Countdown to the Cup

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

If you thought the most closely guarded secret of the America's Cup was what Dennis Conner has hidden under his skirts (boat skirts, that is), think again. The biggest mystery of the cup is the venue of the Louis Vuitton party.

The party is the off-the-water showpiece of the regatta - a chance for the world's wealthy and sailing's famous to mix, sip fine wines and throw off their sodden boatshoes for crisp tuxedoes.

The settings must be unique - in 1988 the party was held at an old prison in San Diego and '92 aboard the USS Kittyhawk warship. In Auckland last time, 3000 guests partied on three dance floors at the newly refurbished Civic Theatre.

Those who make the guest list receive their invitations months in advance, but are not told of the venue until two days before.

Even within Louis Vuitton, the venue for the party - to be held in December - is spoken of in whispers, just to be on the safe side.

The America's Cup is much, much more than just a boat race. It brings a whole social scene to town - boat christenings, sponsors' events, victory parties and so on. And rivalling the Louis Vuitton party will be the America's Cup ball in February for a more intimate 800 guests.

Of course, there is entertainment on the water.

The mega-rich are encouraged to bring their floating palaces to Auckland and to contest the Millennium Cup - the four-day superyacht regatta between Auckland and Kawau from February 10-13.

One of the great dames of America's Cup racing, the 1930s J-class yacht Shamrock V will be in Auckland to sail in the Logan Cup classic yacht regatta (February 6-9).

Another J-class, Endeavour, has also booked a berth in Auckland but her arrival is in doubt following the collapse of owner Dennis Kozlowski's Tyco International Corporation in a financial scandal.

For those who want to taste the America's Cup without the saltwater spray, Louis Vuitton is bringing the 150-year America's Cup exhibition to the Maritime Museum from October 1 to January 5. To encourage people to explore the history of the event, access will be free.

And then there is the real racing. Former America's Cup skipper Bruno Trouble believes the billionaires who have entered the fray will make this regatta one of the greatest - and one of the most fiercely contested Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series - on and off the water.

Nine challengers from six nations will line up in the first round of the Louis Vuitton Cup, which begins on October 1.

Almost all of the teams have settled into Syndicate Row (the nickname for Halsey St on the edge of the Viaduct Basin) where they will camp until their luck runs out.

The Louis Vuitton Cup has adopted a new format, in a concerted bid to break New Zealand's hold on the silverware. The four-month regatta will include repechage rounds, allowing teams that shine early to concentrate on racing other strong teams, while letting less successful ones survive further rounds if they improve.

While the foreign teams battle it out, Team New Zealand will train alone, waiting to find the top challenger for their clash in the best-of-nine America's Cup match starting February 15.

Schedule: Louis Vuitton Cup and America's Cup 2003

nzherald.co.nz/americascup