Dennis Conner's newest challenger for the 2003 America's Cup challenge has been issued hull number 77 by America's Cup Official Measurer, Ken McAlpine.
The newest Stars & Stripes, which is still under construction at New England Boatworks in Portsmouth, Rhode Island is scheduled to be finished and delivered to Team
Dennis Conner's training compound in Long Beach, California early in the northern hemisphere summer.
"We are very excited about continuing our repeating digit tradition," said Dennis Conner, who raced USA-55 in the 2000 Cup challenge and whose team is now training on Stars & Stripes, USA-66 and trial horse USA-54 on a daily basis off Long Beach.
Conner will be in New Zealand this week to race in the Etchells National championships.
"I'm excited about being in New Zealand for the week - it's my home away from home," said Conner, who won the North Americans Etchells championships in September.
Meanwhile, Stars & Stripes helmsman Ken Read and four other Team Dennis Conner crewmembers will start racing on Tuesday, April 9th, as the 38th Congressional Cup commences in Long Beach.
Read and crew will face several America's Cup competitors including Peter Holmberg from Oracle Racing, Rod Davis and Gavin Brady from Prada Challenge and Dean Barker from Team New Zealand in the Catalina 37s.
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