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Prada v. Oracle BMW in first round

The teams were cheered by Aucklanders long the route

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AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- The first two round robins for the Louis Vuitton Cup have been decided, with cup holder Prada squaring off against another favourite Oracle BMW Racing.

Among the other pairings, the British team's first entry in 15 years will face veteran competitor American Dennis Conner.

Britain and the New York Yacht Club first raced for the America's Cup off the Isle of Wight 151 years ago. GBR skipper Ian Walker said:"It's entirely appropriate that we get to sail Dennis Conner and Stars & Stripes on the first day...Britain, who hasn't been in the Cup for 15 years, sails against the team that hasn't missed one."

Conner, chief of his syndicate, has been involved with the cup for nearly 30 years. In that time he has won four times and lost twice.

An opening ceremony and parade was held in central Auckland on Saturday, with the teams parading down the main street. The four months of racing to decide the challenger to face Team New Zealand starts on Tuesday in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf.

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Prada failed to win the America's Cup from Team New Zealand in 2000. "It seems like a short time since we left Auckland," said Prada skipper Francesco de Angelis.

A lot of work has been done in these three years by all of the teams and participants. From tomorrow we will see the best of the sport on the water."

Another cup favourite, Alinghi Team, skippered by former Team New Zealand skipper Russell Coutts, will race France's Le Defi Areva.

In 1995, Coutts led Team New Zealand through the Louis Vuitton Cup with a 36-2 record in started races. As skipper for Team New Zealand, Coutts is undefeated in nine America's Cup matches between 1995 and 2000.

"This should be the best Louis Vuitton Cup ever," Coutts said. "The amount of preparation and the level of competition are higher than ever before."

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The Seattle Yacht Club's OneWorld Challenge will take on Italy's Mascalzone Latino in an easy match for OneWorld as Mascalzone head Vincenzo Onorato has said that he does not expect big things from his inexperienced crew.

Mascalzone is the only challenger to have built just one new America's Cup Class yacht, ITA-72. "For sure we don't have any uncertainty as to which boat is better under what conditions," joked skipper Paolo Cian.

Six of the other eight teams are expected to race their first boat in the round that runs October 1-10, with a reserve day scheduled on October 6.

OneWorld and Oracle BMW Racing are the only teams to enter their second boats, USA-67 and USA-76, respectively.

President and CEO of Louis Vuitton, Marcello Bottoli, was excited as the competition neared the start after months of preparation. "Next year will mark the twentieth anniversary of the Louis Vuitton Cup," Bottoli said.

"You can definitely count on our commitment for the next 20 years."

Race schedule

October 1

Match 1 - Alinghi (SUI 64) - Le Defi (FRA 69)

Match 2 - Wight Lightning (GBR 70) - Stars & Stripes (USA 66)

Match 3 - Luna Rossa (ITA 74) - Oracle BMW Racing (USA 76)

Match 4 - Mascalzone Latino (ITA 72) - OneWorld (USA 67)

Off - Orn (SWE 63)

October 2

Match 1 - Stars & Stripes (USA 66) - Luna Rossa (ITA 74)

Match 2 - OneWorld (USA 67) - Alinghi (SUI 64)

Match 3 - Oracle BMW Racing (USA 76) - Mascalzone Latino (ITA 72)