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From the 8th to the 11th of May, five LONGTZE Premier sportboats will be in France and on the start line for the Naval School Grand Prix; the largest gathering of sportboats in Europe. LONGTZE Premier is the guest star of the event. At the same time, the team in Asia will race in Korea, at the Yisunshin Cup during May and the Korea Match Racing Cup in June.
"They're on the way! Nine production series boats are headed for Europe.
Last November 27th, the New York court ruling over the Oracle-Alinghi conflict ruled against the Swiss and gave a favorable ruling the Americans. The 33rd Americica's Cup Protocol is no longer valid and Alinghi must now define the parameters of the next edition with Oracle, who has become effectively the next Challenger of Record.
Longtze Premier finished its circle November 18th following its tour of Hong-Kong. Finishing 3rd in real time within the fleet, it was a race which closed up a week of sailing in Hong-Kong. After the tests, competitions, and finalizations, this last stage validates the modifications in view of LONGTZE Premier’s last outing.
After Shenzhen, where LONGTZE Premier won the China Cup International Regatta in the sport boat category, the team has set up their headquarters in Hong-Kong. On the program, a week of competition the 11th to the 18th of November.
The first is Singaporean, the second Chinese. They are both two members of China Team and sailed in Valencia during the 32nd America’s Cup in Valencia. They have participated in the adventure and launching of the Longtze Premier class in China. They were the first Asiatic sailors to race in the China Cup on the prototype #2.
China Cup finished the evening of October 21st. Longtze Premier landed at the top of the Sport Boat Class. Luc Gellusseau, who supervised the construction of the first test boats, was on board during the regatta and gives his first reactions of the boat’s debut.
China Team has won their class, Sport Boat, in the China Cup. A great start!
The China Cup started this Saturday, 20th of October at Shenzhen in China. Longtze Premier, the prototype produced by the team has been remarkable. First in fleet, in compensated and real time for the first race, second in the second race, it was a beautiful way to start...A tour of the exciting day in images.
Discover the new website developed by China Team for LONGTZE Premier, the new Sport Boat Class, produced in China, by the team. Get together at www.longtze.org!
From the 19th to 21st of this upcoming October, China is organising its first international sailing competition: the China Cup. China Team will sail their new Sport Boat, produced locally, the new class, LONGTZE PREMIER.
Following the litigation in which Oracle and Alinghi battling, facing a blocked situation and a proceedure taking longer than expected, ACM could envision delaying the America's Cup.
The first prototype of LONGTZE Premier, the new Sport Boat class produced by China Team, has been displayed in the Shenzhen airport since September 29th and will continue on for the next two months. First passes …
The two prototype boats of the Longtze Premier series produced in China have left the yard last week and are in the testing phase in Qingdao. Discover them for the first time!
It is the story of a 13 year old youngster, who lived in Aubervilliers and found himself in the Courneuve park one afternoon, looking at the remote control boats sailing around on the pond.
In a press release published yesterday, Alinghi announced having amended the Protocol rules of the 33rd America’s Cup to take into account challengers objections, and in particular BMW Oracle Racing objections. The Defender launched its last appeal to the Americans to rejoin the competition and end their legal actions.
The New-York Supreme court handed down their first decision on Wednesday Septemeber 10th deciding not to take any first actions in the conflict between Oracle and Alinghi concerning the subject of the next edition of the Cup.
A 7 meter keel boat, produced in China by China Team and which is to be called Longtze Premier, is the surprise of the homecoming. A competitive and lively boat for the team but destined to be commerciallized in China and Internationally. A few questions posed to Pierre Mas, installed in Qingdao, on the Yellow Sea Coast, who is supervising the work.
United Internet Team Germany has become the fifth official challenge to enter under the Protocol for the 33rd America's Cup.
Sailing on the new sport boat, Longtze Premier, developed and produced by China Team, leaving the boatyard at the end of September, the team will be participating in its first big international Chinese sailing event, the China Cup International. They will also take part in the sport keelboat Asian-Pacific Championships, which will take place in Hong-Kong in November. In China, it will be a full program of activities leading up to the end of 2007.
