Ernesto Bertarelli has gathered some of the best sailors in the world, lead by ex-Team New Zealand America's Cup two-time winners Russell Coutts and Brad Butterworth. With lots of Haruaki Gulf experience and lots of funding, Alinghi is considered the team to beat in the Louis Vuitton. www.alinghi.com
| Yacht Club | Societe Nautique de Geneve |
| Syndicate Head | Ernesto Bertarelli |
| Syndicate Manager | Michel Bonnefous and Russell Coutts |
| Sailing Manager | Jochen Schemann |
| Skipper/Helmsmen | Russell Coutts and Jochen Schemann |
| Design Leader | Grant Simmer |
| Principal Sponsors | UBS, Infonet |
| Co-Sponsors | Audemars, Piguet and Riri |
Victory Challenge
Jan Stenbeck brought Sweden back to the America's Cup arena since their last appearance in 1992. Since Stenbeck's untimely death, Star sailor Mats Johansson has been project leader, skipper and strategist on the boat, but successful match racer Magnus Homberg will probably be calling the shots during racing. Designer German Frers designed Prada last time around. www.victorychallenge.com
| Yacht Club | Gamia Stans Yacht Sailskap |
| Syndicate Head | Jan Stenbeck |
| Syndicate Manager | Mats Johansson |
| Skipper/Helmsmen | Magnus Homberg and Jesper Bank |
| Tacticians | Mats Johansson and Stefan Rahm |
| Design Leader | German Frers Jr. |
| Sponsors | Tele2, Metro, TV3 |
Le Défi Areva
The French team is back for their second try for the America's Cup, having reached the semi-finals in the 1999 Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series. Having survived an attack from Greenpeace because of sponsorship by atomic energy, they are focused on going even farther in the competition with Olympic medalist Luc Pillot as skipper, Philippe Presti at the helm, and Philippe Mourniac as navigator. www.ledefi.com/
| Yacht Club | Union Nationale Pour La Course Au Large |
| Syndicate Head | Jan Stenbeck |
| Syndicate Manager | Pascal Herold, Luc Gellusseau, Pierre Mas |
| Skipper | Luc Pillot |
| Helmsman | Philippe Presti |
| Design Leader | German Frers Jr. |
| Principal Sponsors | Areva, Monster.fr, Bouygues Telecom, Legris Industries, Leven |
GBR Challenge
Having started the America's Cup competition 152 years ago, it somewhat of a surprise that it's been 15 years since the Brits last sent a challenger. Peter Harrison has gathered some very talented sailors and there's speculation of twin keels. With the second boat just launched mid-September, it will take more than a clever name like Wight Magic to catch them up. www.gbrchallenge.com
| Yacht Club | Royal Ocean Racing Club |
| Syndicate Head | Peter Harrison |
| Syndicate Manager | David Barnes |
| Sailinge Manager | Paul Standbridge |
| Skipper | Ian Walker |
| Helmsman | Andrew Beadsworth, Andrew Green |
| Designer | Leader Derek Clark |
| Tacticians | Julian Salter and Adrain Stead |
Mascalzone Latino
Mascalzone Latino (Latin Rascal) got off to a late start. Onarato is the skipper but it is likely that the talented match racer Paolo Cian will steer the boat. Having only been a team for about 20 months, their lack of preparation time and America's Cup experience will make it hard to keep up. www.mascalzonelatino.com
| Yacht Club | Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia |
| Syndicate Head | Vincenzo Onorato |
| Syndicate Manager | Paolo Scutelaro |
| Sailinge Manager | Tom Weaver |
| Skipper | Vincenzo Onorato |
| Helmsman | Paolo Cian, Silvio Arrivabene |
| Design Leader | Giovanni Ceccarelli |
| Sponsors | TIM, Moby Lines Yasuda Kasai, Shell |
Prada Challenge
The challenger of record for the 2003 America's Cup. Prada, won the tight competition for the last Louis Vuitton Cup, but was defeated soundly by New Zealand 5-0 in the America's Cup. Undaunted, preparations for another challenge began immediately. Their year-round training and experience make them a boat to watch. www.pradalunarossa.com
| Yacht Club | Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia |
| Syndicate Head | Punta Ala Yacht Club |
| Syndicate Manager | Giacomo Ovidi |
| Sailinge Mgr./Skipper | Francesco de Angelis |
| Helmsmen | Francesco de Angelis, Rod Davis |
| Navigators | Matteo Plazzi, Dario Magarise |
| Design Leader | Doug Peterson |
| Sponsors | Prada |
Team Dennis Conner
An America's Cup icon, Dennis Conner has been in every America's Cup since 1974. Infamous for losing the Cup, then getting it back and losing it again, Conner has again assembled a strong team, sailing for the New York Yacht Club. Although fresh from winning the Etchell's North American Championship, Conner's long time right hand man Ken Read will be taking the helm. Although the team has suffered some setbacks, like the sinking of USA 77 off San Diego, Team Dennis Conner always seems to rebound stronger than ever. Sailing pundits never count out this America's Cup icon. www.stars-stripes.com
| Yacht Club | New York Yacht Club |
| Syndicate Head | Dennis Conner |
| Syndicate Manager | David Bames |
| Sailinge Manager | Paul Standbridge |
| Skipper | Dennis Conner |
| Helmsmen | Ken Read |
| Design Team | Reichel and Pugh |
| Principal Sponsor | Computer Associates |
| Co-Sponsors | Citizen, ACE Limited, Nautica, Manugistics |
Oracle/BMW Racing
Larry Ellison hopes to use the skills which made him a billionaire and successful ocean racer to build a team capable of winning the America's Cup first time out. BMW is onboard, bringing their considerable Formula 1 racing resources and experience. Oracle has done well in tune up races against other contenders and is considered a favorite. Their international team has had some turmoil in the afterguard in the early going, putting two world-class sailors on the beach, but is now ready to race. Peter Holberg is hot, taking the 2002 Swedish Match race title, but look for Ellison behind the well if things are going well. www.oraclebmwracing.com
| Yacht Club | The Golden Gate Yacht Club |
| Syndicate Head | Larry Ellison |
| Syndicate Manager | Bill Erkelens |
| Sailinge Manager | John Cutler |
| Skippers | Peter Homberg, John Cutler |
| Design Team | Bruce Farr Yacht Design |
| Principal Sponsors | BMW, Compaq, Oracle |
| Co-Sponsors | Henri Lloyd, TAG Heuer |
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Report Index
Key Dates Format OneWorld Challenge visit website The America's Cup |