Fun in the Port of Valencia, The Trophee Clairefontaine

The Trophee Clairefontaine got off to a great start yesterday with their sailing equivalent of the qualifying circuits at Formula One, the Warm-up Rhodia. It makes for a highly entertaining afternoon. The races in small catamarans are short and so close to you in the Basin of the Juan Carlos 1 marina, that you can almost touch them!
Racing continues today from 12 O'clock with 'Raids'off the beach at Las Arenas, followed by 2 hours of races back in the basin. The final day and trophy giving is tomorrow, Sunday.
The best news is that it's all free to the public and the best views are from the Veles i Vents building.
More from our sailing correspondent Mike O'Neill later.

Spare time this weekend?

Valencia Mayor, Rita Barbéra Presents the Clairefontaine Regattas at the Ayuntamiento


Trofeo Clairefontaine 13 – 14 September 2008


If you have some spare time this weekend or just want to see what has been happening down at the America’s Cup Port since the America’s Cup went into limbo [and Formula One came and went], now’s your chance.
The Trofeo Clairefontaine is an annual regatta with a difference. It is sailed at close quarters (in the harbour!) so that spectators can view the action from the shore. The best part is: each race lasts no more than 8 – 12 minutes! Valencia has been chosen for this, the nineteenth year of the trophy race series sponsored by French stationery company Clairefontaine, who are celebrating 150 years in business.
Eight of the best sailors in the world are invited to participate in a knock-out series over a weekend of short, exciting races in 7.65m (25ft) catamarans. Each boat has a crew of three including the skipper and teams are easily identified by their different-coloured spinnaker sails. Among the eight sailors are last year’s champion, Michel Desjoyeax, Alinghi helmsman Ed Baird and Solo Transatlantic Race winner Loïck Peyron. Spain’s Fernando León, an Olympic gold-medallist will be competing for the second time while for Claire Leroy, women’s World Match-Race champion, this will be her first invitation to this thrilling event.
The best place to watch the racing is on the terrace of the ‘Velas y Vents’ building near the entrance to the America’s Cup Port. There is plenty of parking there and free programmes showing competitors and timetables will be available on site.
A series of ‘warm-up’ races will take place Friday afternoon between 15.00 to 17.00 and the action proper gets underway between 12.00 and 18.00 Saturday and 13.30 to 14.30 on Sunday. Prize giving starts promptly at 15.00, so you could still be in time for a late lunch on Malvarossa beach.
Mike O’Neill

Belgian Grand Prix

Unlucky 13 for Hamilton
In what should have been his finest moment so far, Lewis Hamilton had his victory at Spa snatched away soon after receiving the winner’s trophy.

Starting from pole position, Hamilton got away smoothly in the 13th race of the season but, following a spin near the end of the first lap, soon found fourth placed Raikkonen all over him. The Fin was clearly hungry to show why he is the current world champion and got past the British driver with a daring move. Heikki Kovaleinen, who started second, should have been covering for Hamilton but a crunch at the first corner pushed him down the field and he never really recovered.

Raikkonen led for most of the race, followed by Hamilton and Felipe Massa. The skies, which had looked threatening all day, started dropping a light drizzle six laps from the finish. Hamilton saw his chance and closed on Raikkonen. With two laps to go, the shower became a downpour and Hamilton made his move at the final chicane. Both drivers were still on hard tyres and Raikkonen went wide, leaving Hamilton with nowhere to go except to cut the chicane. Coming out ahead of the Ferrari and realizing he could get a penalty, Hamilton allowed Raikkonen through and continued the chase, taking the lead once more at the hairpin. When back-marker Nico Rosberg spun and blocked the track with a lap and a half to go, Raikkonen seized the lead once more, only to spin off into the tyre wall, leaving Hamilton to cruise carefully to take the chequered flag.

Hamilton shared the podium with Felipe Massa and Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber), whose courageous decision to go in for wet weather tyres just two laps from the finish pulled him from seventh to third. Two hours later came the news that Hamilton had been penalized 25 seconds (equivalent to a drive-through penalty) by the stewards, relegating him to third in the race and handing Massa his fifth win this year and boosting Heidfeld into second.