The New York Supreme Court has decided to speed up the legal procedures following the request of the Golden Gate Yacht Club, the Club representing BMW/Oracle, contesting the protocol of the next America’s Cup in Valencia 2009. The judges have fixed September 10th as the date of the first hearing and have asked the Société Nautique de Genève, the yacht club representing Alinghi, to rapidly produce their defense, at the latest date being September 5th.
The Italian syndicate started in 1996 by Patricio Bertarelli, owner of Prada, will not be on the start line for the 33rd America’s Cup.
In a press conference given on Wednesday 25th July in the port America’s Cup, Ernesto Bertarelli and the principal Valencian authorities, Francisco Camps, president of the region, including the Mayoress Rita Barbera, have announced that the 33rd edition will take place in Valencia in 2009.
TeamOrigin, the British syndicate, was accepted yesterday by the Société Nautique de Genève as the 3rd official challenger. The anticipated Wednesday announcement of the city to host the 33rd edition of the Cup has been put off until the end of August. The Americans have legal actions pending in the New York Supreme Court concerning the protocol proposed by ACM and Alinghi and Russel Coutts has signed on with Oracle.
Team Shosholoza, the South African syndicate, on July 19th has officially entered to participate in the 33rd edition of the America’s Cup. Team Shosholoza also joins the “Challenger of Record”, Desafío Español and the Defender Alinghi in the circle of first confirmed entries.
There are stormy skies in the America’s Cup. The American syndicate, Oracle Racing contests the validity of the Protocol and challenges Alinghi in July 2008. Louis Vuitton puts to an end a quarter century of partnership.
In a press conference given the 5th of July in Valencia, Alinghi and the America’s Cup Management have announced the end of the America’s Cup Class but haven’t divulged the date or the venue of the next competition.
5-2, the Swiss have crossed the finish line one second ahead to keep the Cup. It is an extraordinary match full of excitement. It is the victory for some and deception for others. Everything is very close between the two top racing teams. But it is overall, incredible match racing…
The Swiss close up the score this Saturday in Valencia Four points to two for the Defender which only needs one more point to hold onto the auld mug. It is a decisive match for Alinghi at the end of sumptuous match. It is also a victory which gives them the momentum to win tomorrow.
The Defender took advantage of a New Zealand out-of-control spinnaker to retake the lead from the Challenger. Unfortunately, the New Zealanders couldn’t recover from their errors. Dominating from the beginning of the race, they have NZL92 at their disposition, which is just as fast as that of the Swiss, even in a 15 knot breeze. In these conditions, even though perfect for suspense and interesting racing, the least thing broken or the least error could have fatal consequences.
Alinghi today equalized the score bringing it to 2-2. It was a classic regatta, led by the Swiss from beginning to end.
Victory goes to the Kiwis today, Monday, in the 3rd race of the America's Cup. A race charged with suspense, a race that everyone believed the New Zealanders would win by the first beat. Having been largely dominated during half of the race, Alinghi made an incredible comeback and we thought they had stolen away a fantastic victory. But like Sunday, the Kiwis never let go. We witnessed a true duel of titans in the last upwind leg and up until the last minute, nobody would be able to predict what would happen. I twas a grand and exciting match and also a magnificent New Zealand victory. At the end of a completely crazy race, Emirates Team New Zealand has wrestled a away an hallucinating second point. It is also a terrible defeat for the Swiss team and one that will hurt moral badly.
What a regatta! Suspense, emotion, boats within striking distance for an hour and a half and the New Zealanders moved into the lead on the last beat and crossed the line 120 meters in front of the Swiss. Kiwis Magic!
In a delirious America's Cup village, filled with Swiss and New Zealand supporters, the first race of the 32nd edition offered a Helvetica Victory following a magnificent duel in 14 knots of wind and bumpy wave conditions. Emirates Team New Zealand is defeated and crosses the line 35 seconds behind Alinghi. It is a fantastic victory for the Bertarelli team!
This morning, the Swiss defender and the New Zealand challenger, met for a press conference with the Auld Cup symbolically placed between them. The two teams showed their desire to win it. It is the hour that the whole world has been waiting for is approaching….. The Swiss still haven’t divulged their helmsman and they seem confident of their boat’s, SUI 100, performance, the Kiwis arrived looking content and serene. There was a light hearted atmosphere with lots of joking, but nothing was really brought out into the open. The press conference is mostly the occasion to take photos and see the two adversaries shake hands before the battle to the death. The real meeting will be on the water and the first ten minutes after the start will tell more than all recent discussions. The Cup starts tomorrow, Saturday, at 3:00!
