Monday edition of Sail-World.Com/NZ's newsletter

Welcome to the Monday edition of Sail-World.Com/NZ's newsletter

Tonight (NZT) the talking stops and the sailing starts in the 32nd America's Cup.

In the new shortened Cup format, seven of the 11 teams have just three weeks left in Valencia.

There are some very mixed views about the 32nd America's Cup as a venue and a format. Our columnist, Bob Fisher, doesn't pull any punches with his comments on the venue. Luna Rossa's Patrizo Bertelli, the most experienced team boss, now in his third Cup campaign is pretty blunt about the format. However BMW Oracle's Larry Ellison likes it.

Whatever your views on the format, BMW Oracle Racing have stolen a march on the other challengers with the choice of German supermodel Tatjana Patitz as their 18th 'man' for the opening round. Patitz who was borm in Germany but lives in California very neatly covers the dual sponor hertitage of BMW Oracle Racing.

Tomorrow Sail-World launches the first of our daily newsletters on the America's Cup which will give you the key results, photos and stories from the day's racing, plus expert analysis from Bob Fisher who has been covering sailing and America's Cup for almost 40 years and is a top sailor in his own right. Bob is renowned for his independent perspective on Cup and sailing matters, and he doesn't hold back in today's column.

For the opening day the draw is as follows:

Monday, April 16th

Louis Vuitton Cup' - Round Robin 1 - Flight 1

Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team (ITA 99) - Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 92)
+39 Challenge (ITA 85) - AREVA Challenge (FRA 93)
United Internet Team Germany (GER 89) - BMW Oracle Racing (USA 98)
Team Shosholoza (RSA 83) - Victory Challenge (SWE 96)
China Team (CHN 95) - Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 94)
Bye: Desafio Espanol 2007 (ESP 97)

Louis Vuitton Cup' - Round Robin 1 - Flight 2

Desafio Espanol 2007 (ESP 97) - +39 Challenge (ITA 85)
Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team (ITA 99) - AREVA Challenge (FRA 93)
United Internet Team Germany (GER 89) - Team Shosholoza (RSA 83)
China Team (CHN 95) - BMW Oracle Racing (USA 98)
Victory Challenge (SWE 96) - Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 94)
Bye: Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 92)

If you have friends, clubmates or fellow sailors who follow the America's Cup, but aren't subscribed to Sail-World, please forward this newsletter and tell them to signup using the following link: www.sail-world.com/subscription to receive the best and first in comprehensive coverage of this premier yachting event.

Good Sailing!

Richard Gladwell
NZ Editor

ENDS

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