In all the drama, it should be remembered that there was some great driving further down the field. Sebastian Bourdais (Toro Rosso) looked good for his first podium finish until the rain arrived. But the decision to stay out on hard tyres proved wrong as first Heidfeld, then team-mate Sebastian Vettel and Robert Kubica went by. Bourdais later confessed: “it was a very frustrating way to finish what was a great weekend up to that point.” Still, he managed to double his points for the year and maybe this taste of success will bring him better results in the races still to come.

Fernando Alonso showed what it takes to be a two-times world champion by surrendering his fourth place to go and get wet tyres with less than two laps remaining. He re-entered in eighth place and drove furiously to regain fourth after Raikkonen’s crash. Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso) is another driver whose decision to stay out on dry tyres could have cost him dearly. But still he managed to finish in the points for the fifth time in the seven races he has completed this year. The now more reliable Toro Rosso should take Vettel further up the points table in the remaining five.

All in all a very satisfying race, in spite of the controversial decision over Hamilton.

The top eight finishers were:
1 Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
2 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW)
3 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
4 Fernando Alonso (Renault)
5 Sebastian Vettel (STR-Ferrari)
6 Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber)
7 Sebastian Bourdais (Toro Rosso)
8 Mark Webber (Red Bull)


After 13 races, the leader board looks like this:
Drivers:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 76
2 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 74
3 Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW) 58
4 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 57
5 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW) 49
6 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) 43
7 Jarno Trulli (Toyota) 26
8 Fernando Alonso (Renault) 23
9 Mark Webber (Red Bull) 19
10 Timo Glock (Toyota) 15


Teams:
1 Ferrari 131
2 McLaren 119
3 BMW Sauber 107
4 Toyota 41
5 Renault 36

The next race (the 14th) is at Monza next Sunday. Could this be where Massa makes the move to re-establish himself at the top of the table? With just 2 points between them, it should be very exciting, especially in front of Ferrari's home crowd.

Footnote: The internet is buzzing with the cries of outraged fans who believe Hamilton and Team McLaren were ‘robbed’ of a just victory. They make the point that Ferrari extended their contract with Formula 1 Management until 2012 in return for a greater say in the way the rules are drawn up. It is fair to say that the stewards do seem to have penalised Hamilton rather harshly in the circumstances but no doubt all will come out in the impending appeal hearing called for by McLaren.

Mike O’Neill

Belgian Grand Prix

Belgian Grand Prix
Spa

Sunday 7 September


7.00km 44 laps

Race: 14.00 Sun

The track at Spa Francorcamps is, at 7 kilometres the longest on the Formula 1 championship circuit. Most of today’s qualifying took place under grey skies and it seemed for a while that the McLarens had the speed to keep Ferrari off the front row in Sunday’s race. Lewis Hamilton secured pole with a superb lap and Heikki Kovaleinen was also very quick. But Felipe Massa put in a technically perfect lap and split the two McLarens. Kimi Raikkonen was again outclassed by his Brazilian team mate although he may draw comfort from having won at Spa for the last three years. He said later: “I am reasonably happy with my car, which seems to be behaving the way I like.”

Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber) was fifth, ahead of Fernando Alonso, who manages to coax quite a bit more out of his Renault than his points (18 so far) would suggest. “We now have a real chance to get a strong result tomorrow, which is important for the championship. I’m quite confident,” said ‘Nando after qualifying.

There is a chance that the awful weather system above England may spill over into Belgium tomorrow. If that happens, there could be a few surprise results to report.

If Sky is not available, the race can be seen live on TV3 (with Catalan commentary!). It is repeated on Sunday evening on TV33 at 22.00.

The grid line-up:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2 Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
3 Heikki Kovalainen(McLaren)
4 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
5 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW)
6 Fernando Alonso (Renault)
7 Mark Webber (Red Bull)
8 Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber)
9 Sebastian Bourdais(Toro Rosso)
10 Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso)

Top six after 12 races:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 70
2 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 64
3 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 57
4 Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW) 55
5 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) 43
6 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW) 41

Mike O’Neill

Over-enthusiasm or just downright badly behaved?

There was a huge group of what appeared to be mainly antipodeans in the city for La Tomatina. All were with the same tour company. Their behaviour in the early hour of the morning shocked many locals and tourists alike -all over the historic centre, but particularly in the Plaza de la Virgen the night before the Tomato fight in Buñol. Is this really the way to behave in a foreign city?