In 4 days, the starting gun sounds for the 32nd America’s Cup. Alinghi, the Swiss defender against Emirates Team New Zealand, the New Zealand challenger. In the meantime, the scene is calm in the America’s Cup village, on the water the teams are sharpening their skills, the tension is mounting on the radio-dock.
1995 : Team New Zealand wins the America’s Cup 5-0 in San Diego facing the American’s; 2000 : Team New Zealand holds onto the Cup, 5-0 against the Italians from Prada ; 2003 : Team New Zealand loses 0-5 against the Swiss and the Cup flies to Europe; 2007 : Team New Zealand wins the Louis Vuitton Cup 5-0 against Prada. The Kiwis and the Cup, it is a long and beautiful story without concessions. It is a story of creating a legendary team, victory and defeat, renaissance and re-conquest…
New Zealand’s hour of revenge has sounded. 4 years after the debacle in Auckland, New Zealand has the chance to recover this precious trophy. The victory in the Louis Vuitton Cup finals against Luna Rossa is absolute: 5 matches to nothing. Team New Zealand has passed all the buoys in the lead.
Team New Zealand is no more than one match away from entering the ring with Alinghi. Victorious once again, Grant Dalton's Kiwis continue their momentum and lead here on out, 4 victories to zero. For Luna Rossa, from now on the game is very simple: they must win, win, win, win and win and never again ….lose.
Spectacular! For the 3rd consecutive day, the New Zealanders have won their regatta…and to win is an understatement. They simply smashed their adversary.
Second victory Saturday for Team New Zealand, followed by a throng of delirious New Zealand supporters, watching on the giant screens of the village, celebrating at each passing of a line or buoy by their favorite team! It should be said today that today’s victory was a beautiful one.
Emirate Team New Zealand wins the first regatta of the Louis Vuitton Cup. A close regatta, with the teams practically continuously in contact, but Dean Barker leads on all four legs. The two teams each started well, the Kiwis crossed the line with a one second head start over their adversary, wanting the right side and taking it. They lead by 12 seconds at the first mark but the spread never exceeded two boat lengths. The two finalists sailed perfectly and despite the attempts by Spithill to put pressure on Barker, the Kiwis crossed the finish line 8 seconds in front of the Italians. More racing tomorrow!
The much awaited hour is approaching. The Louis Vuitton Cup finals start tomorrow at 15:00. The two strongest challengers of the fleet will face each other for the best of 5 races on the Valencia waters. While waiting, the pressure is mounting. The teams training on the water are watched carefully and the whole world speculates. Yesterday, Emirates Team New Zealand dared a match with Alinghi. Thursday morning, it was time for a kickoff press conference. We were waiting for Spithill and Barker. It was the navigator from Luna Rossa Challenge, Andy Horton, and Terry Hutchinson, Emirates Team New Zealand who answered questions from the press. It is proof that the helmsmen are under pressure and the teams are looking to keep them under wraps. Selected excerpts.
Starting Friday June 1st to the 12th, Prada Challenge and Emirates Team New Zealand will face each other in the finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup. The winner, the first to win 5 regattas, will bring home the Louis Vuitton Cup and with that, the right to face Alinghi in the 32nd America’s Cup Match. In the arena are two teams, but above all two men, two young talented helmsmen: James Spithill, 28 years old, Australian and helmsman of the Italian boat, facing Dean Barker, 33 years old, a New Zealander and helmsman of the Kiwi boat.
A stronger team for the next edition, established sports goals, important activities in China starting next October, Xavier de Lesquen, executive manager of China Team, explained the future of the syndicate. Interview.
Luna Rossa was decisively stronger than BMW Oracle. Once again, it was a badly managed pre-start by the American boat (biggest budget in the competition). Oracle remained in the game for the semi-finals, but was soundly defeated by Luna Rossa Challenge (5 victories to one). The Italian challenge will again find itself in the finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup, which it won in 2000. They must only wait to know who their competition will be. In another upset win over Team New Zealand, El Desafio remains on the playing field, led by the New Zealanders 4 to 2.
