Secrecy the winner in Cup contest

By JULIE ASH and HELEN TUNNAH

Two of the big guns in the regatta went head-to-head on the Hauraki Gulf this week but in true America's Cup style the result remained a secret.

In a battle of the big-budget campaigns, American syndicate Oracle BMW Racing raced Alinghi of Switzerland.

Neither would confirm the result but it is understood Russell Coutts' Alinghi had the better of the Oracle team.

The Americans confirmed that the race had taken place but would not elaborate on how it went.

"The session proved extremely valuable and we hope to include more races with other challengers," said public relations manager Joanna Ingley.

"With just a month to go before the Challenger series, it is important that our training includes days where we can simulate race conditions and work on manoeuvres."

"Alinghi looked really good and they are going to be a top contender come race time."

Alinghi said it was no secret that the pair raced but, like Oracle, they would not discuss the outcome.

"We want to race the other challengers and start putting the pressure on the crew," the syndicate said.

With budgets well over the $120 million mark, Alinghi and Oracle are two of the favourites to win the Louis Vuitton Challenger series, which starts on October 1.

* Another of the challengers, Prada, hit the water with a second boat on Wednesday.

Miuccia Prada, who launched Prada's first new boat in Italy in May, displayed explosive skill in smashing the champagne across ITA80's bow.

Prada, wife of cup syndicate head Patrizio Bertelli, is the creative brain behind the family empire which has expanded from a Milan-based luggage manufacturer to become one of the world's leading fashion houses.

Bertelli, a sailing enthusiast and founder of the Prada syndicate which challenged Team New Zealand for the America's Cup three years ago, is his wife's chief executive and the business strategist behind the company.

Prada was formed in 1913 by Miuccia Prada's grandfather, but it was under her guidance that it was transformed into a business worth $3 billion by 2000.

She joined the family business in 1978 and within five years had revolutionised it, moving first into women's fashion and then menswear with a style based on understated luxury.

Forbes business magazine profiled Prada in a series on billionaires and described her as one of the world's richest women.

She was in Auckland with Bertelli and their two children only for a few days, and may be back during the cup series.

Team spokeswoman Alessandra Ghezzi said it was the fourth America's Cup boat launched by Prada the old-fashioned way. Superstition has it that the bottle must smash to avoid bad luck.

"She's very good because every time she's managed to do it the first time," Ghezzi said.