***Alinghi Has Staying Power - Russell Coutts on what's in his future: "I'm definitely going to be with Alinghi next time, I'm really enjoying myself with this team. I think the Cup was a fantastic event here [in New Zeland] and the challenge for Alinghi is now to try and do at least as well as what has been done in New Zealand. - Source: www.cupviews.com

***Early Bird -On Friday February 21, 2003, the French continued to take the headlines when a new French syndicate, fronted by some well known faces, announced its intention to challenge in the next America’s Cup.

K-Yachting, a French-based, sailing management group, announced the ‘K-Challenge’ for the America’s Cup in Auckland on Friday.

The management group for the team includes American Dawn Riley as sailing team manager, and Stephan Kandler as general manager. Ortwin Kandler, a pioneer of the aircraft industry in Europe (Airbus) is listed as President of Honour.

K-Yachting has also announced its first technical sponsor for their 2006 America's Cup campaign: CEA, the French Nuclear Energy Agency. CEA will provide access to its supercomputer which is the 7th most powerful in the world. It will be used for CFD, numerical simulation, and weather modelling.

The name of the Yacht Club behind the project wasn’t announced. The budget for the K-Challenge is €60-million. - Source: www.lvcup.com

In April of 2003, the K-Challenge for the America's Cup announced it had signed one of the better-known and successful naval architects and designers in the field, Phil Kaiko. He was a principal designer of the 2003 challenger, OneWorld that was a semi-finalist in the Louis Vuitton Cup, the precursor event to the America's Cup.

Kaiko has been involved in the design of America's Cup class boats since 1987. Kaiko designed America True in 2000 and the victorious America3 in 1992. Kaiko will be K-Challenge's principal designer and will be joined shortly by a co-designer.

The signing of Kaiko is a strategic step in the process K-Challenge began 15 months ago of putting into position the key people, technical partners (including MCube which provides design and validation tools), and know-how to make K-Challenge a powerful French challenge. Next to join the design team will be a technical director (whose name is being withheld until he is released from his contractual obligations from the last America's Cup). Along with Kaiko, this addition reunites with Dawn Riley many of the key members of the America True team of 2000.

**** In a press conference held June 17, 2003, it was announced that former America True helmsman and Oracle tactician John Cutler is joining as the syndicate's Technical Director. John has a unique background in engineering as well as being in the afterguard of multiple America's Cup campaigns .

Former Olympic champion Thierry Peponnet, veteran of the international match racing scene and twice a competitor in the America's Cup (both with the French syndicate), will be part of the afterguard. In addition, the new K-Challenge race crew for the America's Cup includes Nicolas Charbonnier (a young high-level French sailor five times 420 World Champion), Yann Gouniot, Fabrice Blondel, Romain Troublé, Benoît Briand, Thierry Fouchier and Albert Jacobsoone (former members of the former French America's Cup campaigns).

The other coup for the K-Challenge Challenge is the signing of designer Juan Kouyoumdjian, who was part of the design team for Prada Challenge in the last Cup. He will be the French Challenge's co-designer with Phil Kaiko. - Sources: www.k-challenge.org www.cupineurope.com

**** Familiar names on the published K-Challenge crew include, John Cutler (Helm) Hartwell Jordan (Main), Thierry Peponnet (Tactics), Katie Pettibone (Strategist/ Runner) and Dawn Riley (Pit/ runner).

***Team France- May 14, 2003 Paris, France - A new America's Cup syndicate was announced today, with two prominent French sailors as the co-founders: Loïck Peyron and Bertrand Pacé.

"So that we can have all the necessary assets on our side", Pacé explains that "we have to start acquiring key people right now. So strong relations are maintained with national and international skills in setting up the Design Team. For several months now, we have been in contact with two American " personalities : Rod Davis (Coach, 9 America's Cup participations, 2 times Olympic medallist in the Los Angeles (Gold) and Barcelona (Silver) Games, 14 international match-racing titles...) and Clay Oliver (naval architect, Team New Zealand, Stars and Stripes, America3...).