James Spithill, Australian, (Luna Rossa) teaches his older brother again, New Zealander Chris Dickson (BMW Oracle race). Pushed two times into fouls during the pre-start maneuvers, the Americans coped two penalties and could only watch the Italian boat tranquilly control the rest of the race. In the other semi-final, a new victory for Team New Zealand against El Desafiol. The New Zealanders and the Italians aren't any more than one victory away from qualifying for the finals. The America’s Cup dreams are slipping away for the two losers of the day. The Spanish and Americans no longer have any margin for error: if they lose tomorrow, they will be eliminated.
Given a slower start than the American boat, ITA 94 shows, day after day, a remarkable speed, notably upwind. With Torben Grael, tactically superior, it is only logical that Luna Rossa dominates for a third time against BMW Oracle Racing (24 seconds). The Kiwis correct the scorecard and relegate El Desafio to 42 seconds at the finish line. The Kiwis and Italians are not more than 2 victories away from the Louis Vuitton Cup finals.
Zhu Xinli, Huiyuan Juice President, organized a press conference last May 11 in Pekin, the company?s headquarters, for the returning Chinese sailors.Chosen exerpts.
El Desafio is still in the running. Karol Jablonski takes his revenge, in handing a penalty to Team New Zealand at the start. The Spanish boat perfectly controls the race for the rest of the day and offers Valencia a first convincing and promising victory, (1 minute and 14 seconds lead). In the other semi-final, James Spithill again won the start against Chris Dickson and was successful today in keeping their lead all the way to the finish line, crossing the line 31 seconds ahead. Luna Rossa retakes the points lead, two victories to one.
The wind in Valencia today is more regular and 10 to 12 knots of breeze on the water offered a superb spectacle. After a catastrophic start and a one minute deficit at the first mark, Chris Dickson and his team sailed perfectly and passed Luna Rossa on the last leg. The teams are equal with one victory each, but BMW Oracle seems to have a quicker boat. There wasn´t a Spanish surprise in the second race of the day with Team New Zealand winning by a good lead and carrying to matches to zero over the Spanish.
The television coverage for this edition is certainly the most substantial in all of the history of this event. More than 30 rights holder television chains across the world broadcast the 32nd America’s Cup, and practically in every continent.
According to the spanish press, the owner of Alinghi, announced this week-end that if they were to win this 32nd edition, they would organize the next event in 2009 in Valencia
In a quite variable wind, the first points of the Louis Vuitton Cup semi-finals are distributed to the Italians and the New Zealanders.Team New Zealand made their competition respect the pecking order and quickly dispatched the Spanish boat. Against the favorite BMW Oracle, Luna Rossa set an example by their excellent reading of the race course and left the Americans behind by two minutes.
It is a logical conclusion. The four biggest budgets in the competition have their places in the Louis Vuitton Cup semi-finals. Emirates Team New Zealand, the series winner arrived on top of the classification in front of BMW Oracle, Luna Rossa Challenge and Desafio Español.
For 7 teams including China Team, the 32nd America´s Cup has become history wednesday. It is already time for taking stock of recollections or memories (good and bad) in this campaign with small tour on the dock to get reactions …
Last sunny day for Longtze, welcomed to port by a cheering crowd, all had come to say goodbye to the son of the Dragon. Earlier in the day, Spain celebrated with the rise of their team to the semi-finals in the Louis Vuitton Cup.
The Louis Vuitton Cup still has not reached a final verdict. Victory Challenge remains in the running and Team New Zealand caught up with Luna Rossa. The wind was not favorable for China Team, beaten by Areva Challenge.
Shifty winds delay starting flight eight with the powerhouses consolidating their positions for the semi-finals and the also rans going through the last maneuvers before their exits from the Louis Vuitton Cup. China Team made their best efforts to contain the lighting fast New Zealanders but Emirates New Zealand took no chances in a repeat upset from the Chinese, and sped away to victory. Onboard Longtze, LIU Chengqi (19 years old), the youngest sailor of the America’s Cup sailed his first official race.
General Director of the international MTV Chinese area, Li Yifei is considered be one of the most visible Chinese entrepreneurs in the world and one of the most influential female figures in China. Co-Investor in China Team, last year she organized a spectacular television show, which presented the team to more than 300 million television viewers in China. Impressions after 24 hours in Valencia, about the 32nd America’s Cup which she is experiencing from the inside for the first time.
