Yachting: Big America’s Cup fleet most diverse ever

Team New Zealand (above), Luna Rossa and Oracle are seen as the strongest challengers to cup-holders Alinghi among the 11-boat fleet. Picture / Richard Robinson

The challenge has been laid down for Team New Zealand with 10 other syndicates in the fight to take the America's Cup off Alinghi.

The final deadline for syndicates to enter the 32nd event passed on Saturday morning.

Just hours before the deadline two new teams, from countries that have never before sailed in the cup , scraped in.

The United internet Team Germany, representing the Deutscher Challenger Yacht Club, was accepted as the 10th challenger and organisers received the paperwork from China Team which will be evaluated over the next few days before the team is fully accepted as a challenger.

The German syndicate, formerly known as the Fresh 17 project, will be led by Danish skipper Jesper Bank, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and previous America's Cup skipper in 2002/2003 with Victory Challenge.

China Team, as it will be known, is joining forces with Xavier de Lesquen, who led France's Le Defi in 2000 and 2003 and will be the co-director with Wang Chao Yong. The challenge will be based at Qingdao, the sailing venue for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

With 11 challengers representing nine countries, America's Cup Management chief executive Michel Bonnefous said it was not just one of the biggest America's Cups in history but by far the most diverse.

"We have three countries participating for the first time - South Africa, Germany and China - and five continents are represented, reinforcing the global appeal of the America's Cup," he said.

"This is exactly what we wanted for the first America's Cup in Europe. It is very gratifying to see the hard work that the teams and organisers have put in come to fruition."

There were 13 challengers from six countries in Australia in 1987 and 11 challengers from seven countries in 1999 in Auckland.

Initially it was thought the 32nd event could attract as many as 20 challengers but the exorbitant cost of competing - holder Alinghi's budget is estimated at 100 million ($176.4 million) - has forced several potential challengers, including Australia's Oz Boyz and America's Sausalito, to drop out.

Emirates-sponsored Team New Zealand, Team Luna Rossa (formerly Prada) and Oracle look the strongest of the challengers.

Louis Vuitton Acts 4 and 5 will open the 2005 season leading up to the 2007 event with racing beginning on June 16 in the host city, Valencia.

The next Cup

Defender

Alinghi, Switzerland

Challengers

BMW Oracle Racing, USA
+39 Challenge, Italy
Team Shosholoza, South Africa
Emirates Team New Zealand
Luna Rossa Challenge, Italy
K-Challenge, France
Victory Challenge, Sweden
Desafio Espanol, Spain
Mascalzone Latino/Capitalia Team, Italy
United Internet Team, Germany

Pending: China Team