Cup Briefs: Swiss remaining politically correct

The Swiss have solved a political dilemma so they can land their boat, Be Happy, at Auckland Airport on Sunday night. The Fast2000 camp are flying their new boat in on a Russian Antonov plane but had major hassles getting clearance to land during APEC. The unfinished yacht will be unloaded as soon as it arrives and taken to an Auckland boatyard for five day's work before it is then moved on to the Swiss base in the cup village. The two Spanish yachts and the two Aloha Racing yachts will both be arriving by ship tomorrow.

Thieves collared

An eagle-eyed Auckland policeman has helped recover gear belonging to some of Young America's crew, which was stolen from a team van in the Viaduct Basin. Within 48 hours of the gear bags being taken, a local policeman saw the thieves wearing Young America clothing in downtown Auckland. "Obviously they're paying a lot of attention to the America's Cup out on the streets," said grateful Young America spokeswoman Jane Eagleson.

True colours?

President Bill Clinton will have to look at an old Kiwi America's Cup boat on Sunday when he meets the skippers
of the United States challengers in the cup village. America True, Young America, Team Dennis Conner and Aloha Racing did not want to have a line-up of their new boats - for fear of their jealously-guarded design secrets being uncovered - so Chris Dickson's NZL39, now enjoying life as a True training boat, will be put on show for the president. Mr Clinton will speak to 350 of the world's leading CEOs at an APEC breakfast in the Louis Vuitton media centre.