The leaders were all victorious in Valencia today. In more or less regular wind (12 knots), no one would surprise the big teams and the foursome in the top are becoming slowly more defined. China Team submitted to the law of Mascalzone Latino.
The weather conditions are finally ideal in Valencia. The sun has returned, accompanied by a good thermal breeze. BMW Oracle reconfirms (justifiably) their superiority against Luna Rossa Challenge. The Italian syndicate now sees the Kiwis as their competition to gain second place. El Desafio and Team Shosholoza defeat China Team.
Zhu Xinli, Chairman of Huiyman Juice, the first big Chinese sponsor, arrived from China at the base in Valencia this morning, for a press conference with Chinese and European media, before sailing as the 18th man in today’s racing.
It was THE day everyone was waiting for. The "clash of the Titans" between Luna Rossa and Oracle for a duel to separate the two, each one has 27 points in the standings. China Team, for their part had on their calendar an exciting match with the South African team. The start of the races held back by an hour because of thunderous weather and rain with 5-6 knots of wind were eventually cancelled. The thermal breeze never developed and the days sailing moved forward. Rendez-vous for tomorrow!
Cloudy with 10 knots of wind, Louis Vuitton is back on schedule. Two races have been run, unfortunately lost by Longtze, not spared from technical problems. It was not exactly a surprise to see the same teams victorious, even if Oracle had to escape from jail twice.
On shore while waiting for the races, life stops. On each base, it is the moment that the whole world waits for, following the race of their team. Once every four years, we have the right “at the office” to watch the television from 14:00 to 17:00, with toes cooling off but the emotion on fire…
Today I met David in Valencia ...
The normally calm Valencia waters took on a stormy aspect. Established at more than 35 knots, with gusts to 35 the race committe wisely took the decision for fleet to head back to port. There will be two starts tomorrow to make up for the lost time.
China Team takes its first victory in the Louis Vuitton Cup and against no less than the leader.....Oracle. Longtze crossed the line 3 minutes 34 seconds in front of the favorite. Magnificent!!!
You are the weakest link! Good bye” This well-known phrase that comes from a popular television show, will be repeated practically every night in greeting certain returning teams.
The last act of the Louis Vuitton Cup, Round Robin 2, started quietly today. The wind is still too weak and 2 regattas are put off. Longtze shows good potential against Luna Rossa but the Italians are too strong. BMW wins again and it is Victory who comes out victorious in the final death match with Shosholoza.
The repairs on Longtze are finished. China Team will be on the starting line tomorrow for the beginning of Round Robin 2.
A repair competition within the America's Cup
After the events that occurred yesterday, China Team’s technical team began a real sprint to prepare the boat and have it on the starting line for the beginning of Round Robin 2 tomorrow. Emamanuel Alban, structural engineer gave these explanations.
The sound of breaking carbon. Longtze is wounded but not sunk!
No big turnovers in the classification since the beginning of the Louis Vuitton.
Valencia, 26 April 2007 At the beginning of sailing today, the crew discovered a perceived problem in the keel box (the junction between the keel and the hull). It was necessary for CHN95 to leave the starting zone and to investigate further. The repair work has been organized rapidly in order for China Team to return to competition as soon as possible. The repair work is estimated to take 72 hours. Luc Gellusseau, chief operations manager
Under a hot haze and 10 to 18 knots of thermal wind, the Louis Vuitton Cup seems to have gotten back on track. For the first time, two consecutive days of races have been run without interruption. The whole world has taken a sigh of relief. Very few surprises on the water today with the favorites winning their races. Longtze lost honorably against the Spanish, before quitting the second race because of a technical problem.
Finally today the racing for the Louis Vuitton cup started in 7-8 winds on the North and South courses and the wait was worth it by with tight racing and some big upsets. The upper winds changed direction giving Valencia good sailing winds. China Team despite very even starts would bow to their competition United Internet Team Germany and Shosholoza.
From the Chase Boat, Luc Gellusseau observes analyses and comments on his 5th Americas Cup. Today’s comments: "sun and jacuzzi in Valencia."
Huiyuan a Chinese fruit juice company has become a China Team sponsor for the America's Cup.
