Cup races safe from protest

Greenpeace has pledged not to disrupt America's Cup racing during protests against the nuclear sponsorship of the French challenger Le Defi Areva.

Spokeswoman Bunny McDiarmid said Greenpeace was not opposed to the America's Cup or to the French team, but was opposed to the involvement of nuclear company Areva.

"It's not about being anti-America's Cup or anti-French. It's about being anti-Areva."

In France this year, an inflatable boat carrying anti-nuclear protesters crashed into Le Defi's new America's Cup yacht, damaging its hull.

Le Defi's two new boats arrive in Auckland next week, and Greenpeace will protest but has not said how.

Areva, the main sponsor of the French syndicate, was formed last year after a restructuring of France's nuclear fuel and power industries.

It is 79 per cent owned by the French Atomic Energy Commission, which oversaw the development of France's nuclear weapons industry and the controversial testing programme in the Pacific.

Greenpeace New Zealand has asked supporters to email their protests to Areva, or to fly anti-nuclear pennants from their boats as they watch the challengers racing from October 1.

nzherald.co.nz/americascup