"With a view to mixing skill and experience, Christian Contzen former Managing Director of Renault F1 (6 times World Champion) is highly enthusiastic about our project and will be in charge of technological partnerships."

The new syndicate has projected a budget of 75 million Euros, 50% of which they believe they will have to secure by the end of July 2003 to ensure a winning project. Source: Team France Press Agent: Laurent Simon / Agence Windward, ls@windward.fr

***Le Defi Re-Challenge - The Le Defi (America's Cup Syndicate) had a disappointing regatta in Auckland, but are hoping to re-challenge in 2007. They have the the assets and knowledge acquired during its two consecutive participations, including the two 2003-generation ACC hulls: FRA 69 and FRA 79. The hull performance of these two yachts are identical. This will be a substantial help to Le Defi'sfuture technical development, one of the key factors for a successful America's Cup campaign. Their logistic support (chase boat, weather forecast equipment...) allows them to get a complete team out sailing in a very short period of time, using our Lorient base (Brittany, France). General manager Xavier de Lesquen has stated that the issue for the organization now "is to build a winning team and a winning project for the next Cup." - Source: Le Defi

***GBR Challenge Ready To Go Again - Over the past two months the GBR Challenge Management Team has been reviewing the 2000 - 2003 campaign and developing ongoing plans and budgets for a second campaign based on the two possible outcomes of this 31st America's Cup Match between Team New Zealand and Alinghi of Switzerland.

On March 1, Peter Harrison, Founder and Chairman, and other members of the GBR Challenge Management Team announced a plan for a conditional second challenge which focuses on two areas:

I. A design and development program
II. A plan to attract commercial partners to participate in the next campaign

Peter Harrison commented, "We are committed to ensuring that GBR Challenge is in the best possible position to progress forward. The experience we have gained in this New Zealand campaign is invaluable and we all know that to win, there is no substitute for ongoing momentum and participation."

The design and commercial partnership programs will start in the UK in April 2003 and will be led by Derek Clark and Leslie Ryan respectively. - Source: www.gbrchallenge.com

**** By August, Iain Percy and Ben Ainslie, two of the world's top Olympic dinghy sailors, finalized negotiations with Peter Harrison, who funded the last British (America's Cup) campaign, the GBR Challenge. The move is seen as an imaginative and exciting progression for Harrison, whose last team did respectably under the leadership of Ian Walker in finishing seventh out of nine challengers at the last Cup in Auckland.

Percy and Ainslie are great friends and are regarded as being in a class of their own among the present generation of British professional sailors. Both in their mid-20s, each has already acquired an impressive pedigree in the toughest school there is, the Olympic Games, where Ainslie has won silver and gold medals in the Laser class and Percy gold in Finns. Source: www.cupineurope.com

***Poland In The Next AC? - June 6, 2003 - As Polish match race specialist Karol Jablonski announced that he is trying to assemble a challenge for the next Cup. Jablonski stated that he will, pursue the Team New Zealand model of funding and seek a "family" of four or five sponsors, since he cannot hope to find a single sponsor to fund their budget. "There are some rich companies in Poland, but it is difficult to explain why we need 30 million Euros to build just one boat..." - Source: www.courseonline.fr

***Golden Gate Yact Club Named COR - As the Swiss challenger Alinghi crossed the finish line on March 2 to win the America's Cup for the Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), Commodore Pierre-Yves Firmenich received a formal challenge for the next America’s Cup from the Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) of San Francisco.

GGYC, the club which backed Larry Ellison's ORACLE BMW Racing Team in the 2003 competition, becomes the "Challenger of Record" for the 32nd America's Cup. The Challenger of Record negotiates the rules for the next event with the Defender, representing the interests of all eventual challengers

***The Syndicate Rumor Mill Is Up And Running - American billionaire Larry Ellison has given control of his Oracle BMW syndicate to veteran New Zealand skipper Chris Dickson, and the Kiwi connection has sparked rumours that Oracle and Team New Zealand may join forces for the next America's Cup.

