While most teams were taking a well-deserved post-Trapani break, BMWOR barely paused to catch our collective breath. Most of those at Trapani flew back to VLC on Monday, and by Tuesday morning joined our colleagues who stayed in Valencia (or had flown in from elsewhere) for an intensive week of meetings to debrief Trapani and 2005, and to confirm plans for 2006 and 2007.

Throw in photo shoots, match race practice (Dicko is heading a team at the upcoming Bermuda Gold Cup, while Bert, Eric Doyle and others will also be hitting the match racing road over the next few months), preparations for the upcoming yacht club tour in the USA in late October and early November, plus normal day-to-day admin -- whatta week. But a highly productive and fruitful one.

We end our 2005 European season on a high note, with successes on the water and off, a good team spirit, and more than a bit of excitement about and anticipation for the coming 18 months.

While we were away at Malmo and Trapani the progress in the Darsena ("Port America's Cup") has been remarkable, let alone the all the work that Grant "Guthrie" Davidson and co. achieved on our soon-to-be-completed team base. (See the Valencia Sailing website for a nice photo essay on the various team bases.)

Last evening there were rather different functions at three of the team bases.

Alinghi had a formal christening of their new base replete with spotlights, red carpets and high government officials giving speeches and signing protocols on furthering cooperation between Switzerland and the Valencian Community.

At Shosholoza a dozen of their support team gathered for a quiet beer. When the yachts and containers arrive back from Trapani this week, the much improved Shosho will be begin several weeks of training and testing here (as will Alinghi and one or two of the other teams) in the increasingly chilly and fickle winds of el otoño Valenciano -- the Valencian autumn.

Meanwhile, our team had a lively yet relaxing barbecue with our families and friends. Long after the lights were out at Alinghi the fun was continuining at our base, loud rock music and not a single speech!


Yet another photo shoot this week. A cooperative, professional
attitude within the team about such things makes the marketing dept's
life a lot easier, to say nothing of some very happy sponsors.


The car buffs checking out the stunning new BMW 6 series convertible
coupe. Truth is, LOL, John "Z" Ziskind was trying to figure out how to turn
off the traction control.


Match race practice in our SM40s in the Darsena, replicating the
conditions the guys will find at the Gold Cup in Bermuda. That event
takes place next week and is run in the confines of Hamilton Harbour,
just off the Royal Bermuda YC breakwater.


Meetings galore, but productive and fruitful. The team now scatters
to the four corners of the globe (aside from the increasingly large
contingent now living fulltime here in VLC) for the next 90 days or so.
We made clear and convincing progress in 2005, and our work is well
organized -- indeed, cut out for us -- in 2006. Nice, too, to end the year
at the top of the all-important Louis Vuitton Challenger Rankings.


Last night's family and friends BBQ at our nearly-completed base,
in what will be the rig shop. The kids were invited to paint the west wall,
and paint they did...


...with spray cans...

...paint brushes...


...even rollers.


Aliens, or budding carbonologists? Boys will be boys.


Even the big kids got into the act. Data whiz Asim Khan (PAK).


By the end of the evening, Asim's work had, LOL, been
worked over.


Seeing red: an impressionist interpretation of a match race
start between China Team and Mascalzone?


"Mugs, wouldn't it be great to have another?"


Pedro making a point with Bert looking on. Our new, buttoned-
down afterguard with Dicko has been a winning combo.


This should be a caption contest -- how about "Tacticians really
are just a lotta hot air?" or "Such strong lungpower -- he must not
smoke?" or "Is that what Alinghi meant by a bovine appendage?"


Like father like son? Rodrigo Azcueta (ARG), the conspicuously neat
and tidy member of our design team, with his somewhat less-so son.


"My Dad is one of the team's electrons; and he said I could paint the
electrical box." Uh-huh.


Alinghi base dedication, also last evening.


Meanwhile, back at our base Guthrie (whose very well-received idea
it was to let the kids do the wall) with his colony of budding graffitists
artists.


A sunny end to the 2005 season.