| TOULOUSE, FRANCE-(6-3-2005) K-Challenge, French Official Challenger for the 32nd America’s Cup, is back on the water for testing and training. The team didn't stop the work since the end of the Louis Vuitton Act 3 in Valencia last October, and after more than four months at the Gandia base in Spain with a busy design and shore program, FRA 57 is the first boat modified according to the `Version 5` of the ACC Rule ready, and she has been launched today.
Thierry Peponnet, K-Challenge's Skipper : `this first day has been very positive for us. First of all, we were all very happy to go sailing again to begin the 2005 season. This was the first time we started to test the new version, so it gave us a better idea of the work directions we will choose to improve the whole configuration. We will go sailing again tomorrow, and there will already be changes made to start the process`.
FRA 60 will also be ready soon to join FRA 57. The two-boat testing and training program will now start in a few weeks in Gandia, with the goal of the next Louis Vuitton Acts 4&5 in mind. Those next Acts will take place in Valencia in June, then the teams will go to Sweden in Malmö at the end of August for Acts 6&7, and to Trapani in Sicily in October for Acts 8&9.
Dawn Riley, K-Challenge's General Manager, was also on the boat today : `we sailed for about 2 hours. This was mainly to ease into the new systems on the boat. We had perfect conditions today for our first sail out of Gandia. The cold and rainy temperatures of the past couple of weeks were worth it when we saw the snow on the mountains in brilliant warm sunshine and about 10 knots of wind. On the way in and the way out, we exchanged waves with the Real Club Nautico de Gandia junior sailors. `
K-Challenge is now starting a new step in its program, as testing and training are crucial on the way to the 2005 season competitions, and the team is motivated more than ever to prepare the best boats as possible for the next Acts, where every team will compete for the first time under the Version 5 Rule.
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AIGLE, LICENSED SUPPLIER, SUPPORTS K-CHALLENGE IN ITS QUEST TOWARDS THE 32nd AMERICA’S CUP
THE CITY OF GANDIA, LICENSED SUPPLIER, WELCOMES K-CHALLENGE FOR ITS PREPARATION TOWARDS THE 32nd AMERICA’S CUP
K-Challenge represents the `Cercle de la Voile de Paris`. Created in 1858, the Cercle de la Voile de Paris, founder of the One Ton Cup and organizer of the sailing competitions of the Olympics in 1924, is K-Challenge's official Yacht-Club for the 32nd America's Cup. http://www.regates-cvp.fr.st
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