Sources have told One News that the change may signal positive things for Team New Zealand as Dickson wants to join forces with the Kiwi syndicate.

Former OneWorld skipper Peter Gilmour said he thought the move would be a good idea. "Just taking the same organization forward isn't going to do it," said Gilmour. "There's got to be some form of X-factor to change it and quite frankly I think it's at the upper end of management where the changes need to be."

Oracle feel they could learn a lot from the Team New Zealand sailors and designers and the amalgamation would mean no more money worries for Team New Zealand. Alinghi scrapped the nationality clause in their new protocol to govern the 2007 America's Cup, meaning sailors and designers can be recruited from around the world.

Team New Zealand say they have had no approach from Dickson, who had no comment on the latest speculations. - Source: www.americascup.nzoom.com/

June 27, 2003 Kiwi Craig Monk announced that he has signed with his country fellowman Gavin Brady with the Oracle BMW Racing syndicate's venture towards the America's Cup 2007. Monk, who was grinder for OneWorld in the last cup, was a large part of both the successful 1995 challenge and the successful 2000 defense. - Source: www.cupineurope.com

***Team New Zealand Thinks Positive - While Team New Zealand struggled to come to terms with the failure of its second defense of the America’s Cup, plans were already being laid by for a Kiwi challenge when Alinghi mounts its defense in Europe.

Team New Zealand's trustees said on April 24, that Grant Dalton will fill the new role of managing director while Dean Barker retains the skipper's role. The trustees did not say who will be appointed to the other new position they established, that of sailing director. As well as Barker, the other three members of Team New Zealand's management team for the 2003 defense will stay with the team. Former chief executive Ross Blackman will lead the business organisation while Tony Thomas will remain involved in fundraising. Syndicate head and key designer Tom Schnackenberg is also staying in the team, although Dalton has not said in what position.

Dalton's task now is to complete a feasibility study into whether Team New Zealand can afford to challenge in Europe, with Alinghi yet to say where the next defence will be sailed. It is expected to cost at least $150 million to mount a European bid, about twice that spent on the failed defence. The Government has already pledged $5.6 million for the team, and may contribute more funding if a challenge goes ahead.

The most recent activity has been for the Kiwi syndicate to relocate their base operations to the base once occupied by OneWorld Challenge. Grant Dalton said "Our new premises are a big improvement on those we vacated. And, in many ways, the move is symbolic of the start of a new era and a strong challenge for America's Cup 2007.- Source: NY Times, NZ Herald

***TDC Goes Kiwi? - Dennis Conner is not ruling out the possibility of sailing for Team New Zealand. Conner says he was disappointed with the performance of the black boats during the America's Cup and wonders why no one has been held accountable. He says he wants to help. Conner has purchased some land in New Zealand and there is a possibility he may be interested in racing for a New Zealand syndicate.

***Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi! - Australia's America's Cup veteran Syd Fischer is looking at taking part in another assault on the Auld Mug. Encouraged by cost cutting changes unveiled for Alinghi's 2007 defense in Europe Fischer said he was "looking at" organizing a crack Australian syndicate after the Swiss revealed a new format designed to encourage more challengers for the world's oldest sporting trophy. They have changed the rules so that any syndicate buying a used yacht before October 2004 can also buy its technical data, making it easier and cheaper to enter. Fischer, who has organized teams for the past five challenger series, said the changes all but guarantee Australia would launch another bid. - Source: www.nzherald.co.nz

***Melbourne To Have A Syndicate - September 4, 2003 - The Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron wants to lead a $150 million challenge to win back the America's Cup in 2007. A Sydney syndicate of business high-flyers is behind the plan, with Royal Melbourne confirming it is in talks to be the campaign flagbearer.

