Excitement is mounting among sailing fans here as Italy gears up to launch a three-pronged attack on the America's Cup, which starts in earnest in Valencia Monday.
The Italian contingent is being led by Luna Rossa, a former Louis Vuitton Cup winner which is making its third bid for yachting's most coveted trophy.
The winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup, which starts on Monday, will gain the right to challenge holders Alinghi of Switzerland in June.
The second Italian contender is Mascalzone Latino, a team that is embarking on its second Louis Vuitton Cup and is being tipped by many to reach the semi-finals.
The last member of the trio is +39 Challenge, a debut contender that is not expected to reach the knock-out stages but may claim some big scalps during the round robins.
"We have worked well over the last two years and now it's time for the competition proper, something which is firing us up," Mascalzone Latino coach Mauro Pelaschier said.
"We are really determined and we can't wait to start. The crew is in good shape. The lads trained hard both in the gym and at sea. Now they are ready to face up to the hard part".
Mascalzone Latino actually outperformed Luna Rossa and the highly fancied US BMW Oracle team in last week's Act 13 fleet races. These were the last in a long series of pre-competition regattas which determined the number of bonus points teams take into the round robins.
Mascalzone Latino's good showing did not enable it to move up from fifth in the overall ranking, but it did boost morale.
Luna Rossa held onto the third place it had before Act 13.
As a result Luna Rossa goes into the Louis Vuitton Cup with three bonus points, while Mascalzone Latino has two.
Luna Rossa say they are unruffled about coming behind their Italian rival in the fleet series.
"I am not worried about the result in Act 13," said helmsman James Spithill. "I'm sure when the game gets harder we will be ready".
When the Luna Rossa race boat was uncovered at the start of the month some experts expressed alarm at the fact that its design was squarer that the rest of the field.
But skipper Francesco De Angelis insists his rivals are the ones who should be worried.
"We have made a choice and I don't think it is such an extreme one," De Angelis said.
"I certainly do not feel in a corner or under pressure and I am not nervous. If anything, the others should be nervous".
Over the last 10 days +39 Challenge has been engaged in a race against time to repair its mast, which was broken during a collision with the German team in the third Act 13 regatta.
But the underdogs, who have one bonus point for the round robins, insist they will be ready Monday.
Mascalzone Latino has the hardest opener of the Italian squads, taking on Louis Vuitton Cup favourites Team New Zealand.
"We know the New Zealanders are very strong," said Mascalzone Latino skipper Vincenzo Onorato.
"They are organized and experienced. But we are also sure there will be no shortage of surprises. This America's Cup will be hard for everyone".
Luna Rossa should have things easy against China Team on Monday, while +39 Challenge cross swords with Aveva Challenge of France.
The first encounter between two Italian teams is on Wednesday in Flight 5 when Mascalzone Latino and +39 Challenge face off.
The first of the two big Italian derby matches between Luna Rossa and Mascalzone Latino is on Saturday April 21.
The round robin head-to-heads run until May 7.
The top four teams in the standings at the end qualify for the 'best-of-nine' semi-finals, which start a week later.
The Louis Vuitton Cup final runs June 1-12.
The winner will then take on Alinghi in the 32nd America's Cup match in another 'first-to-five' series from June 23 onwards.
The America's Cup is considered international sport's oldest active trophy.
Its origins date back to 1851, when a schooner-yacht representing the New York Yacht Club beat 15 British Royal Yacht Squadron ships in a race around the Isle of Wight.
The New York Yacht Club's vessel was called America, hence the name of the competition.
A series of British syndicates made unsuccessful attempts to bring the cup back to the other side of the Atlantic.
But the New York Yacht Club remained unbeaten for 25 challenges over 113 years until 1983, when the Australia II challenger took the Cup out of the states.
Four years ago the Swiss Alinghi team triumphed in New Zealand to bring the America's Cup back to Europe for the first time in its long history.
