Yachting: NZL84 set for Louis Vuitton series

Just how well Team New Zealand's NZL84 is shaping up for the America's Cup will be known over the next few weeks when preliminary races resume in Valencia on Friday (NZ time).

The Louis Vuitton series (acts 10, 11 and 12), which includes match racing, will be staged at the 2007 America's Cup venue until June 2 as the 12 teams continue to test and fine-tune their boats.

Team New Zealand head Grant Dalton said the New Zealand syndicate had tried out both their boats -- NZL84 and NZL82 -- for nearly a month.

"We intend to race NZL84 and we will be going out to win," Dalton said.

"What's the point in racing NZL82 -- it's an old boat, and we know everything we want to know about where it fits into the America's Cup fleet's pecking order.

"We want to validate NZL84's performance in testing in Auckland and in Valencia against real opposition. If any of the other teams don't race their new boats it's their loss."

Dalton said though Oracle declared they wouldn't race USA87, they had until 24 hours before the first race to change their mind and measure-in.

"We don't expect to see the new Alinghi boat on the race course until the second match-racing regatta in June.

"We have been watching the other syndicates just as they have been watching us and we have seen nothing that causes any major concerns.

"Alinghi is still looking strong and they're working hard. BMW Oracle Racing has been giving its new boat plenty of time on the water and Luna Rossa's new boat is looking particularly sharp and seems to have the pace in a bit of breeze.

"It's a good-looking boat and in my experience a good looking boat is usually a fast boat. In a few days we will find out.

"The so-called smaller teams are also working hard and we expect a lot in this regatta from Spain and Sweden."

The French K-Challenge, now called Areva Challenge, has been energised with more secure funding.

They are still campaigning the old NZL60, which successfully defended the Cup for New Zealand in 2000.

"In the right conditions, the world knows to respect NZL60," Dalton said.

"There's a lot of racing to be done between now and May 16 (the scheduled last day of act 10). Whatever the outcome we'll know the answer to a lot of questions."

With the team's base nearing completion, Dalton said both team members and their families had settled and the "rhythm necessary for the smooth running of team operations" was established.

- NZPA