Victory Challenge's second cup yacht, SWE73, has been given the thumbs up by helmsman Jesper Bank.
The syndicate's two cup yachts, SWE63 (Orn) and SWE73 (Orm), went sailing together in the Hauraki Gulf for the first time this week.
SWE63 has been in Auckland since late last year, while SWE73 arrived this month.
Magnus Holmberg helmed the new boat in its first few outings last week, but Bank was behind the wheel when both boats went out three days ago.
"Considering Orn and Orm are built with such a short time between them, I hadn't expected such a difference," Bank said . "I could feel it with the rudder, and hear it as well.
"I felt it in the way the boat performed in the water and in the response to the wind.
"It is not difficult to see that Orm is a step forward."
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Some of the big names in cup racing went head-to-head at a Clash of the Titans Rotary charity evening at the Ellerslie Convention Centre.
Oracle BMW Racing's John Cutler, Alinghi's Brad Butterworth, Prada's Rod Davis and Team New Zealand's Tom Schnackenberg were among those who took part.
A 500-strong audience, mainly from the New Zealand corporate and business community, watched the panel of cup personalities test their cup knowledge in a quiz.
An auction at the end of the evening raised more than $50,000. An enthusiastic bidder paid $4200 for a ride as 17th person on one of Oracle's sailboats.
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Victory Challenge crew members have been banned from taking part in dangerous leisure activities.
Project manager Mats Johansson has put an end to downhill skiing, ice hockey and other risky activities.
"We can't afford any injuries, especially broken bones now that we're so close to the Louis Vuitton Cup," he said.
The ban means a handful of the Victory Challenge crew have had to pull out of their ice hockey side - the Auckland Vikings.
"I'm in favour of the decision, 100 per cent," Viking player Lars Linger said. "We must not expose ourselves to more risk than at sea."
The ban isn't out of the ordinary in the cup world. Oracle have advised their team against off-road mountain biking after seasoned afterguard member Peter Holmberg broke his collarbone.
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A number of the syndicates tried to sneak their yachts into "syndicate row," but French Challengers Le Defi Areva couldn't hide new yachts FRA69 and FRA79 if they tried.
The fluorescent green hulls are a far cry from the black, dark blue and grey hulls most teams have gone for.
The French yachts were orange at the last cup, so Le Defi say they just continued their theme of bright colours.
The other syndicates are still getting used to the bright yachts and sun glasses may be a necessity when lining up against the French in the challenger series.
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Nearly 800 people took part in a French internet survey asking whether they supported the partnership between the French team Le Defi and nuclear power company Areva.
Of the 783 people surveyed, 31 per cent thought it was great that Areva was sponsoring the team because it meant Le Defi could represent France and compete in the event.
Twenty-three per cent said the nuclear sponsorship did not change anything.
Three per cent said civil nuclear energy had nothing to do with sailing and would continue to support Le Defi.
A further 3 per cent said they would no longer support the French team because of the sponsorship and the rest said they could not believe that Le Defi joined forces with Areva to represent the French nuclear industry in a port such as Auckland.
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It looks like Alinghi strategist Murray Jones is going to miss the first round of the Louis Vuitton Challenger series.
Jones broke a foot when it got stuck in the mainsail sheet while out sailing this month.
Alinghi physio Xavier Jolis said it was unlikely Jones would be ready come October 1.
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<i>Sips from the Cup:</i> Victory Challenge joint outing shows team the way forward
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