By JULIE ASH
In five days Russell Coutts' Alinghi will line up against Chris Dickson's Oracle BMW Racing, with a spot in the race for the America's Cup to the winner.
While the excitement is building up to the Louis Vuitton final, first and foremost the syndicates will today reveal
which boat they will race before unveiling it tomorrow.
Oracle and Alinghi have until 1pm today to notify the challenger of record management committee if they intend to change yachts for the best-of-nine series final starting on Saturday.
So far both teams have used the same yachts all the way through the regatta - Alinghi SUI64 and Oracle USA76.
The decision for the two syndicates is vital. The boat they choose to race in the final is the one they must use if they advance to the America's Cup match.
Team New Zealand will also reveal one or both of the black boats tomorrow.
Team New Zealand have gone out of their way to protect the hull shape and underwater appendages of NZL81 and NZL82 - skirting the boats to and from the Hauraki Gulf.
But like the challengers, the skirts will be lifted and all will be revealed tomorrow.
If Team New Zealand choose to unveil only one boat then that boat must be the one used in the match. If they unveil them both, which they are more than likely to do, they have the option of using either one for the match.
Before the last cup match race in 2000 Team New Zealand chose to unveil NZL57 and NZL60 before deciding to use NZL60 against Prada, the result being a 5-0 clean sweep.
Alinghi's unveiling is the first at 9am and will be beamed around the world on the web tomorrow morning. Their base will be open to the public from 8.30am all day.
Oracle are next at 11am. The American syndicate will then open their doors to the public from 11.30am to 12.30pm.
Then it is Team New Zealand's turn at 12.30pm. The Team New Zealand base will also be open to the public with the opening time to be confirmed today.
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
Racing schedule, results and standings
