"Naples or Marseilles should be good destination choices for the summer of 2007 because everybody else will be in Lisbon or Valencia. Valencia, most likely", highly respected US yachting commentator Rich Roberts wrote on the Log website. "Conventional wisdom worldwide gives Valencia the inside track".

He took his "own infallible poll", inquiring of a handful of well-known people who have been involved in several America's Cups as participants and observers, figuring their opinions were as good or better than most. "All six said Valencia is it", the commentator concluded.

Exactly the same thing from the ’Voice of New Zealand Yachting’ Peter Montgomery who said the short-list of four cities comes down to two, most likely Valencia.

Lastly, the swiss newspaper le matin today affirms that "it will be Valencia", basing its conviction on the assertions propagated by "a close relation of Alinghi" and by "a Serono [the pharmaceutical group leaded by Ernesto Bertarelli] executive manager".

In spite of this apparent unanimity, the mayor of Valencia Rita Barbera warns her team against an excess of confidence and invites the Spanish supporters to wait patiently.

"Valencia's position is a solid one on account of the quality of its regatta infrastructure and the guarantee provided by the joint efforts of the three administrations involved", she said. "But must not to be overconfident and wait till America's Cup Management publishes its decision on 26 November".