2.00pm - by JULIE ASH and NZPA
As expected Alinghi and Oracle BMW Racing have stuck with the tried and true for the final of the Louis Vuitton challenger series which starts on Saturday.
Alinghi will use SUI-64 and Oracle will use USA-76, the yachts they have used throughout the regatta.
The winner
is also required to use the same boat in the contest for the America's Cup against defenders Team New Zealand, which starts on February 15.
Team New Zealand also had to take part in today's declaration process but were permitted to name two boats at this stage. As widely expected, Team New Zealand declared its two new boats, both called New Zealand and carrying the sail numbers NZL-81 and NZL-82. Team New Zealand said it would not be making any comment today.
Tomorrow the two challengers and Team New Zealand will unveil the yachts at their bases.
The Alinghi unveiling is at 9am, the Oracle unveiling is at 11am and Team New Zealand will unveil at 12.30pm.
All three bases will be open to the public.
Alinghi's base is open all day, Oracle's from 11.30am to 12.30pm and the Team New Zealand base is open from 1pm.
Commenting on today's announcement, Alinghi design team co-ordinator Grant Simmer said the team had developed SUI-64 together with their second boat SUI-75.
"The reason we are using 64 in the final of the Louis Vuitton Cup is that we have continued to develop that boat and it is moded slightly differently," he said.
"We expect a range of conditions in the finals and we believe it is the best boat for us to perform throughout that wind range.
"The changes we've made since we launched the boat in November 2001 have constantly improved the boat, from the hull to the appendages," Simmer said.
"It was a tough decision between the two boats, and it's sad to see such a fast boat as SUI-75, that we have put so much effort into, won't be used in an official race."
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
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