Bottom line on Day One: no surprises. The air was light (7-10 kts), shifty and streaky. The "big four," as the media have taken to calling Alinghi (SUI), Luna Rossa (ITA/LR), Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) and BMW ORACLE (USA), all looked quick and settled in their boat handling.

Larry has been training the past few days with the team. Dicko said he was quickly back up to speed with his helming, and Larry shared some of the downwind steering duties with CD yesterday.

Earlier this week Allianz formally launched their sponsorship of our team with a day-long media event at our Base here in Valencia. We appreciated, therefore, Valencia Sailing running this shot of 87 last evening, which highlights perfektly the Allianz branding.


87 on a "flyby" of an ACM photo boat, between our matches yesterday
with Victory Challenge (SWE) and Shosholoza (RSA). Our VIP guest (18th
man) for the second race, pictured above, had "butterflies in his tummy"
he was so excited to be on the yacht. Photo courtesy Pierre Orphanidis.


Today's weather forecast looks like a carbon copy of yesterday: cool, and hence again only a light easterly seabreeze development (yup, 7-10 kts).

Dyer's pairing list for today is here. Today for us: GER then FRA. Probably the match of the day: ITA/LR vs. ESP in Flight 4, Match 6 (south course).


Bits and pieces.