Cup snip at $6 a day

By Nick Perry

The America's Cup is up and away, but it isn't yet yielding big dollars. Six months ago, it cost up to $3500 for full membership to the exclusive American Express Yacht Club in the Viaduct Harbour - now it is down to $6 a day.

American Express is offering the variable daily rate to anyone wearing smart-casual dress after slow sales of regatta-long membership passes.

An Amex spokeswoman said the daily rates would open up the club - off the end of the cup village - to the public for a time at least.

Four months ago, membership prices dropped from between $1650 and $3500 to from $895 to $995, with fewer privileges. Those who paid the original membership fee got a refund.

The spokeswoman said sales had gone as well as could be expected so far.

"Our experience is that New Zealanders don't really act until events hit them in the face. We are expecting a big increase in interest over the next couple of weeks."

The club would offer members a chance to view coverage of the Louis Vuitton Cup as soon as technical difficulties with Virtual Spectator software were sorted out.