La Tomatina - the world's messiest food fight - Pictures

Random Pictures from La Tomatina!

La Tomatina - the world's messiest food fight - the tour

The Tour


Messy!


Lunch table 1


Lunch table 2


A snooze by the pool


Thisisvalencia.com ran a small but intimate luxury coach tour to La Tomatina again this year. An international bunch from Ireland, Finland, Belgium, USA and Australia joined us for a trip to Buñol for the hour's mayhem, followed by a shower, a swim and lunch at Cheste on the way home. A great bunch of people and it was a lot of fun!

The Swiss at F1 Valencia

Can't let the Formula One weekend theme finish without a mention of Claude and his little band of Swiss Petrolheads. We had a very pleasant weekend with them - I say Swiss but actually only 4 were - the other two were Californian and Portuguese.

Tomatina Madness starts early in Valencia

As I write this the Plaza de la Virgen is swarming with people, singing, chanting, playing bongos and whistling, loudly. It is 1 am and most of them are wearing yellow tee-shirts with a logo on the front that looks a lot like a Heinz ketchup bottle with La Tomatina written where the TK should be and fanatics on the back. there are at least, if not more than a thousand of them. They all have to be up at an ungodly hour to get to La Tom in the morning. Maybe they just won't go to bed! We'll let you know how it all went tomorrow after the thisisvalencia.com luxury coach tour.

Alonso and his merchandise

Is this being awfully mean?
It's just that there seems to be an awful lot of merchandise left after his early retirement from the F1 European Grand Prix here in Valencia on Sunday?

Fire in the city

A pall of smoke hung over the Plaza Ayuntamiento (Town Hall Square) yesterday afternoon. Within minutes sirens and flashing lights were everywhere as police and firemen converged on the street. It would seem that the contents of a garbage truck had caught fire. All was tipped onto the pavement and some waitrasses from a nearby cafe were already hosing it down as the firemen arrived and took over.

Valencia European Grand Prix

The first grand prix in Valencia got off to a cracking start with Felipe Massa stamping his authority on the field from pole position.
Lewis Hamilton held onto his second position despite suffering from flu-like symptoms and neck spasms before the race. Robert Kubica started from third and, after an incident with a plastic bag which lodged under his car during an early lap, added another good result to his scorecard this season. Current champion Kimi Raikkonen had an awful day. Starting fourth on the grid, he was quickly passed by Heikki Kovaleinen, still buoyant from his win in Hungary. Raikkonen fought back but, during his second pit stop, pulled away before the fuel hose had been removed and knocked over one of the pit crew. While the crew member was being treated for injured ribs and a damaged foot, Raikkonen’s engine blew up in a cloud of smoke, putting the Finn out of the race.

Renault driver Fernando Alonso had another bad day when Kazuki Nakajima (Williams) ran into the back of him on lap one, damaging the rear foil and forcing the Spaniard to retire.

Despite early predictions that this would be a good track for overtaking, there was no real evidence of this. The pace was such that few drivers were tempted into passing manoeuvres after the first lap.

The day clearly belonged to Felipe Massa as the Brazilian celebrated his 100th grand prix race with a convincing win, spoilt only by a 10,000 Euro penalty for the Ferrari Team when they released Massa alongside Adrian Sutil’s Force India after his second pit stop.

The top eight finishers were:
1 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 
2 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
3 Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber)
4 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren)
5 Jarno Trulli (Toyota)
6 Sebastian Vettel (STR-Ferrrari)
7 Timo Glock (BMW Sauber)
8 Nico Rosberg (Williams-Toyota)

After 12 races, the leader board looks like this:
Drivers:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 70
2 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 64
3 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 57
4 Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW) 55
5 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) 43
6 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW) 41
7 Jarno Trulli (Toyota) 26
8 Fernando Alonso (Renault) 18
9 Mark Webber (Red Bull) 18
10 Timo Glock (Toyota) 15

Teams:
1 Ferrari 121
2 McLaren 113
3 BMW Sauber 96
4 Toyota 41
5 Renault 31

ps Is it me, or did the Ferrari crew ignore Raikkonen when he returned to the pits after his engine blew? I hope the fuel guy recovers soon.

