Almost a dozen challengers after Cup glory

By Suzanne McFadden

After a quick mast count, it looks as if 10 or 11 boats will be at the start-line of the America's Cup challenger series on the Hauraki Gulf in eight months.

Seven challengers have already built the hulls for their new boats, a sure sign they will be here come race-day one of the Louis Vuitton Cup on October 18.

Three others say they have started construction.

Of the 16 who paid their entry fee, three can be virtually scrubbed from the list. The Russians have disappeared, the Caribbean camp have disbanded and the Hong Kong team built up debts and left Auckland in a hurry.

The French syndicate from Yacht Club de Cannes - not to be confused with the Le Defi team racing in the Road to the America's Cup this week - are almost non-existent.

They chartered their boat, FRA40, to the Swiss team, who have been sailing it in Auckland this summer.

The yacht, christened the Banana Boat for its colour and shape, was built for the 1995 French challenge but was not completed until the Swiss took it on.

The Cannes camp could turn up in Auckland, sail the yellow boat across the start-line on October 18, collect the $US250,000 performance bond they paid last year, and pull out of the regatta.

As always, rumours abound over the financial status of the challengers - none more so right now than the Australians, the British and the Swiss.

The British Challenge is on hold until a major corporate sponsor is found.
They have a New Zealand boatbuilder in London, and a set of design drawings, waiting for the go-ahead. The National Lottery will match pound for pound any commercial backer, but so far there is none. Sources say the call will be made one way or another within a week.

Squeaks came out of an Australian newspaper this week that Syd Fischer's Holy Grail syndicate were dead in the water, also without a big backer.

But young helmsman James Spithill said construction had already started on the campaign's new boat for Auckland.

The Swiss do not hide the fact they are struggling financially. They could not afford to sail in the Road to the America's Cup regatta, choosing to put what money they had into training.

Spain are holding their own financially, but struggling mentally after the death of one of their crewmen during a training sail on the Mediterranean.

Le Defi France and the Japanese Nippon syndicate are running on modest budgets, but both are halfway through building boats.

All five remaining American challengers are adamant they will be here.

Bruno Trouble, the Louis Vuitton representative for the regatta, said he has always believed 10 or 11 boats would make it to Auckland.

"Even with 11, it is a big event. There were only seven in San Diego last time," he said. "We are lucky to have some very strong teams like the Italians and the Americans."

Most of the syndicates will be represented in Auckland this weekend for a challengers' meeting. Other big players like Louis Vuitton, and television networks ESPN and TWI, are also in town, stirring up more action in the boardrooms than out on the Waitemata Harbour.

Pictured: The Waitemata should see more action like this come October.