[Outbackmanyep]

Its on again!

The oldest sporting trophy in history is again being raced for this year in Valencia, the Louis Vitton Challenger series gets underway tomorrow (our time).....
I think the favourite is Team New Zealand for the challengers, the challenger series thsi time around hasnt been run by conventional means, they have been racing for the past 3 years to accumulate bonus points to settle the table/rankings before the real races start and Team New Zealand is on top, Defender ALINGHI only have themselves to race against but they have been allowed to race with the challengers throughout the Louis Vitton "Acts" ,which is the fleet races that have been held for the last 3 years......
The top 4 challengers have the most bonus points up their sleeve which makes it harder for the bottom teams to get ahead.....

http://www.americascup.com/en/americ...king_lvcup.php


There are 3 challengers from Italy, one from Spain, one from Sweden, Germany and China and surprisingly only one from the USA (BMW Oracle) , the French are also having a go as well as newcomers South Africa......
Russell Coutts wont be racing as he had a falling out with Alinghi team a couple of years back and as he's contracted until AFTER the 2007 Cup final he can't race with any other team......

Its a shame that Australia has no-one representing, but there is plenty of Australian talent on board other competing yachts......

I hope New Zealand take the cup back although BMW Oracle will be a hard opponent.
I find it funny that Switzerland (current cup holders), a land-locked country, was even allowed to race in 2003 as the requirements for challengers past was that the challenging club/country had to be located with their regatta's held on part or on an arm of a seaway.....

Cheers!