Sips from the cup: Italians weigh anchor temporarily

Compiled by JULIE ASH

Prada are temporarily packing up and heading back to Italy.

They will take part in the Challenger of Record Committee observation trial early next month before loading up their three cup boats (Luna Rossa ITA45, Young America USA53 and USA58) and shipping them home.

Prada, who raced against Team New Zealand during the previous regatta, will start training in Italy at the beginning of May. Soon afterwards they will launch Luna Rossa ITA74, the first of their two new cup yachts, which are being built in the Prada boatyard in Grosseto, Italy.

The schedule for the second Luna Rossa (which has not been assigned a sail number yet) has yet to be decided.

Prada expect to return to Auckland in early September.

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With the defence of the cup not far away, one of the key questions Team New Zealand are constantly being asked is - will syndicate head Tom Schnackenberg grow his "handlebar" moustache back?

Schnackenberg, whose moustache was nearly as famous as the black boat itself, shaved it off for charity after the 2000 campaign.

He said he would consider growing it again - if the price was right. The money will, of course, be donated to charity.

* * *

Team New Zealand are continuing to race against local yacht clubs in their build-up to the cup.

Communities from the Bay of Islands to Bluff have been invited to compete in a series of regional regattas.

The regional programme, which began in Tauranga in September, has Team New Zealand sailors racing in four 9.2m, three-man Etchell-class boats, which are transported to each region.

The Team New Zealand crew take part in a fleet race against three teams nominated by the local yacht clubs.

Before the cup, Team New Zealand will evaluate the performances of the local sailors, and the top-ranked crew will be offered a day on the Hauraki Gulf with Team New Zealand.

* * *

Three America's Cup syndicates battled it out in a celebrity dragon-boat race in Auckland last night.

The race at the Viaduct, on the final night of a three-week twilight series involving corporate teams, featured Team New Zealand, Seattle's OneWorld and Britain's GBR Challenge.

Organiser Pip Fleming said the teams' practice run before last night's event was a nerve-racking experience.

"Team New Zealand's grinders nearly sank the boat," she said. "Fourteen paddlers with an average weight of 100kg - I have never been so close to the water in all my life."

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