Team CEO Russell Coutts was wearing his RC 44 hat this afternoon at the Veles e Vents building in the Port of Valencia, where he was on hand to announce the RC 44 Valencia Cup, which will take place this summer from July 27th thru August 1st.
It will mark the first time the class has held a regatta in Valencia, which has been the host city for the past two America's Cup Matches.
"Life will be coming back to the Darsena," Coutts, the chairman of the RC 44 Class said. "Before the regatta, the teams will arrive; many normally practice practice for up to a week and then there are two days of match racing and three days fleet racing."
In contrast to the AC racing in Valencia, the RC 44 regattas are typically raced much closer to land, making for exciting viewing opportunities for spectators. Each regatta involves both match and fleet racing.
"The racing will be close to shore. This is good for spectators and it allows us to swap guests between races," Coutts explained to the assembled media.
"It is a class rule that there must be a guest or media person on board for each race, so I suggest you guys get your name on the list right now if you want to see first hand how Larry Ellison and I sail, or Paul Cayard and Torben Tornqvist operate!"
The RC 44 Valencia Cup will begin with a match racing event. After a full round robin held over two days, team owners will take the helm for three days of fleet races.
It will mark the first time the class has held a regatta in Valencia, which has been the host city for the past two America's Cup Matches.
"Life will be coming back to the Darsena," Coutts, the chairman of the RC 44 Class said. "Before the regatta, the teams will arrive; many normally practice practice for up to a week and then there are two days of match racing and three days fleet racing."
(L-R: Gerardo Pombo - President RFEV, the Spanish national sailing federation,
Jorge Gisbert - General Director Consorcio Vlc 2007,
Russell Coutts, Vicente Meseguer - RCNV Commodore)
In contrast to the AC racing in Valencia, the RC 44 regattas are typically raced much closer to land, making for exciting viewing opportunities for spectators. Each regatta involves both match and fleet racing.
"The racing will be close to shore. This is good for spectators and it allows us to swap guests between races," Coutts explained to the assembled media.
"It is a class rule that there must be a guest or media person on board for each race, so I suggest you guys get your name on the list right now if you want to see first hand how Larry Ellison and I sail, or Paul Cayard and Torben Tornqvist operate!"
The RC 44 Valencia Cup will begin with a match racing event. After a full round robin held over two days, team owners will take the helm for three days of fleet races.
