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Challengers get crack at champion Kiwis

Orn, a new yacht being tested by Sweden's Victory

AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Three challenging syndicates are to line up against the all-conquering NZL 60 of Team New Zealand for the first showdown of the 2003 America's Cup.

Monday's race is part of a week of competition in the America's Cup International Regatta in Auckland.

But it has exposed a split between the challengers, with a rival regatta planned.

Team New Zealand, the holders of the America's Cup, has organised the regatta, exactly one year before the Cup Match itself, as a public and media showcase for the main event.

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In addition to a knock-out match race series similar to the Cup itself, there are three fleet races culminating in a spectacular round the harbour race finishing under Harbour Bridge, one of Auckland's best known landmarks, on February 17.

The regatta gives to the challengers the chance to test themselves against the champion, but seven of the 10 challenging groups have declined the invitation.

Those not attending include the Swiss Alinghi, sailed by five members of the victorious 2000 Team New Zealand crew led by Russell Coutts, Prada from Italy which made the final last time, Dennis Conner's Stars & Stripes and Larry Ellison's Oracle.

Instead the challengers' organisation, CORM, has set up its own practice regatta from March 2-7 -- and the Kiwis are not invited.

Breaking rank

But politics is very much part of the colourful 150 years history of the America's Cup.

It is one of the most expensive sporting events to enter. Ellison is expecting to spend more than $85 million this series, and the feeling among the top challengers is that no opportunity should be given to help the Kiwis in their publicity, fundraising or on-the-water practice.

The Kiwis have the advantage of sailing on home waters and two Cup wins to their credit, but up until the Cup match itself in February 2003, they have no proper match racing competition to tune up their boats and crew.

The 10 challengers on the other hand have four months of tough elimination races for the Louis Vuitton Cup just to get the right to race against the Kiwis.

Even so, several of the challengers have already broken ranks and sailed against the New Zealanders in practice races.

Not surprisingly it is the newest challengers with the least to lose and most to learn who jumped at the chance to race against NZL 60 helmed by Dean Barker.

Britain's Team GBR helmed by Ian Walker, Sweden's Victory Challenge helmed by Danish double gold medallist Jesper Bank and the USA One World syndicate from Seattle helmed by Australian Ian Gilmour are appearing in Auckland

The Swedish Victory syndicate will be sailing its new Mani Frers designed America's Cup Class yacht Orn.

All the other teams will be sailing last generation boats designed for the 2000 series.

Team GBR sees the International Regatta as a great opportunity to test boats and crew in the pressured environment of a proper race after months of in-house practice and testing.

"We believe that NZL 60 is still the fastest America's Cup Class boat in the world at the moment and so it is a great opportunity for us to sail against them in our ex-Nippon boats," said team manager David Barnes.

"You need to get out there racing against the opposition. You put a marker down and see where you are at."