Cup Briefs: Eleven yachts likely

Ten America's Cup syndicates have now officially entered the Louis Vuitton challenger series. The latest additions to the list yesterday were the second French team, Esprit France, who will sail an old 1995 boat, and Hawaii's Aloha Racing. Italians Prada are expected to send their entry form in this weekend - the deadline is August 1. An 11-boat regatta now seems likely when the series starts on October 18.

Drinking den launch

It's a big day for Dennis Conner today on both sides of the world. In Rhode Island, his new cup yacht, Stars and Stripes, will be loaded on to a ship for her journey to Auckland. Back in Auckland, his new cup bar, Stars and Stripes, will open to the public at 9pm. Among his first patrons at the bar on Quay and Albert streets will be the Team New Zealand crew.

A very Brady sequel

How quickly times change. Rising New Zealand skipper Gavin Brady, ranked No 2 in the world in matchracing, has turned down an invitation to sail in next month's world championships in Copenhagen so he can concentrate on his new job with Paul Cayard's AmericaOne. Earlier this year, Brady resigned from rival San Francisco campaign America True so he could put his efforts into becoming the world No 1. New Zealand will be represented at the worlds by Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker, seeded fourth.