Today SWE 96 was launched in the America’s Cup harbour after a private ceremony with the Victory Challenge team.

Immediately afterwards the structure tests started on the boat built for the decisive races in the 32nd America’s Cup.

"This project has not only cost an enormous amount of man hours, but also a lot of blood sweat and tears", said Magnus Holmberg, skipper and helmsman. I know you have all fought very hard to get this awesome piece of equipment together".

Because the mast was lifted on yesterday, the bow of SWE 96 stuck out of the boat hall all night. This caused quite a stir in the America’s Cup harbour because of the new look that the specially formed Red Bull gives the stem of the boat.

Just after 12:00 noon today SWE 96 was lifted out of the hall by the mobile crane. The keel was covered; only the bow and stern where visible.

Magnus Holmberg, skipper and helmsman, was waiting outside the boat shed together with Mani Frers, boat designer, Killian Bushe, boat building manager and Kristina Anker, wife of Victory Challenge’s CEO Johan Stenman, and in front of them stood 70 people from the Victory Challenge’s team.

Kristina Anker was lifted up to the boat in front of the well wishers, where she smashed a bottle of Moët & Chandon against the bow of the SWE 96. The boat was launched to the sound of applauding.

Today, Friday the 09 of February 2007, was an extremely hectic day for Victory Challenge.

Early in the morning the two first Antonov planes had arrived from Dubai and landed at Valencia airport. They brought back SWE 63 (Örn) and SWE 73 (Orm) from the winter training which finished in Dubai last Sunday.