Sips from the Cup: Prada extend training by a month

Compiled by JULIE ASH

Prada have decided to spend a further month training in Auckland while USA53 and USA58 are shipped back to Italy.

The team had originally decided to head home and wait five-and-a-half weeks for the yachts and equipment to arrive.

Now they have decided to continue training with Luna Rossa ITA45 until their equipment arrives in Italy at the end of next month.

Some members of the sailing and shore teams have returned to Italy to help with the construction of the new Luna Rossa ITA74 in Grosseto.

The entire Prada team will be back in Italy in May ready to start training with the new boat.

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Dawn Riley's K Challenge, who are preparing for the 2006 cup, have got their campaign off to the best possible start.

Competing in their first regatta, the Cassis Cup in France in the IC45 class, K Challenge 1 with Riley at the helm finished first and K Challenge 2 with Nicolas Carbonnier at the wheel finished third.

"The crew melded nicely," Riley said. "We are looking forward to building this team and having a successful season."

Riley, an American, has sailed in three cup regattas.

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Victory Challenge have hired former Australia II port trimmer Skip Lissiman as a coach.

Lissiman was part of the Australian team who took the cup from the United States in 1983. It was the first time in 132 years that the cup had left the US.

"Skip Lissiman is not only experienced when it comes to competing in the America's Cup, he's also experienced in winning it," Victory Challenge skipper Mats Johansson said.

"I am convinced he'll quickly make his mark as we make important advances in our development."

Lissiman, 44, has represented Australia in the 1980, 1983 and 1987 cup regattas.

"Victory Challenge has a good boat, a skilful crew and professional management," Lissiman said.

"All this must be finely tuned, that's what my contribution will be as a coach for the crew and management.

"I have to identify weaknesses and make sure the necessary measures are taken."

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Le Defi Areva believe they are France's strongest challenge yet.

The syndicate are France's 10th consecutive challenge and say they are the most "accomplished" in resources and team spirit.

Le Defi Areva are one of only three challengers who have continued on since the last cup. The others are Prada and Stars and Stripes.

The French challenge crew is training with FRA46 and NZL32 at the French seaside resort of Lorient.

Le Defi's one and only 2003 generation boat, FRA69, is being built in Vannes and will be launched in May.

The boat-building budget is considerably larger this time than in 2000.

The syndicate have spent just over $7 million, compared with about $1 millon last time.

France's history in the cup began in 1970 with a challenge by Baron Marcel Bich. Since then they have always had at least one boat in every cup regatta. Their best result was in 1980 when France III, with Louis Vuitton spokeman Bruno Trouble at the helm, reached the challenger finals.

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OneWorld Challenge launched their second cup boat, USA67, in Auckland this week.

OneWorld is the first of the cup teams to have both of their new boats on the water in Auckland.

They christened USA65 in Auckland early last month.

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Victory Challenge are running a competition in Sweden to design a symbol for Orm - the name of their second cup boat which is being built now.

Victory Challenge's first America's Cup boat called Orn has a bird as its symbol. Victory challenge are looking for some symbol or character to represent Orm.

The prize for the best idea is a trip for two to Auckland to see Orm compete in the cup regatta.

Orm should be ready by early July for transporting from Gothenburg to Auckland.