Even if it was possible to run the first regatta, the wind diminished at the end of the afternoon forcing the teams to return to port sooner than expected. The second series of races were put back on the calendar. China Team sailed very fast but were defeated by Victory Challenge. The favorites were victorious and Team New Zealand returns to third place, equal in points with Mascalzone and Victory Challenge.
After five days out of six without races, due to wind, the Challengers met Saturday night, to redefine the program for Round Robins 1 and 2. The organisation made public the decision for rescheduling the races.
The selection of the best challenger has begun. The thermal breeze showed itself today after all of Valencia thought it be another day without. China Team was defeated by two to the big favorites, Luna Rossa Challenge and BMW Oracle. Mascalzone Latino created the first big sensation in doing away with Team New Zealand in a tight match.
The new program
The races were cancelled for the third consecutive day. The Louis Vuitton Cup has started but we now wonder where it has gone? The problem is no wind!
Today Tuesday April 17th China Team was supposed to meet the Swedish from Victory Challenge and the Germans from United Team Germany. The wind, too light, for the second day of racing, postponed the start until finally being abandoned. While on the water, impatience won over the challengers who still haven't raced any of their matches for the Louis Vuitton Cup, but life onshore continues. A small stroll along the avenues and corridors of Valencia with Patrick Grippe, photographer, who loves to explore Valencia in as much as the Mediterranean…
The races were abandoned today due to the lack of wind on the racecourse. On the program for tomorrow, China Team will be up against United Internet Team Germany and Shosholoza. The races for today have been rescheduled for the end of Round Robin 1.
The skipper’s press conference Saturday morning, a huge nautical parade Saturday night, and the syndicate director’s press conference Sunday morning, the Prada evening Sunday night, first matches starting Monday at 14:00. The 32nd America’s Cup has started well and wonderfully at the same time.
The China Team lounge bar was inaugurated April 12th. More than a 1000 people went through between 22:00 and 5 in the morning to discover a panoramic view from the DRAGON dominating the Cup village, have a drink, and find themselves among friends. It was a very Spanish atmosphere, late at night, beautiful lights, with music blasting from the ground level of the base. Above all, it was the occasion to discover a terrace open, to the public, everyday of the week between 13:00 and 03:00 (early morning) in the spirit of a transparent base. It shares with the Valencian people, the life a sailing team. It is also the only terrace of the village where anyone can lunch, dine, have a drink, see the boats return from the regattas, the team members work, stow away sails, or follow the team briefings. Captured in images…
Zhao Fei, 23 years old, nicknamed "Fly", discovered sailing at 13 years old and the America´s Cup Class at 22. Originally from Qingdao, a universiy Oceanic student in China, he sells computer accessories with an associate. He also manages networks and is a web developer in Flash. Chinese 420 champion in 2002 5th in 470, he is one of the first Chinese sailors selected for the team. His impressions the day after Act 13.
After Act 13, the Louis Vuitton Cup starts next Monday, the 16th of April. The challengers have five days in front of them to sharpen their weapons before the cup starts. The Louis Vuitton Cup, a series of duels between two boats, in match racing format, determines the best of the challengers. Only the winner can meet the holder of the title, Alinghi, for the final match or the America’s Cup.
It was the end of Act XIII today, with an exciting Spanish victory in the first race of the day, the first of this season, battled by seconds, and Longtze in the game for this last regatta which ends with a victory by Alinghi without any concessions. The Swiss, winners for most of the fleet races of this 32nd edition, dominated Act 13. They are the overall champions before leaving the scene just before the final match this upcoming June 23rd.
With 12 to 18 knots of wind, sun and waves, Valencia offered an ideal environment this afternoon. Longtze offered up a good first regatta staying in contact with the other teams. Alinghi and Team New Zealand share the points while Longtze started to show its paces. “We feel like we have caught up with the rest of the fleet” Wearn Haw TAN explains.
For today, it was one "without". Without wind, without visibility, without sun. The whole world was waiting for the the eventual start of the race. The America's Cup Class boats made the rounds in the starting area, the spectators in the rain in front of the gigantic screens where they couldn't see anything, the journalists in the starting blocks who finished their day in the coffee shop.... In short, the verdict came at 16H30. A cancelled day and rescheduled for Saturday which was supposed to be a day off! So it will all be started again, hopefully with wind and sun!
