Thursday, May 17, 2007
FLEETING GLORY
This spring and summer America's Cup comes to Valencia. The oldest sporting trophy in the world, in 1851 the schooner America beat the best of the British in a race around the Isle of Wight. The inscribed CUP was donated to the New York Yacht Club and bequeathed as a challenge cup, since contested 31 times. The rules of the race changed in 1970, the race name changed to the Louis Vuitton Cup, and The NYYC lost the CUP for the first time in 1983.
The Swiss Team Alinghi triumphed in New Zealand in 2003 and is thus the Defender of America's Cup. Landlocked Switzerland needed a big stretch of water to race across. Valencia on the Mediterranean was chosen as the perfect race host.
Just outside the new port development, 12 teams will race the same course at once as well as going mano a mano in match race regattas. The race has always been about technology and skill. The mylar, carbon fiber, kevlar sails often only last the race. Alinghi has 6 master sailmakers turning out 20 sails a month to supply the 4 years of regattas that culminate in Valencia between April and June 2007. Their design team at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne has been refining draft, keel, hull, mast weight, sail performance--all for the fleeting glory that may be theirs to keep. Watch for sail numbers SU164, SU175, SU191 in Valencia this spring and early summer.
In past races, teams have hidden their keels--often the secret to success--beneath modesty skirts. No such discretion on show at the port today where scantily clad sports divas and team followers sunned themselves overlooking the harbor in the City of Light. Once a favorite subject of Picasso's, today Valencia is a picture again--all tarted up to hand over the CUP and the fleeting glory that will belong to the 2007 winner.
The Swiss Team Alinghi triumphed in New Zealand in 2003 and is thus the Defender of America's Cup. Landlocked Switzerland needed a big stretch of water to race across. Valencia on the Mediterranean was chosen as the perfect race host.
Just outside the new port development, 12 teams will race the same course at once as well as going mano a mano in match race regattas. The race has always been about technology and skill. The mylar, carbon fiber, kevlar sails often only last the race. Alinghi has 6 master sailmakers turning out 20 sails a month to supply the 4 years of regattas that culminate in Valencia between April and June 2007. Their design team at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne has been refining draft, keel, hull, mast weight, sail performance--all for the fleeting glory that may be theirs to keep. Watch for sail numbers SU164, SU175, SU191 in Valencia this spring and early summer.
In past races, teams have hidden their keels--often the secret to success--beneath modesty skirts. No such discretion on show at the port today where scantily clad sports divas and team followers sunned themselves overlooking the harbor in the City of Light. Once a favorite subject of Picasso's, today Valencia is a picture again--all tarted up to hand over the CUP and the fleeting glory that will belong to the 2007 winner.
