Yachting: Outstanding attribute on show

Sue Dickson, wife of Oracle skipper Chris (left), douses USA87's bowsprit with a magnum of champagne.

Oracle's USA87, with its short bowsprit in full view, was christened in Valencia yesterday.

The America's Cup syndicate headed by New Zealander Chris Dickson was the last of the three big challengers to launch its first new boat.

Emirates Team New Zealand launched NZL84 in December and Team Luna Rossa revealed ITA86 last week.

But unlike their rivals' slick 24m machines, Oracle sports a bowsprit - last seen in the cup in 1992, on New Zealand Challenge's NZL20.

"It's the way the class rule has changed since the last cup," Dickson told AP.

"Although it has quite a visual impression, it has a very minor effect on performance. It's one of many, many sail handling developments, although a very visible one."

He said USA87 had been on the water only once, so testing was needed to gauge the bowsprit's effectiveness.

"She floats and we're very happy with what we've got," he said. "We've got a lot of sea trialling to go through to get the best out of her."

Whether the bowsprit, which under the rules must be removable, will be used in the challenger series starting in 12 months, is the question.

There has been some speculation that the device is a decoy.

Dickson said USA87 was a "quantum leap forward" from its predecessor, USA76, which lost to Alinghi in the Louis Vuitton Cup final in 2003.

"To the untrained eyes it's another cup boat, just like you might get another Formula One or BMW car. But to the trained eye, everything is new and different."