Racing teams ready for CNEV Regatta in Valencia

9:08 AM Fri 7 Nov 2008 GMT

'Desafio Espanol sailing off Valencia working up for the Desafio Trophy' Valenciasailing.com Click Here to view large photo

The second annual regatta of the Club Nautico Espa?ol de Vela (CNEV) was presented Thursday in Valencia. Four teams on board ACC yachts and over 70 RN cruisers and Platu 25 will race at the 2nd Trofeo Desaf??o Espa?ol in Valencia this weekend. The fourth team to officially enter the ACC regatta is Luna Rossa.

The press conference was attended by Manuel Chirivella, president of the CNEV, Challenger of Record of the 33rd America's Cup; Laureano Wizner, traveller for Desaf??o Espa?ol; Murray Jones, strategist and helmsman of Alinghi for this event; Rober Scheidt, strategist of Luna Rossa; Ben Ainslie, skipper of Team Origin 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 of Desaf??o Espa?ol, 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 Brazilian sailor won a silver medal in the 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 by thanking Desaf??o Espa?ol for lending ESP 88 to Team Origin for the races and hoped that 'we can go on with the racing'. This will be the first regatta for the Team Origin crew on an ACC boat.

Thursday the four ACC had a training fleet race. The first race is scheduled for Friday at 1pm. There will be races also on Saturday and Sunday.

by Neus Jordi

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Racing teams ready for CNEV Regatta in Valencia

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