Mine's bigger

The war may not have started, but Alinghi wins the battle of the bases hands down reports John Greenland in Auckland

It's overcast, there's very little wind, and it's a rainy Friday afternoon, put off sailing? Not the professionals based in the Viaduct Basin, Auckland.

There's a constant flow of some of the world's most sophisticated raceboats into and out of the Viaduct Basin, which lies to the northeast of downtown Auckland. This month in particular the activity has been far greater than on a normal weekday due to the arrival of eight Volvo Ocean 60s. However, walking around the basin you would never have guessed so many 'rock stars' are in the area as they are rarely seen walking around.

America's Cup teams work rigorous schedules often into the evening, leaving very little time to escape and mill around the local shops and restaurants. Then it's home to dinner and bed before rising for the early morning session in the gym.

In addition to this the main difference between the Volvo Ocean Race sailor and an America's Cup sailor is the rules governing who can talk with whom. For those sailing in the America's Cup you cannot utter a word to do with the America's Cup to the opposition which, for most, this leaves very little to talk about considering the 12-hour days they work. For the Volvo sailors, though it is understandably forbidden to discuss confidential information, there is no animosity between the teams, and frequently you see teams chatting with each other over a beer or in the street.

The attitude of the America's Cup sailors simply reflects the cloud of secrecy that engulfs their every day lives. The utmost care is taken to protect design secrets from the enemy - IAC yachts rest on their cradles with covers hiding their keels, round the clock security guards every corner of the compounds, and everything is done behind closed doors in the huge buildings that consume a third of the Viaduct Basin.

When the V.O.60s first arrived the area was busy with people, however activity was limited across the water on Halsey Street (renamed Syndicate Road) as many of the America's Cup syndicates were still enjoying their Christmas break. But Christmas is now over and it's back to business as usual for the residents of Halsey Street; and there is never a quiet moment in front of the 10 syndicate bases.

Though Patrizio Bertelli's Prada team, runner up in the 2000 America's Cup, flies the biggest flag atop their base it's Ernesto Bertarelli's Alinghi compound which takes centre stage, sprawling across an area probably four times that of GBR Challenge. On the left of the building there are two enormous roll-up doors covering the entrance to two individual workshops and to the right there are offices which any medium-sized business would be proud to have as a headquarters.

It's Dennis Conner's Stars & Stripes at the inland foot of Syndicate Road with a very modest base - barely space for two boats if plans for a second new boat come to fruition. This is where half the Volvo Ocean Race fleet has set up camp with containers and cradles. The other half of the fleet lie in John Kostecki's illbruck Challenge America's Cup base, another modest building though slightly larger than Conner's.

Moving along the row, it is the Swedish Victory Challenge who are the first active America's Cup syndicate at the moment. They have one of the busiest docks, often with two boats being worked on and sailed. Though the Volvo Ocean Race syndicates are organised, the regimented daily routines followed by the America's Cup syndicates are incredible. Victory Challenge has been out for testing today, though the light winds would have made for a difficult afternoon session.

Peter Harrison's GBR Challenge, located in the base used by the Spanish team last time, sits sandwiched between the Swedes and the defending champions Team New Zealand. GBR Challenge had just a short Christmas break and are now solidly back into their routine. Though they have only a small base they have packed a lot in, with portable offices lining the edge of the compound. Frequently you see masts lifted out to enable on boat to fit into the building while the other rests on its cradle for all to see.

Like many of the syndicates the GBR Challenge team have a pair of Etchells to enable them to practice their match racing skills while waiting for suitable breeze to fill in. Team New Zealand has a similar set of small keelboats.

The defending champions in their All-Black livery occupy the first of the impressive compounds, but situated next to that of the Swiss it looks relatively insignificant. They are the first of the double door bases and currently have both boats reversed into the building sheltering the boats form the sun. The towering masts stop the boats from being fully housed leaving the front section out in the open. Full length drapes hang from the deck to the ground, hiding from prying eyes any special underwater appendages the Kiwis may be testing.

Next door to Alinghi is One World's stylish base, currently completely shut up with only inflatable support boats bobbing on the team's pontoon. Running an eye all along syndicate road from the vantage point at the end of the Volvo Race Village it is not until you reach Larry Ellison's Oracle to the right of OneWorld do you realise the true levels of money being pumped into these challenges. The Oracle base has a floating Golden Gate Yacht Club on one of their pontoons - a building most UK yacht clubs would be proud to have as their main site.

At the end of the row lies the complex of Prada's America's Cup Challenge base and the marquees housing the local branch of the Yacht Club Punta Ala. Today the team spent their time working on maintenance, so no big boat sailing for the Italians today. Their position at the entrance to the Basin enables them to watch over all their rivals as they are towed out of the marina towards the Hauraki Gulf.

Out on the water the boats train while their support boats monitor the weather and keep a record of the wind patterns. Occasionally teams meet briefly to exchange a few tacks before sailing off in separate directions. In the last America's Cup those who dared spar with Team New Zealand were scathed by their rivals.

Activity in Viaduct Basin will increase over the coming week as the Volvo Ocean Race boats crank into action in preparation for the start of the next leg. The Auckland start of this race is one of the highlights and the Hauraki Gulf is expected to be alive with spectator craft.