News from Valencia

Source: New Zealand Herald

While Team New Zealand were enjoying a couple of well-earned days off, their America's Cup rivals Alinghi are bashing it out against Luna Rossa on the Mediterranean.
Again the pair ran through a couple of starting sequences before sailing two races. Starting maestro James Spithill was at the helm of Luna Rossa's
ITA94 on the first day but yesterday the Italians had back-up Phillipe Presti steering.
With Ed Baird at the helm of what looked like SUI91, Alinghi won both races, which were sailed in very light conditions.
Practising starts was also on the agenda on the first day of racing between the pair, when it was Baird against Spithill. Both starts appeared to be quite aggressive.
The teams then sailed a near full course and Luna Rossa won.
Some noted the Alinghi crew work in that race was less than slick. The defenders also tore a spinnaker.
With the America's Cup now less than two weeks away, Alinghi are wanting to make sure their crew work is as polished as that of Emirates Team New Zealand - who have come through the Louis Vuitton challenger series battle-hardened.