Mike O’Neill

La Tomatina - the world's messiest food fight

THIS YEAR -2008- IT TAKES PLACE ON THE 27TH AUGUST - VISIT THE WORLD'S CRAZIEST AND MESSIEST FIESTA WITH THISISVALENCIA.COM
If you want to visit Buñol this year for the world's messiest festival, go here, thisisvalencia.com has the very best tour to this loony festival, A luxury coach will carry you to and from Buñol to the fiesta. once you've eperienced that - we'll take you to a lovely spot for a shower, swim and a lovely lunch (all included, and wine, sangria and beer too) then back to Vlaencia for around six pm - the price is just 55 euros includes everything and a pair of protective goggles - book now!

GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE - THE POLE POSITIONS

2008 FORMULA 1 TELEFONICA GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE
Yesterday was qualifying day here in Valencia and was a big disappointment for Alonso who is in 12th position. Massa takes pole postion with Lewis Hamilton taking second.
Last night there was more rain in the city which is going to change the level of grip on the circuit, but this morning the sun is shining and it's a hot and beautiful day.

Position
Driver
Team

1 Felipe Massa
Ferrari
2 Lewis Hamilton
McLaren-Mercedes
3 Robert Kubica
BMW Sauber
4 Kimi Räikkönen
Ferrari
5 Heikki Kovalainen
McLaren-Mercedes
6 Sebastian Vettel
STR-Ferrari
7 Jarno Trulli
Toyota
8 Nick Heidfeld
BMW Sauber
9 Nico Rosberg
Williams-Toyota
10 Sebastien Bourdais
STR-Ferrari
11 Kazuki Nakajima
Williams-Toyota
12 Fernando Alonso
Renault
13 Timo Glock
Toyota
14 Mark Webber
Red Bull-Renault
15 Nelsinho Piquet
Renault
16 Jenson Button
Honda
17 David Coulthard
Red Bull-Renault
18 Giancarlo Fisichella
Force India-Ferrari
19 Rubens Barrichello
Honda
20 Adrian Sutil
Force India-Ferrari

FORMULA ONE GRAND PRIX of EUROPE, VALENCIA

European Grand Prix, Valencia
Valencia 22 to 24 August
Track: 5.44km 57 laps
Qualifying: 14.00 Sat
Race: 14.00 Sun

The 12th Grand Prix of the 2008 season will be held on the streets of Valencia this Sunday. Some of us who stood by the opera house one March evening last year, watching Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton hurtling across the Turia riverbed in their McLarens can hardly believe that the time has passed so quickly! At the time, the idea of a Formula 1 race through the streets of Valencia seemed almost surreal and yet here they are....

With one day of practise still to come, Ferrari seem to have got the measure of this new circuit and both Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa have posted some very quick times. Fernando Alonso, determined to give a good account of himself, is also going extremely well. Sadly, ‘Nando crossed the white line entering the pits and was fined an eye-watering 10,000€ [and we complain about the local traffic penalties!]

First impressions of the track? ‘Nando was very impressed, saying: ‘It is not a normal street circuit, it is a little bit more than a street circuit’. Robert Kubica, currently fourth in the Driver’s Championship said on the subject of overtaking: ‘I think here in Valencia we have some opportunities in two places or maybe three’. Flavio Briattore, Renault Team boss said: ‘We really need to congratulate the people of Valencia for the job they have done.... It is an amazing job, really. The ambience is fantastic.’

The McLarens of Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovaleinen have yet to get their settings fine-tuned but their times are still looking good. Hamilton will be looking to build on his lead in the Championship but Raikkonen and Massa will be equally determined to regain their positions at the top.

Qualifying starts at 14.00 today and the race proper will start at 14.00 tomorrow. There are mixed opinions as to the weather tomorrow. Some forecasts promise a mix of sunshine and cloud while others suggest light showers may be coming. Whatever the weather, Formula 1 is welcome in Valencia!

