Sips from the Cup: French take over illbruck base

French challengers Le Defi Areva have taken over base No 10 in the Viaduct Harbour after the withdrawal of illbruck.

The French team had given up their previous base further down Syndicate Row after the last cup because of the cost.

Their old area was quickly snapped up by the Swiss syndicate Alinghi's mega-base, which now occupies the space from the Japanese and the French bases from 1999-2000.

The illbruck base has a sail loft, boatshed, mast-shed and offices: all the French have to do is to change the signs and switch on the lights.

Map of Viaduct Basin showing team bases

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Oracle Racing have been assigned their second sail number, USA76.

Oracle's first sail number, USA71, is the same number as owner Larry Ellison's world championship-winning Maxi boat Sayonara.

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At least 19 new cup boats will be on the water in the 2002-2003 cup season.

Fifteen boats have already received sail numbers. Four other yachts, including two from Team New Zealand, have yet to be assigned sail numbers.

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GBR's newly launched Wight Lightning (GBR70) is about to be shipped to Auckland.

The boat was named by Princess Anne last week at a ceremony at GBR's base in Cowes, close to the start line of the first cup match in 1851.

GBR skipper Ian Walker was pleased to finally launch the boat: "The Louis Vuitton Cup starts in less than 172 days and I can't wait to start racing."

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While the cream of the world's golfers were in action in the US Masters in Augusta, some of the cup's best were battling it out on the fairways at Gulf Harbour as part of a golfing day organised by Alinghi Challenge.

The one to watch was Oracle Racing chef Mark Reihana who won the closest to the pin competition.

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Oracle Racing's Peter Holmberg is still on cloud nine after winning his third consecutive event on the Swedish Match Tour.

Holmberg won the Congressional Cup in California last week, beating Prada's Gavin Brady 2-1 in the final.

Oracle Racing's sailing director, New Zealander John Cutler, said Holmberg's success was a great boost for the syndicate. "Results like this builds confidence in our sailing programme and confirms that our cup preparations are on track."

He was part of Holmberg's team, which also included Graham Fleury, Robbie Naismith, Mike Sanderson and Brad Webb.

"Our success on the match race circuit provides us with a psychological advantage that will prove formidable when the Louis Vuitton Challenger series starts," Cutler said.

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Prada have completed their extra training session in Auckland with Luna Rossa ITA45 and are on their way back to Italy.

Most of the team went back to Italy at the beginning of March. During the extra session on the Hauraki Gulf a few team members made various tests, and underwent specific crew training.

Prada's other two boats (Young America USA53 and USA58) have been shipped back to Italy.

Luna Rossa ITA 45, the last of Prada's boats in Auckland, is also being shipped back to Italy where it will arrive in 5 1/2 weeks.

The new Luna Rossa ITA74 is nearing completion at the team's boatyard in Grosseto and the yacht will be launched late next month.