Cup Briefs: Young Aussies stay afloat

The Australians look certain to join their challenger cousins in the cup village - but they will have a unique home. Rumour has it the Young Australia syndicate will be based on the floating crane Hikinui, parked somewhere within the village walls.The Hikinui - in dry dock at the moment getting a lick of white paint - will also be working in the village lifting boats in and out of the water during the cup.

Ships that pass in the night

Two America's Cup yachts with very different philosophies are sharing a ride to Auckland. French cup boat 6e Sens, Le Defi's boat which won't wear skirts during its campaign, and Young America's heavily disguised second boat are on their way to New Zealand on a Norwegian cargo ship. Neither syndicate knew beforehand the other would be on board the ship which arrives on September 23.

Yachting on the Internet

The official website of the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series went on-line yesterday. The Internet site (www.louisvuittoncup.com) is produced by TWI and will run throughout the series with animated graphics of the challenger races and television highlights among its features. Spokesman Marcus Hutchinson said it would be a quick reference information site for people wanting to keep up with developments - "viewers will vist it two or three times a day during the racing for a minute or two to see what's happened."