After 11 races, the scores look like this:

Drivers:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 62
2 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 57
3 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 54
4 Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW) 49
5 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW) 41
6 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) 38
7 Jarno Trulli (Toyota) 22
8 Fernando Alonso (Renault) 18
9 Mark Webber (Red Bull) 18
10 Timo Glock (Toyota) 13
11 Nelsinho Piquet (Renault) 13

Teams:
1 Ferrari 111
2 McLaren 100
3 BMW Sauber 90
4 Toyota 35
5 Renault 31

European Grand Prix, Valencia Formula One Urban Circuit 22-24 August 2008

This weekend sees the First Formula One European Grand Prix on the Urban Circuit by the Port here in Valencia.
To help you make the most of it we publish our handy tips here. If you have extra time and are interested in more than just the racing we have some excellent suggestions for your own tours around this beautiful city here and a guide to the best shopping here.
Restaurants and bars listings are here
and if you are still around for the 27th August then join us on our La Tomatina tour - details here - book now! the seats are going fast

33rd America´s Cup- BMW Oracle Appeal against Tuesday’s Decision

BMW Oracle Appeal against Tuesday’s Decision
Following Tuesday’s surprising decision by the New York Supreme Court of Appeal re-instating Spanish yacht club CNEV as a valid challenger for the America’s Cup, Golden Gate Yacht Club have announced that they have lodged their own appeal. In a statement issued yesterday they stated: “We believe the Challenger of Record has to be a real yacht club. It cannot be something that is manufactured with a defender to set up a one-sided event. This decision would set an absurd precedent,” Tom Ehman, the club’s spokesman said. “We believe we have an excellent case for winning on appeal.”
GGYC had thirty days in which to decide whether or not to proceed. The good news is they took the decision quickly; the bad news: summer recess and the Court is unlikely to set a date much before October.
MORE...

Formula One Grand Prix - Surprises at Hungary

Anyone who thought Lewis Hamilton had the Formula 1 world championship sewn up should have seen the way Felipe Massa surged through from third on the grid to take the lead on the first corner this afternoon. The Ferrari ‘Tifosi’ went wild as Massa re-affirmed their faith in the prancing horse emblem. Masa stayed very much in control of the race, with Hamilton seeming to lack the pace to mount a serious challenge. When the British driver pitted after 41 laps with a puncture, the Brazilian must have felt pretty confident.

Meanwhile, Heikki Kovalainen drove a mature race and, towards the end, began reeling in the Ferrari. Massa’s engine surprisingly blew up on lap 68, just two laps from home, giving two novice drivers the best results of their careers. Timo Glock, who had performed so well in qualifying, brought his Toyota home in second place ahead of Kimi Raikkonen.

Masa later said ‘racing can be a cruel sport. We had given it our all, but these things can happen’. Today’s results move McLaren ever closer to Ferrari’s grip on the constructor’s prize. Since the British Grand Prix, McLaren have whittled Ferrari’s 33 points lead down to just 11 points.

Renault have moved up to 5th overall, thanks to superb driving by Fernando Alonso and Nelsinho Piquet, who between them today contributed one third of Renault’s total points this season. Alonso later said: "We fought hard today and we were on the pace with a car that was working well, which is encouraging for the rest of the championship”

The top six finishers were:
1 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren)
2 Timo Glock (Toyota)
3 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
4 Fernando Alonso (Renault)
5 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
6 Nelsinho Piquet (Renault)


After 11 races, the leader board looks like this:

Drivers:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 62
2 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 57
3 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 54
4 Robert Kubica (Sauber BMW) 49
5 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber BMW) 41
6 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) 38
7 Jarno Trulli (Toyota) 22
8 Fernando Alonso (Renault) 18
9 Mark Webber (Red Bull) 18
10 Timo Glock (Toyota) 13
11 Nelsinho Piquet (Renault) 13

Teams:
1 Ferrari 111
2 McLaren 100
3 BMW Sauber 90
4 Toyota 35
5 Renault 31

The next (and 12th) race of the season comes from Valencia on 24th August. Tickets are currently at a huge premium but anyone looking for accommodation should contact Tim at thisisvalencia.com and he will do his best to find last-minute deals.

Hungarian Grand Prix

Hamilton on pole in Hungary
Tomorrow’s eleventh Grand Prix race comes to us from the Hungaroring, a 4.38km circuit just 18 km northeast of Budapest
Lewis Hamilton was top of the leader board for most of the second qualifying session today, until Timo Glock put in a scorching lap to displace him. Then Felipe Massa topped both of them.

