Yachting: Surprises will fill out biggest Cup lineup

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Expect a couple of surprise sailing syndicates to pop up next week before the first entry deadline for the 2003 America's Cup.

The commodore of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Peter Taylor, guarantees that Auckland will host the biggest cup regatta ever next time.

"There are definitely more two-boat teams than last time, and more entries than before," he said. "There are even a couple of surprises amongst them.

"It will be without doubt the biggest America's Cup ever. The contribution to the New Zealand economy will be double what it was in 2000."

Syndicates must pay their $US150,000 ($349,800) entry fee to the squadron by 4 pm next Thursday. If they miss the first deadline, they have another year to pay up - but the fee doubles.

As many as 12 teams could be fronting up by next week.

Yesterday, strong suggestions were circulating that new teams from Spain and Japan could enter the fray.

Taylor confirmed he had been talking to a new Spanish syndicate, and a Japanese team - no relation to the defunct Nippon - had contacted Marco Piccinini, head of the Challenger of Record Management.

A second Italian syndicate, Mascalzone Latino, have entered through the Yacht Club Royale in Naples.

The GBR Challenge, from the Royal Ocean Racing Club, have sent their payment by personal courier - in the form of New Zealand skipper David Barnes, who is working for the English syndicate.

French challenge Le Defi, semifinalists in the last Louis Vuitton Cup, announced this week they were also starters.

American team Oracle have yet to confirm the yacht club under which they will enter.

"It's staggering that there has been so much interest - especially from Europe," Taylor said. "The next issue is where to find places for them to set up base. It's not our responsibility to find them somewhere, but we have to make sure they are well looked after."

Cup personality Bruno Trouble was in Auckland yesterday to say that Louis Vuitton would again back the challenger series and the international media centre.

Louis Vuitton will also open the doors of its first America's Cup clothing and luggage store on the Auckland waterfront today.

Herald Online feature: America's Cup