Yachting: Cup yachts set the duotone in go-fast attire

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

The America's Cup summer 2001 collection is here, and it's all black and white.

Five cup yachts, some of them sporting new attire, will parade on the Hauraki Gulf today, among them Team New Zealand's familiar black boats, out of the shed for the first time since successfully defending the cup in March.

Try not to confuse them with the black boats of OneWorld, the wealthy Seattle syndicate who have been sailing on the cup course for the past week.

Their charcoal training boats used to be midnight blue (Dennis Conner's Stars and Stripes) and garish yellow (America True).

Then there is the pristine white of Oracle Racing, who are down to one model after the other's unfortunate loss of the keel three weeks ago.

The three syndicates will not be stepping out together today, although Team NZ want to mix it with the challengers later in the summer.

The home team know it is not politically correct in the cup for the defender to joust with a challenger before the regatta.

Still, skipper Dean Barker is not perturbed.

"We haven't formalised anything but I think they will be keen to line up with us.

"We're very keen to race against somebody, once all our new guys on board are used to the boats."

Over the next 10 days the many new members of Team NZ will discover the nuances of the Black Magics. Some of the crew have never set foot on a cup boat before.

NZL57 and NZL60 were packed up immediately after the final victory over Prada, to keep their secrets from public view.

"They will return to the water in the same state," Barker said.

"We've pulled everything off the boats and rebuilt them exactly the same again, so there's absolutely no chance of something corroding or breaking.

"One break could be catastrophic.

"It seems such a long time ago since I sailed on these boats - so much has happened to me since then.

"I've gone from being a fulltime sailor to being stuck in the office.

"It will feel strange being at the wheel again."

The only other cup syndicate expected in Auckland this summer are Prada, with their distinguished silver yachts. They arrive early next month.

Herald Online feature: America's Cup