Help pours in for poor contenders

By Nick Perry

The Australian America's Cup challenge, which arrived in Auckland this week with virtually nothing but rice, has been overwhelmed with offers of help.

Whangaparaoa boating enthusiast John Edwards has volunteered his 9m launch as a support boat during racing, and says he will pilot the craft if needed. He has also offered use of his diesel van.

Keith Oddy, owner of meat chain the Aussie Butcher, has offered to supply meat for the team of 30 for the duration of their stay, which could be almost six months in the unlikely event they win the Louis Vuitton Cup.

Mr Oddy says the team will have a better chance of winning with a few of his steaks inside them.

"These guys are virtually kids and have nothing. I like to help out the real battlers."

Mr Oddy, a former Australian, says he will have no problem putting up with jibes from New Zealanders aghast at his helping "the enemy." The name of his chain has prompted plenty of comment in the past.

The Young Australia 2000 challenge, headed by cup veteran Syd Fischer, has a budget one-hundredth the size of the $120 million at the disposal of the Italian syndicate Prada, and a crew of novice cup racers aged mainly from 18 to 24.

The team has landed deals with a rice distributor and clothing company Line 7, but has little else in the way of sponsorship.

The general manager of the Railway Campus, Jenny Vasey, says it has been fielding dozens of calls from people wanting to donate bicycles and help in other ways.

The hotel has given the team luxury rooms at heavily discounted rates - and has booked them in for the cup final, despite the team's showing less confidence by asking for the rooms only until the end of round-robin racing in December.

Team mentor Andrew Crowe jokingly says he initially had doubts about New Zealanders' willingness to assist Australians in any sporting endeavour, but has been ecstatic over the generous offers.