Royal Melbourne chief commodore Alan Saunders said yesterday a successful challenge against the Swiss titleholders would mean the 2011 America's Cup would likely be held outside Port Phillip Bay. Mr. Saunders confirmed the squadron was negotiating with the Sydney group to run the campaign from his St Kilda pier headquarters. "We are in discussions with a syndicate to launch an America's Cup challenge. We are extremely optimistic about the outcome," he said.

Government sources doubted any taxpayer money would go into the bid. Kristine Condell, chief operating officer for the as yet unnamed syndicate, said it was about four days away from formally announcing the bid. Its budget would be $150 million and $10 million had already been pledged by a sponsor. The bulk of the bid's money would come from corporate sponsors, including overseas sources. Ms Condell said the squadron would not be required to contribute money but provide professional advice and the location for trials. - Source: www.cupineurope.com

***OzBoyz Challenge - A new Australian America's Cup Syndicate made it's formal launch October 7th 2003 on the internet. Twenty years after the Australia II victory, the OzBoyz Challenge is launching an Australian America's Cup assault to bring the 152-year-old America's Cup trophy home. See www.ozboyzchallenge.com

*** Challenger From Spain - October 6, 2003 - "One of the yachts who will challenge Alinghi in the next Cup will be Spanish", said Agustín Zulueta, a former member of the Desafio Español and now Sports Director for Team Spirito Santo. "Our project is ambitious. We started to work in november 2002, a long time before Alinghi won the Cup", he said.

"Our goal is to reach a €50 million budget, some is the next venue". For this campaign the new Desafio was successful in attracting several partners, "including a famous sport clothing company" but is still looking for the main sponsor who would be ready to invest 30 or 40 million in the campaign.

To develop a new Team, the new Desafio Español wants to recruit the best of Spanish sailors, including the Doreste brothers (Luis and José Luis). Members signed up to date include José Luis Doreste, Laureano Wizner and Dimanche Manrique. José Luis Doreste seems to hesitate, affirming that "many issues still remain to be negotiated". - Source: www.cupineurope.com/LatestNews

***OneWorld Deliberating - According to a report from the Seattle Times, the role of Challenger of Record was initially offered to OneWorld Challenge Owner Craig McCaw - who was in Auckland to see the America's Cup. Executive Director Bob Ratliff said that McCaw declined because he was not ready yet to commit to a second campaign.

The initial criteria McCaw said would have to happen for OneWorld to challenge again had been met: Alinghi won the America's Cup, the competition will move to Europe, more challengers will be involved and big reforms regardng how the Cup is run are in process. Those were the key external factors being weighed by the Seattle syndicate.

But McCaw also had to address the key internal factors. OneWorld clearly assembled a stellar team of sailors, designers and support personnel on the first attempt. They produced extremely competitive boats and tight teamwork. Who could deny the spectacular performance of this team - conquering many highly touted opponents to the surprise of experts - and shaking up the likes of Alinghi? Not to be forgotten was the team's bold stand for raising awareness about the condition of the earth's oceans.

With all that going for them, the linchpin for a future campaign really resided in the accounting department. Indications were that it would take a fresh source of funding to mount another. "I'd give it a very slim chance that we'll be a sponsor again, as OneWorld - under the same ownership," said Ratliffe just after the America's Cup concluded. McCaw's syndicate partner, Paul Allen, dropped out. That didn't completely shut the door, but left the impression that very serious option evaluations were underway.

"Craig feels very strongly that he wants there to be a strong American team in the next Cup — hopefully in addition to Larry Ellison," Ratliffe said. "He would like to be part of that, or at least have the (OneWorld) assets be part of that."

The Seattle Times speculated that OneWorld's USA-65 and USA-67 will be valued at a "high premium" as training boats for a larger pool of challengers expected to participate when the Cup is held in Europe.

The contracts for OneWorld Challenge team members ended March 31st. Phil Kaiko has announced he will be with K-Challenge as principal designer. Kiwi Craig Monk announced that he has signed with his country fellowman Gavin Brady with the Oracle BMW Racing syndicate's venture towards the America's Cup 2007. Monk, who was grinder for OneWorld in the last cup, was a large part of both the successful 1995 challenge and the successful 2000 defense.

