On Thursday, Vincenzo Onorato, Syndicate Head of Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team, spoke in Milan about the preparations and progress his team was making with the first races of the season less than three weeks away, on April 3rd.

On the stage with him was Giuseppe Dalla Vecchia, the President of the Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia of Naples,"which has issued two challenges and I promise we will launch a third one."

The coach of the team, Mauro Pelaschier, said he was pleased with the progress the sailors were making.

"The boys are very focused and committed," said Pelaschier. "We are sailing almost every single day, trying to make the most of the sea breeze, which has started to arrive."

"We don’t have definite target. Anything is possible and we are not underestimating anyone. Teams like the Chinese, who haven’t had the opportunity to practice as much as the others can, on a given day, be very dangerous. Every single match is vital to climbing the leaderboard. The race course area in Valencia is still unpredictable and very demanding from a tactical point of view."

"We have chosen the boat we will race for the Louis Vuitton Cup," said Onorato who declined to reveal his decision. He says he is not expecting to see ‘miracles’ at the unveiling on April 1st.

"The racing will be spectacular, I am sure about that, but I think you will have more fun than me," he joked, referring to the pressure and tension he will feel as a sailor and Syndicate Head during the Louis Vuitton Cup.