Cup Briefs: Ruling on Russians

The mysterious Russian America's Cup boat has been officially checked out to see if it can legally sail in the challenger series. The Age of Russia syndicate said they had a new boat, but it appears it is a relic from a past campaign which never made it to the start line. It is understood the boat was originally built for a 1992 Russian team but never got to San Diego. A measurer from England looked over the boat in St Petersburg last weekend and a decision should be made this weekend about its eligibility.

Missing in action

The Russian syndicate were missing from the challenger meeting in San Francisco last weekend - even though they were the first to register their intentions of turning up. Eleven syndicates showed their faces at the meeting. Also missing were the defunct Hong Kong syndicate and Aloha Racing, who were launching their first new boat in Hawaii. The British challenge were not present but were represented in voting matters by the Swiss Fast 2000 camp.

Design challenge

Paul Cayard's AmericaOne campaign have invited sailing enthusiasts to design a jib halyard lock for their new America's Cup boat. The winner will receive a week-long trip for two to Auckland during the Louis Vuitton Cup, sailing as 17th man on the boat. If the device is good enough it will be used on the boats.

Jones holds own

Team New Zealand back-up skipper Murray Jones has had a creditable third at his first major matchracing event of the year, the Royal Lymington regatta in England. Jones lost to eventual winner, Danish matchracing champion Morten Henriksen, 1-3 in the semifinals, but beat Englishman Andy Beadsworth 2-1 in the sail-off for third. Henriksen beat Frenchman Luc Pillot, who had worked with the French Le Defi cup syndicate, in the final and dedicated the victory to his former crewmate, English sailor Glyn Charles, lost at sea in last year's Sydney-Hobart race.