The world's third-richest man has come to the aid of Seattle America's Cup challenger OneWorld with a $US10 million ($23.57 million) cheque.
Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, is backing OneWorld through his San Francisco-based cable television channel, TechTV. OneWorld, which has a strong contingent of former Team New Zealand sailors and designers, put out a call for financial help when syndicate head Craig McCaw's fortunes suffered in the high-tech stock crash this year.
Allen, whose fortune is worth $US28 billion, is third on the Forbes rich list behind his old business partner Bill Gates and Larry Ellison - who has his own cup syndicate, Oracle Racing.
Allen owns the Portland Trail Blazers NBA team and the Seattle Seahawks NFL franchise.
OneWorld, with a budget of $75 million, arrive in New Zealand next month to start training through until the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series in October next year.
Yachting: Bail-out for OneWorld
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