Sips from the cup: Millennium Cup expanded to four-day event

Compiled by JULIE ASH

The New Zealand Millennium Cup - a superyacht event - has been expanded to a four-day regatta, which will now include two afternoon races in the Hauraki Gulf and the two-day race from Auckland to Kawau Island.

As with the New Zealand Millennium Cup in 2000, the event will be held from February 10-13 between the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America's Cup match.

Fifty-five vessels competed in the last Millennium Cup regatta - described as the largest superyacht regatta ever held.

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Six challengers will race on the Hauraki Gulf as part of the Challenger of Record Management trial, which starts today.

The four-day trial aims to prepare the race committee for the Louis Vuitton Cup, beginning in October. A racecourse will be set out on the Hauraki Gulf and starting sequences run in accordance with the proposed Louis Vuitton Cup race instructions.

Competing are San Francisco's Oracle Racing, Sweden's Victory Challenge, Britain's GBR Challenge, Switzerland's Alinghi Challenge, Seattle's OneWorld Challenge and Italy's Prada Challenge.

The trial will give some of the new on-the-water umpires the opportunity to judge cup boats and familiarise themselves with the America's Cup regatta.

Because it is not an official regatta, it has no real format, such as a round-robin structure.

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Twenty members of the England cricket team went sailing with GBR Challenge on the Hauraki Gulf.

Darren Gough, Andrew Flintoff, Andrew Caddick and Paul Collingwood sailed on the two British training boats, and 16 others watched from the GBR Challenge hospitality boat Viking.

Despite wet conditions, with the wind picking up to 18 to 23 knots, the four cricket internationals had a go at grinding the winches and helming the 25m boats.

Gough even decided to venture to the top of the 40m mast - when the boat was back in dock.

Gough said he enjoyed the experience but could not see himself taking up a career in sailing. "We had a really good time, but it is not an easy job. I'd rather be bowling at Chris Cairns that racing on one of those boats!"

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Five cup sailors feature in the new top-10 list of the world's best matchracing sailors.

Leading the International Sailing Federation list is Victory Challenge helmsman Magnus Holmberg, who has held the top position since August last year.

The top 10 are Holmberg, Peter Holmberg (Oracle), Denmark's Jesper Radich-Johansen (Denmark), James Spithall (One World), Jes Gram Hansen (Denmark), Bjrn Hansen (Sweden), Francois Brenac (France), Dean Barker (Team New Zealand), Peter Gilmour (OneWorld), and Luc Pillot (France).

The next event on the world circuit is the Steinlager/Line 7 Cup in Auckland from March 19-24.

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Swiss syndicate Alinghi were the latest team to venture into enemy territory.

Oracle Racing have invited nearly all the syndicates to their base for some "neighbourly fun and refreshments" in the cup build-up.

Oracle have tried to make their fellow challengers feel at home, serving up dishes from their home countries, but Oracle's head chef, Mark Reihana, believed that the Swiss dish of fondue should be left off the menu given the large attendance, so opted for a New Zealand barbecue.

Oracle Racing have also hosted GBR Challenge and OneWorld.

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