While the weather forecast was for light and weakening wind, the weather conditions degraded during the afternoon, provoking a series of breakages and technical difficulties, the most spectacular being the collapse of +39’s mast. The winner of the day, Alinghi, two times victorious is at the top of the leader board. Longtze finished 12th, then 9th in the second race.
After a long 10 month break, the 12 America's Cup Class yachts today launched the start of the 13th and last Louis Vuitton Act. In a weak and unstable wind, only one of the planned races was run. BMW Oracle won after incessant position changes and took the lead in the standings. Longtze leapfrogged Victory Challenge and finished in eleventh position.
Jean-Christophe BABIN, CEO of Tag Heuer and WANG Chaoyong, president of China Team, Monday 2nd of April, made official Tag Heuer’s increased support within China Team, the first Chinese representatives in the history of the America’s Cup.
First skippers press conference this morning in Valencia before the first race previewed for tomorrow at 14:00. 11 challengers and one defender will be on the start line for 4 days of competition. Today we learned that Dean Barker (Emirates Team New Zealand), Francesco de Angelis (Prada Challenge) and Vasco Vascotto (Mazcalzone Latino) will not helm their boats for these Act 13 fleet races. Selected excerpts….
It was a big open house day open in the America's Cup village on this Sunday 1st of April and on the bases of the twelve teams. At 9H30 this morning, the skirts came off the new generation of Americas Cup Class yachts. After a small stroll from North to South of the Darsena with Philippe Pallu de la Barrière from China Design Team, these are his comments about the "undersides" of the other boats two days before the start of the 32nd America's Cup.
The America’s Cup is in its final stretches, from 3rd of April to the 7th of July. A quick reminder for the competition dates before the canon first sounds off.
The countdown has begun. Act 13 starts in 5 days, 3rd of April. In Valencia, the excitement is mounting !
Sunday 25th March 2007, the Valencia Chinese Community came to celebrate at the China Team base. On the program were dancing, songs, karaoke and despite the windy cold, a warm atmosphere.
Sundays images with the Chinese community of Valencia at the China Team base.
Frank Pong, a well-known sailor in Asia, former commodore of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, owner-skipper of offshore sailboats and Honorary Chairman of China Team has arrived in Valencia where he has installed himself for the duration of the Cup. An interview with a passionate person, with a sparkling glance, always changing … especially when the subject is about sailing adventures and boats!
CHINA TEAM was welcomed Thursday night to the Chinese Embassy in Paris. Orchestrated by the Business Club, the night brought together partner enterprises and numerous guests, representing western and Chinese companies in France.
China Team has just opened its doors. Conceived as being a big window, the team’s activities are visible from the street and from the terrace open to the public. We interviewed Françoise Raynaud, architect, director of the Loci Anima agency, the originator of a interestingly original and economic project.
Basketball player, model, actress, Xin Li, is the godmother of Longtze and ambassador for the team. Here we meet a beautiful young woman, full of charm but also very natural and with her feet on the ground.
Sunday 12 March, CHINA TEAM welcomed 60 children adopted by Valencian parents, for a visit to the base and an encounter with the sailors.
Tuesday March 6th at 20h30, the first Chinese America’s Cup class in the history of the America’s Cup was christened in Valencia, Spain. CHN95 has become Longtze, "the son of the dragon". Longtze will carry the Chinese colors during the 32nd America’s Cup, starting April 3rd 2007.
Helmsman of CHN95, Pierre Mas, three America’s Cup campaigns to his credit, gives us his impressions on the new Chinese boat, his vision of the Cup, and his ambitions.
They are between 19 and 28 years old, five Chinese and one Singapourian. They have sailed in Lasers, 420’s and 470’s and have been selected following the “Sailing Camps” organized in China starting two years ago. They represent this new generation of sailors trained by the China Team and will remain on this mythic team in the first Chinese America’s Cup. Sample portraits…
CHINA TEAM celebrated on February 18th the Chinese new year at the Monte Picayo Casino accompanied in part by the Valencia Chinese Community. It was also the occasion to celebrate CHN95 first sailing and to symbolically mark the passage towards a new phase of preparation for the competition.