With
no less than six teams out of a total of nine coming from five countries
in Europe, interest in the America’s Cup is bigger than ever
before on this side of the Atlantic. As always, the Americans are
determined to win back the Auld Mug and are pitching three well-funded
and well-stocked teams. But everyone wants a slice of the action and
everyone wants to take the Cup home.
Of the nine Challengers, just one relies on corporate funding. The
rest are headed by some of the world’s wealthiest individuals,
men who are used to getting what they want and have impressive bank
balances to prove it. Losing doesn’t come easily for these tycoons
and their teams will do everything they can to win. Which means the
racing throughout the 2002/3 event will be some of the hardest fought
in the Cup’s 151-year history.
With such investment in terms of money and determination, the teams
afford to sign up the world’s top match-racing sailors and designers.
Only the very latest and best in design and material technology will
do for the ACC boats, only the very highest levels of fitness, discipline
and skill will do for the men who sail these exceptional craft.
Yachting World takes a look at what each team has to offer in terms
of backing, experience and potential. View each team’s profile
and vital statistics by clicking on the appropriate flag on the left
of this page.