Q3 put Hamilton back on top and, with just seconds to go, Heikki Kovaleinen stormed through to make it one,two on the grid for McLaren with Massa taking 3rd, alongside Robert Kubica’s BMW Sauber. The top ten grid looks like this:

The grid line-up:
1 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2 Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren)
3 Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
4 Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber)
5 Timo Glock (Toyota)
6 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
7 Fernando Alonso (Renault)
8 Mark Webber (Red Bull)
9 Jarno Trulli (Toyota)
10 Nelsinho Piquet (Renault)

Timo Glock starts from his highest grid position in 5th (previous best 8th) and, judging by his performance in qualifying, finally seem to have found the balance that has eluded him so far in the Toyota.

Fernando Alonso turned 27 this week (yes, twice world champion and still only 27!) and celebrated with a 7th on the grid. He and team-mate Nelsinho Piquet have yet to find enough speed from their Renaults to match even their closest rivals.

Because the Hungaroring is rated as one of the most difficult circuits on which to pass, many newspapers are already predicting a third win in a row for Hamilton. At the press conference today he said: ‘I think it puts us in a great position to challenge for the win but I have no doubts that it will be a tough race tomorrow.’

The race starts at 14.00 and (for those of us without satellite) can be seen live on TV3 (in Catalan!)

THE MESSIEST FIGHT IN THE WORLD - LA TOMATINA FESTIVAL IN BUÑOL

THIS YEAR -2008- IT TAKES PLACE ON THE 27TH AUGUST - TO PUT YOU IN THE MOOD HERE'S SOMETHING FROM SOMEONE WHO VISITED THE WORLD'S CRAZIEST AND MESSIEST FIESTA WITH THISISVALENCIA.COM
If you want to visit Buñol this year for the world's messiest festival, go here and send us an email we'll put you on to the best tours
La Tomatina is probably the worlds biggest and certainly the messiest food fight. So when I heard that thisisvalencia.com were organizing a coach trip, I jumped at the chance to go. I have never experienced anything like it in my life, up to 40,000 people crammed into tiny streets. Mental! I mean I've read about it in various guide books, but nothing prepared me for the real thing.
We meet up with the thisisvalencia.com party at 8:45 outside the Palau de Musica for the short coach ride to Buñol and arrived at about 9:30 in the morning.
We followed the crowd down to the town center, which was already heaving. It was like an invading army swarming down into the town, from every street and lane more and more people pilled into the crowd. The more experienced were wearing goggles. I even saw one person wearing a snorkeling mask.
All the buildings were covered in plastic (to protect them from the tomatoes). The locals were all on their balconies and rooftops watching the invaders.
Once we got into the main street things really started to heat up. The only relief from the heat was when one of the locals would throw a bucket of water on us from the safety of their roof. When this happened the crowd started to go mad, chanting Agua, Agua, Agua.
With so many people the buckets of water weren't really sufficient, some people had hooked up hoses and were dousing the crowd, that's when things really took off. Men started ripping off each others camiseta´s (t-shirts) and within minutes a fully fledged tee-shirt war was underway. The sodden camisetas became the first weapons of the invaders.
The streets had lights strung across them, because La Tomatina is a week long fiesta. But within 20 minutes each string of lights looked like bunting, with more ripped t-shirts than light bulbs hanging from each string.
The smell of so many people was starting to really fill the air, but it wasn't possible to do anything about it, there was simply nowhere to go. It took my nervous band 15 minutes to move from the center of the road to the pavement. We did this in the vain hope of evading the growing Guerra de Camisetas. After about an hour, we were totally wrapped up in the fight, moving to stand under water when possible and throwing the Camisetas at everything and everybody. (This is strictly against the rules by the way, you are only supposed to throw squashed tomatoes).
Then the cannon sounded, this was the cue for the trucks bearing the tomatoes to fight their way through the crowd. Each truck carried about 25 people on the back of it and about another 10 people hanging onto the sides, trying to climb in. The people in the back of the trucks were throwing great handfuls of tomatoes at everybody they passed, no one was safe.
The crowd went wild, the ground was covered in slippery tomato puree and people were picking up great big handfuls and chucking at first nervously at the people they knew, but by the time the second truck arrived, it turned into every man for himself.
By the time the third truck arrived, we were standing in tomatoes up to our shins. People splashed it with there feet, picking it off their bodies, clothes, heads, other peoples backs and chucked it indiscriminately at everybody and everything.
As soon as the second cannon shot sounded people stopped, we were now barely able to stand. The crowd fell silent for about a minute and slowly the noise started to build as friends separated in the fighting met up and began to laugh at the ripped clothes and tomato covered people all around them. Some people lay down on the road reluctant to leave.
As we made our way back to the bus things fell silent again. Somebody stopped us to take a picture of us. I was drained, dazed dumfounded at what had just happened. I would have believed it was a dream if it wasn't for the tomato juice running down from my face and the tomatoes under my feet in my shoes squelching between my toes with each step.
I am looking forward to the next thisisvalencia.com outing. It is a good way to see the best that the Valencia region has to offer. Organized by people who know the region and all the great festivals.
Now visit our main site for more on not only La Tomatina but everything you want to know about visiting the beautiful city and region that is Valencia.

