Compiled by JULIE ASH
Prada's session out on the Hauraki Gulf was cut short yesterday when one of their new boats suffered damage to its mast.
The Italian syndicate said part of the rig was damaged but it was nothing significant and expected to have it repaired by last night.
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Dennis Conner touched down in Auckland this week after successfully defending his North American Etchells Championship title.
He led all four days of the regatta, but at one stage was just one point ahead of his nearest rival. But in true Conner style he responded with a daring start in the final race which led to a second-place finish - enough to claim the win.
New Zealand's Olympic boardsailing maestro Aaron McIntosh finished fourth.
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Team New Zealand is offering a wind tunnel testing model for the Great Team NZ Auction, being organised by Bayleys.
The boat is a 15 scale model, made of solid wood, fully rigged with mast and a black hull.
It is just under 2m in length, by 2.5m in height.
The testing model is being "tidied up" and its commercially sensitive information being removed.
The online auction starts next Friday and runs for four weeks. The public will be able to bid for up to 2000 items. All proceeds go to Team New Zealand.
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The Oracle BMW Racing team returned from the four-day spring break on Monday to find their hospitality and dining area revamped.
The team's floating barge has undergone a transformation with new carpet, table and chairs, lounge suites and french doors onto the deck.
They also have a big screen to watch their boys in action out on the Hauraki Gulf come October 1.
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The Cup's 2003 logo is being stuck onto the side of the Sky Tower.
Understandably it is a rather complicated and painful process attaching a 2.5km long adhesive vinyl logo onto the tower some 53 storeys high.
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And Oracle are celebrating the success of New Zealand sailor Simon Cooke, who along with Peter Nicholas won the Olympic 470 class world championship in Sardinia, Italy.
Cooke, who arrives home today, is part of the syndicate's weather team.
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GBR Challenge have been hard at work putting the finishing touches on Britain's newest cup boat.
It is expected that GBR78 Wight Magic will venture into the Hauraki Gulf in the next few days.
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New Zealand Nikon photographic distributors T. A. Macalister has loaned $500,000 worth of equipment to support the photographers to the Louis Vuitton and America's Cup. The equipment will be free to visiting photographers.
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
<i>Sips from the Cup:</i> Mast damage forces Prada to shore
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