Spithill says that he is no longer under contract to OneWorld and whether they go again remains to be seen but will depend upon the final choice of venue. He doesn't have an opinion about the best choice of those shortlisted by Alinghi. "To be honest, I haven't been to most of the places that have been mentioned. I would obviously like to see it go to a place where they have got good facilities and consistent breeze. It would be really good for the spectators if they could have some sort of viaduct set-up so that everyone can see. It would be a nice town that enjoys sailing so we can have some good racing. You've got to have some kind of set-up for the guys with the superyachts, because it is great having all them down there. That encourages them to get involved and it makes the event even bigger."

Now 24, Spithill already has the experience of driving in two America's Cups under his belt and there is presumably the prospect for many, many more to come. "We're pretty interested in being involved with the Cup again and a few teams have approached us," he says of his Cup plans going ahead. - Source: www.thedailysail.com

Spithill initially lined up with the proposed British syndicate, but when funded potential faded, he joined forces with the Emirates/New Zealand team in 2004 to drive the second test boat to help Dean Barker fine tune the select team and boat.

***OneWorld Boats -The Spanish America's Cup Challenge "Iberdrola Challenge" (aka El Roto)have completed the purchase of all three IACC yachts of 2003 challenger One World. The Spaniards were so sure of the positive outcome of final negotiations that they sought permission from the boats' owners to begin adjustments to the boats to bring them in line with the class 5 standards, the new design parameters for the 2007 Cup.

The boats have been in Valencia since the end of the last America's Cup challenger eliminations. One World wisely decided to send them directly to Valencia rather than back to Seattle.

It is expected to take 2 months' work to bring the boats to the current standards.

http://www.infocopaamerica.com/news.php?id=986&i=0&l=25 (in Spanish) See also http://www.cupineurope.com/NewsFR/2005/ElReto.htm

***The Italian Rascals Want More - "Mascalzone Latino will be back", said syndicate head Vincenzo Onorato, from Naples, Italy. "The first try was in order to make experience, the second one will be in order to win the Cup". - Source: www.altrisport.datasport.it

***Feb. 2003 - No More Prada! May 2003 - But On The Other Hand . . . - Volatile syndicate head Patrizio Bertelli shocked Prada team-members February 24 with news that their America's Cup involvement was over. Bertelli, business head of Prada fashion house who spent US$130 million on two Cup campaigns, told Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport that he would not challenge again. "This adventure is finished," he said.

Alessandra Ghezzi, a spokeswoman for the Prada syndicate in Auckland, said there'd been no forewarning. "We haven't been told we are not competing in another Cup," she said. "At this stage we don't know what is happening. We have been told there will be no official statement."

Prada's stylish race yachts, which have all carried the name Luna Rossa (Italian for "red moon"), are reportedly on the market. "I could sell them," Bertelli was quoted saying. "I've had requests, even from Italy."

Ghezzi confirmed that Bertelli had arrived in Auckland unexpectedly prior to the America's Cup and had held impromptu meetings with team members including skipper Francesco de Angelis. Bertelli had been due in Auckland two weeks earlier. He told team management he was no longer able to make the trip, then arrived by air the following day. Team sources said meetings with Bertelli had been animated and he had given no indication of his future Cup plans. - Source: excerpt from www.foxsports.lycos.com

*** Disappointed by Prada's loss in December to American syndicate OneWorld in the Louis Vuitton Cup, Patrizio Bertelli said he would not mount another challenge. Things changed by May.

Rumors began to fly around that Alinghi's 2007 America's Cup defence in Europe have finally encouraged the syndicate head of the former challenger champion to resume Italian's assault on the Auld Mug.

According to the Italian press, Luna Rossa Campaign should become a consortium-directed activity, rather than a program under the Prada single umbrella and the activities should be directed by Francesco de Angelis. - Source: www.cupineurope.com