Six syndicates have been accepted to challenge America's Cup holders Alinghi for international yachting's most prestigious prize when it returns to Europe for the first time in over 150 years in 2007.
Switzerland's Alinghi, bankrolled by billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli, will defend the Auld Mug in the eastern Spanish city of
Valencia after defeating Team New Zealand in 2003 to become the first European winners.
Today's deadline for official challengers passed with Team New Zealand, San Francisco-based BMW Oracle Racing, +39 Challenge and Luna Rossa Challenge from Italy, France's K-Challenge and South Africa's Team Shosholoza - the first ever African Challenge - set to compete for the Louis Vuitton Cup.
The victors from that series earn the right to take on Alinghi in June 2007.
The opening salvos have already been fired with the defender and challengers featuring in three pre-Cup regattas this year, two of which were staged in Valencia.
The Mediterranean city, government estimates predict, is set to benefit to the tune of some euro1.5 billion ($2.84 billion) from hosting the Cup.
Returning to competitive action was a big relief for Alinghi after the furore surrounding the sacking in July of helmsman Russell Coutts.
The New Zealander, dismissed for "repeated violations of his duties", had questioned the management style of Bertarelli and his departure led to an unsavoury public exchange between the pair.
Even without Coutts Alinghi proved they will be tough to beat by winning the final regatta in Valencia, but overall title of "season champion" went to Team New Zealand.
The 2003 losers, eclipsed in such comprehensive fashion by Alinghi in Auckland, did not lick their wounds for long.
Boosted by the appointment of the highly-experienced Grant Dalton as managing director, and with the addition of Britain's double Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie to the crew, Team NZ sailed consistently well this year.
"We have we won one of the three 2004 regattas, and had a second and third. That means we are the overall winner of the 2004 Acts. I don't think anyone expected us to achieve that," said Dalton.
South Africa will be making its maiden bid for the America's Cup in 2007.
An all-South African crew are skippered by Geoff Meek who has claimed victory in international events like the Fastnet Race and the Sydney to Hobart.
Britain's hopes of mounting another campaign look bleak with GBR Challenge, who competed in the Louis Vuitton trials in 2002, missing the deadline for entry because of a funding crisis.
Founder Peter Harrison, who launched GBR in 2001 - returning Britain to the America's Cup fold after a 15-year absence - has failed to land commercial backing.
Harrison said last month that he was suspending current operations.
GBR Challenge could yet still enter the America's Cup with late entries being accepted, subject to a fee, up to April 29 next year.
- REUTERS
Yachting: Six syndicates challenge America’s Cup holders Alinghi
Six syndicates have been accepted to challenge America's Cup holders Alinghi for international yachting's most prestigious prize when it returns to Europe for the first time in over 150 years in 2007.
Switzerland's Alinghi, bankrolled by billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli, will defend the Auld Mug in the eastern Spanish city of
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