Sips from the Cup: Coutts predicts a lift in quality in challenger series

Compiled by JULIE ASH

Seventy-three days out from the challenger series and the excitement is starting to build on "Syndicate Row."

Five of the nine challengers - Victory Challenge, GBR, Alinghi, OneWorld and Oracle - are back in Auckland after short breaks, and Team Dennis Conner, Le Defi Areva, Prada and Mascalzone Latino are expected by the middle of next month.

The Swiss syndicate Alinghi returned from a six-week holiday last week in time for the arrival of their second yacht, SUI75, which they hope to have on the water in a fortnight.

"We need to get race ready," Alinghi skipper Russell Coutts said. "We have done a fair bit of in-house racing, but we need to focus more on that and perhaps race some of the other challengers.

"It's just amazing to see the capability of all of these teams. They have been sailing a long time now - no one is lacking preparation."

Coutts said he was "quite excited" by both Alinghi boats, SUI64 and SUI75

"I don't think there are going to be a lot of differences in all the boats, certainly on paper, but I think you'll see performance differences in other areas that will still be pretty significant.

"I am not convinced the racing will be any closer than it was in the Louis Vuitton Cup last time, but I think the quality of the racing will be better.

"I believe you will still see speed differences in the boats. But one of the key factors is the way they are sailed. Certainly in the past two cups I did with Team New Zealand a fair amount of the boat speed could be contributed to the tuning of the boat, which comes down to the people."

While overseas, Coutts was in two regattas, finishing second to Team New Zealand's Dean Barker in the Omega Seamaster Cup in Italy and in the final event in the Swedish Match Tour in Sweden.

"I was reasonably happy with the result. The Team New Zealand guys sailed really well. It certainly gave us a bit of a wake-up call and a few things to work on."

Coutts is frustrated by the number of disputes before the America's Cup arbitration panel.

It seems nearly every syndicate is waiting for the panel to rule on something - whether clarification on rules or allegations of stealing design plans.

"I think the rules are just way too complicated. Some of the tactics going on are just childish. I think this cup is maybe worse than a lot of the other ones," Coutts said.

"To date the cup has been won by designing better and sailing better.

"In a hypothetical situation if someone came and dropped someone else's design plans on our table, what do we do with them? We have chosen our design, everything we are going to do is the result of all the testing and technology we had available. Are we just going to ignore all that?

Coutts believes the skirts, which conceal the hull shape and keel, are one thing that could go.

"The skirts have had their time. The real story with this event is to look at all the fantastic talent in these teams. This time nobody can pick a winner because it is so close. Who cares if [OneWorld designer] Laurie Davidson was over the other side of the viaduct looking at another boat. He is a designer, he is interested, who cares?"

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New Zealanders can get behind Team New Zealand and their defence thanks to the Warehouse and a new support crew programme.

Donation cards of $1, $2 and $5 were launched yesterday, with the full amount going to Team New Zealand.

In mid-September a support crew membership card will be offered in three categories - bronze ($9.99), silver ($14.99) and gold ($19.99). Spinoffs will include visits to Team New Zealand's base and the chance to win a ride on a Team New Zealand yacht.

Red socks will not be used again for fundraising, although Team New Zealand will still wear them.

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GBR70, the first America's Cup-class boat built in Britain, was launched at Viaduct Harbour this week. Britain last competed in the cup in 1987 when the boats did not have to comply with the international America's Cup-class rule, which was introduced in 1992.

The syndicate's second yacht GBR78 is expected in Auckland next month.

Also heading to Auckland is Victory Challenge's second yacht, SWE73.

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The original Black Magic, NZL32, is returning home next month.

Team New Zealand's cup winner has finished her year-long visit to France, where it was used by challenger Le Defi Areva.

NZL32, the yacht which Team New Zealand raced in the successful 1995 cup match in San Diego, will be on display in Auckland during the new cup regatta.