We are aware that Alinghi was sailing with a boat of three years

Competitions to prepare for the 32nd edition of the America's Cup took place from May 11 to July 3 in Valencia (Spain) with three race series named "Louis - vuittons acts". "emirates Team new zealand" concluded the year with a convincing victory to the Swiss Alinghi, holding the Cup. "This is the boat that currently has the most potential," recognizes Bertrand Pacé, French tactician of the American team "bmw Oracle", finally third this Act XII. Mighty, the New Zealand ship, who has beaten holding 2-1 in the final, is led by a revenge thirsty crew, after his scathing failure (5-0 defeat) in Auckland in 2003 to the Swiss of Ernesto Bertarelli.

"We are aware that Alinghi was sailing with a boat of three years (...)". "They have a whole nine awaiting them in the shed", however, recognizes Terry Hutchinson, the New Zealand tactician who will, also, have a new boat, "NZL 92", launched in Auckland in mid-October. "Everything is in place, now, is the team to arrive from boat performance to win a regatta. "To achieve this, we start now a race against the clock", summarizes Grant Dalton, manager of the team.

"The competition narrows, everybody can beat everybody to face Alinghi in the final," provides Francesco de Angelis, the skippeur of the Italian boat "luna Rossa Challenge". However, it is difficult, of the other 8 ships, can really compete with head trio consisting of "emirates Team new zealand", "bmw Oracle" and "Luna Rossa Challenge," whose budgets are between 120 and 150 million euros ("Les Echos" from June 27). Only the 4th place, synonymous with semi-final of the Louis Vuitton Cup, seems open to the rest of the fleet, with, among the Favorites, the Spanish Desafio, Italians from Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team, the Sweden's Victory Challenge, the South Africans of Team Shosholoza and the French of Areva Challenge.

Communication campaign

The arrival of the French specialist of nuclear power as main sponsor of the "K-Challenge", with in anyway 12.5 million, gave the certainty that the France would be well present in the final competition in 2007. "We have had several months to develop a new vessel construction was carried out at the site of La Ciotat." "The"Fra 93"should be launched in the coming days," said Stephane Kandler, the Director of the team, renamed the Areva Challenge.

For China Team, "Les echos" are partners, he continues his "apprenticeship", said Xavier of Lesquin, Director-General announces the update the next water of new "CHN 95" built on the site of Dong Guan (China).

The Act XII was the last opportunity for Alinghi to compete in "match race" to its competitors. Act XIII, which will be held in Valencia from 3 to 7 April 2007, again involving the Swiss boat will be played in fleet. The Swiss will then leave the 11 challengers to compete for the Louis Vuitton Cup from April 18 to June 12, which the winner will meet Alinghi starting June 23 in the "game" of the America's Cup. The name of the winner of the 32nd edition should then be known to no later than July 7.

On the side of the Organizer, the ACM (America's Cup), whose budget amounts to 210 million of revenue for 195 million of expenditures, took conscience that the event should be a little better "sold" in Europe where large offshore race has the wind in its sails. Hence the launch of a communications campaign that led organizers to travel throughout the year, the major European cities.

Side sponsorship, ACM has virtually sealed off its program with the presence of Vuitton, Endesa, Santander and Alcatel paid a ticket estimated at 15 million, and 7 suppliers (Nespresso, Adecco, Ford, Coca-Cola, etc.) for 2.5 million. While the Generalitat of Valencia and the Spanish Government spent about 500 million in port development.