VALENCIA - The 32nd America's Cup has not even started but new British yachting crew TeamOrigin are already getting ready for the 33rd challenge, buying a boat from current defenders Alinghi so they can get training as soon as possible.
Keith Mills, the businessman who helped London winthe 2012 Olympics, has the backing to mount a British challenge for the next two America's Cups and has already signed New Zealander Mike Sanderson to run the team.
On Monday, Alinghi said they had sold TeamOrigin SUI75, one of two boats the Swiss group used to win sailing's most prestigious prize in 2003.
Alinghi modified SUI75 to meet Version 5.0 -- the rules that dictate the form of this year's America's Cup Class yachts -- and over the last two years she continued to win scalps against other teams' new builds. The Swiss are now racing two new boats.
The yacht will be renamed GBR75 and will hit the water as soon as this year's America's Cup is decided in June or July.
Sanderson, who has competed in three America's Cups and won two Volvo Ocean Races, said the Swiss hand-me-down was one of the fastest training boats about.
"We are also able to get hold of it without delay meaning that we can push forward our planning and be on the water here in Valencia as early as July 2007," Sanderson said on TeamOrigin's website, adding he was looking for a second boat.
Under America's Cup rules, TeamOrigin will have to build its own boat in Britain for the actual America's Cup challenge, which Mills has said could be as early as 2009.
The timing, place and exact rules of the next event will be dictated by whoever wins the Hundred Guineas Cup this time round when Alinghi meets the best challenger in a best-of-nine that starts on June 23.
Eyes are also on which sailors, shore crew and designers TeamOrigin signs from this year's teams, depending on who decides to have another shot at the America's Cup and the pay packets they offer to keep staff -- particularly British ones.
