de Vela (CNEV) has been presented today in a sunny day in Valencia. Four teams on board ACC yachts and over 70 RN cruisers and Platu 25 will race at the 2nd Trofeo Desafío Español that is taking place in Valencia this weekend. The fourth team to officially enter the ACC regatta is Luna Rossa.
The press conference was atended by Manuel Chirivella, president of the CNEV, Challenger of Record of the 33rd America’s Cup; Laureano Wizner, traveller of Desafío Español; Murray Jones, strategist and helmsman of Alinghi for this event; Rober Scheidt, strategist of Luna Rossa; Ben Ainslie, skipper of TEAMORIGIN; and Javier Moner, owner of one of the RN yachts and representative of the class for the event.
Manuel Chirivella said that the goal of this regatta was a “get together of the amateurs and fans with the top sailors of the sport to enjoy what we love the most, sailing”. Moner added to this that he was “overwhelmed with the fact of being able to share a press conference with some of the best sailors in the World and to sail close to them in the same event, just by seeing them you learn!”, he said.
Laureano Wizner, traveller of Desafío Español, said: “We are looking forward to go back racing on the ACC. I may helm the boat but probably Paul Cayard will steer ESP 97 most of the time”.
Murray Jones, strategist of Alinghi and helmsman of SUI 100 for this event, added: “Our crew work is a bit rusty at the moment but we hope SUI 100 is still as fast as last year!”
Robert Scheidt, strategist of Luna Rossa, shared the same feelings, “is very positive to be able to race on the ACCs is a great opportunitty to go back to work”. The Brasilian sailor won silver medal on Star during the Beijing Olympic Games, but he also has three golds from Athens 2004 and Atlanta 1996, and another silver medal from Sydney 2000.
Ben Ainslie started thanking Desafío Español for lending ESP 88 to TEAMORIGIN for the races and hoped that “we can go on with the racing”. This will be the first regatta for TEAMORIGIN on an ACC boat.
Today the four ACC have done a training fleet race. The first race is scheduled for tomorrow at 1pm. There will be races also on Saturday and Sunday.