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Swiss at home in Auckland

Alinghi: Tipped for honours

AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Challengers for the America's Cup are setting up bases in Auckland as preparations gather pace.

The Swiss entry Alinghi was one of the first teams to arrive in New Zealand with a new boat. Alinghi is favourite for the Louis Vuitton Cup, the series that determines who challenges holder Team New Zealand for the America's Cup.

The Swiss feel at home in Auckland. Alinghi has Russell Coutts, the Kiwis' former helmsman, onboard. But the real work is just beginning.

Crew member Curtis Blewett says: "The plan for the next six months is to race and sail -- test our boats as hard as we can and learn as much as we can about our new boat.

"We will push it really hard and develop our crew skills, just normal America's Cup stuff with a few extra little tricks which hopefully will work well."

With a budget of $85 million, the American Oracle Racing team is one of the best funded syndicates. But for the second time in a year the team's boat lost its keel while training and the crew had to abandon the vessel.

'Just stupid'

But perhaps more debilitating for the team, Oracle's sailing manager Paul Cayard is expected to quit. The current Volvo Ocean Race champion is rumoured to have clashed with the team's boss and financial backer, Larry Ellison.

Some reports suggest Ellison might helm his own boat. The billionaire software mogul replies: "The last time the United States won the America's Cup it was with an amateur driver, but not all the time and certainly not the starts -- that would just be stupid."

Ellison added: "We have an incredibly deep team. We're grateful for all the work Paul did with us and I think he's helped this company do very well in the race."

Coutts: Confident smile but work to do

With a budget a quarter of Oracle's, GBR Challenge has a tough task. The mood is pragmatic but positive.

"There are some teams at the highest level that can spend an unlimited amount of money and that clearly helps you in certain areas where simple cash will give you a lot of benefits," says Andy Green, who is hoping to be the team's helmsman.

"We've got a lot of elements of our team that will foreshorten that need for extra money and I think that's where we're going to do really well."

David Barnes, a New Zealander and GBR Challenge's general manager adds: "It would be a tall order for us to expect to win it this time round and that is not the objective.

"We've gone into it to make sure we build the foundations for the future. I know for sure that with the talent, the determination and the attitude of the guys that we will surprise some of the big boys -- there's no question about that."