Yachting: China ready to raise sail

China became the latest debutant America's Cup country when it registered its guarantee of 1 million euros (NZ$1.75m) hours before yesterday's deadline.

China, South Africa and a new German syndicate - United Team internet Germany - have never competed for the Cup before and join nine other syndicates challenging for the global symbol of yachting supremacy and riches in Valencia in 2007.

The Chinese entry will be assessed by lawyers in the next few days but they are expected to approve the joint venture between France's former syndicate, Le Delfi, and China's China equity Investment Corporation.

"We have 12 teams from five different continents, full of colour and culture," Michel Bonnefous, the organisation's chief executive, said from Valencia. "It will be a fantastic event and a fantastic party."

Defending champions Alinghi, bankrolled by biotechnology billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli and sponsors including Europe's biggest bank UBS AG, is spending 100 million euros in pursuit of the trophy. Larry Ellison's BMW Oracle Racing is likely to exceed the $130 million it spent last time.

China Team, as it will be known, is joining forces with Xavier de Lesquen, who led Le Defi's unsuccessful challenge in 2000 and 2003 and will be the co-director with Wang Chao Yong, and the challenge will be based at Qingdao - the site for the sailing events at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The other teams signed up to challenge Alinghi for the 2007 event include the German team, known as Fresh 17, BMW Oracle, Team New Zealand, Team Shosholoza (South Africa), 39 Challenge, Luna Rossa, Victory, K-Challenge, and El Reto. There is only one US entry and no Australian syndicate with the OzBoyz syndicate not registering its challenge, running out of time to raise money and logistics arrangements required to mount a bid for the Cup.

"This is not just one of the biggest, but it is by far the most diverse America's Cup in history. We have three countries participating for the first time - South Africa, Germany and China - and five continents are represented, reinforcing the global appeal of the America's Cup," said an excited Bonnefous. "This is exactly what we wanted for the first America's Cup in Europe. "

The total number of challengers falls just two short of the all time record which was achieved in Australia in 1987 when 13 challengers from six countries took part.
China is not renowned as a seafaring nation, although in 1421 it sent four fleets of large ships to discover the new world. It had little history in competitive sailing until recently, and then only in the Olympic classes. The first major Chinese success was the silver medal won by Jian Yin in the Mistral sailboards in Athens last year.

However, after their recent economic boom, the single-minded Chinese have set their minds at performing well in yachting and, while they may not be expecting instant gratification at Valencia, are known to be looking to train Chinese sailors up for international competition well beyond the 2007 Cup.


- HERALD ON SUNDAY