AMERICA'S CUP SHOCK

In a surprise announcement released just over one hour ago, The New York Supreme Court decided by a 3-2 majority that the Spanish Challenge from CNEV in July 2007 was valid after all. The surprise is that most observers had assumed that BMW Oracle were the accepted challengers and that a ‘Grudge Match’ between Oracle and Cup-holders Alinghi would take place in 90ft catamarans. The only questions appeared to be where? and when?

Desafio Espanol chief Augustin Zulueta told The Associated Press: "We're very hopeful that this means an end to this long process and that it will allow all of the teams to race the next America's Cup at Valencia."

The Court also gave CNEV 10 months to prepare for the regatta, meaning that a challenge could take place in 2009 as originally scheduled.

However, this will depend on whether Golden Gate Yacht Club, home of BMW Oracle, decide to contest the appeal. Tom Ehman of GGYC said today “We are surprised and disappointed by this ruling. We will now be taking legal advice and considering the next step.”

It is hard to believe that Larry Ellison, head of BMW Oracle will allow matters to rest here. He has invested millions of dollars since last July, both in legal fees, recruiting top yachtsmen and designers, not to mention building some hugely expensive state-of-the-art catamarans.

We will be back with more news as things happen and look for more news here

Mike O’Neill

What a Weekend in Valencia City!

There was so much on in the city this weekend that it was hard to decide what to miss!
Friday Night was Eclèctic Nit at the City of Arts And Sciences, a mix of street theatre, spectacle and music from 7pm until the early hours of the morning. We had great fun watching flaming horses, performing snails, Japanese drummers, and then took our seats for DO-DO LAND de Puja, an aerial ballet to rock music. The highlight of the evening was an inspired performance from Cuban rappers Orishas.
Saturday was Formula 3 and GT racing at the new Valencia Urban Circuit. This weekend was the dress rehearsal for the Formula One Grand Prix in August. full report here
Saturday evening it was up to Canet beach to see how the Electrodomestico Festival looked. NOT VERY BUSY, we counted no more than 50 people at the live bit whilst we were there, shame, because the band playing whilst we were there were quite good.
Sunday evening it was back to City of Arts and Sciences for the Australian Pink Floyd show. The music was note perfect and excellent but the show lacked excitement and didn't take full advantage of the fantastic setting.

Formula One - Hamilton's Flawless Performance at Hockenheim

The rain held off today at Hockenheim and, with a moderate 22ºC temperature and a light breeze, conditions were perfect for what turned out to be a defining race in this year’s championship. Lewis Hamilton cast aside doubts following his erratic early season behaviour to turn in a flawless performance.
more here

Art in Gran Via Marques del Turía

There is a new exhibition down the tree lined avenue Gran Via Marques del Turía here in Valencia, sculptures by Ripolles, a Castellon artist. They are not my favourite kind of work, but having had a walk through them, they leave you feeling happy and smiley, which is always a good thing!

Formula One The German Grand Prix

The German Grand Prix returns to Hockenheim after a year’s absence while the circuit was being up-graded.
Conditions during qualifying threatened a repeat of Silverstone but, apart from an early cloudburst, the track allowed some fast times. Fastest of all was Lewis Hamilton, who beat Felipe Massa to pole with a stunning lap, backed up by team mate Heikki Kovaleinen in third. more here