Desafío Español has acquired the two OneWorld boats from the last America's Cup and is using them as a training and testing platform, as well as the former America True boat, USA-51.
With its challenge, Desafío Español inherits the 'home team' mantle from the Defender Alinghi, which brought the America's Cup to Valencia. It is a well funded project, and has many positive things going for it.
The OneWorld package of boats and design information is a tremendous head start for the team. The boats were among the fastest in Auckland, and this should benefit Reichel & Pugh tremendously as they move forward with the new design.
While the sailing team features a majority of Spanish sailors with prior Cup experience or achievements at the Olympics, several international sailors have been included to broaden the experience of the crew, including Karol Jablonski and Jesper Radich.
Desafío Español 2007 made a strong debut on home waters in Valencia in June. The team finished equal fifth on points with Victory Challenge in the match races, dropping down a place by virtue of the tie-break. The Spanish struggled in the fleet racing however, but on the last day, the team put it all together, winning the final race to conclude the regatta on a high note. With the win, Desafío Español finished eighth in Act 5.
The Spanish continued their good form in Malmö, finishing fifth in both the match and fleet racing events. It's a good trend for the team who are looking to threaten the 'big four' in the future. Desafío Español had its worst match racing result in Trapani - eighth - but earned its best fleet racing finish with a fourth. In the end the team was fifth for the season championship.
2006 was a good year for the Spaniards in match racing, with two fifth place finishes in the match racing Acts. But a ninth in the fleet racing of Louis Vuitton Act 11 held the team back to sixth place on the season championship board. The team is now well positioned in fourth place on the Louis Vuitton Ranking for challengers however, with a 12 point lead over its nearest rival.
www.desafioespanol2007.com
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