Alinghi v BMW Oracle Racing

Plus a record number of Extreme 40s will be competing at the iShares Cup event piggybacking Skandia Cowes Week

An unprecidented event is set to take place on Saturday week in the Slent, when the factions warring over the 33rd America's Cup will come to blows on the water in Round 3 of the iShares Cup.

While Alinghi have fielded a team from the outset of the series in Lugano with Ed Baird driving, this will be the first occasion that their nemesis, BMW Oracle Racing have pitched up, although with the 33rd America's Cup to be held in multihulls both campaigns have been training in Extreme 40 catamarans for at least six months now. Perhaps to even the balance BMW Oracle Racing are bring both of their Extreme 40s, one driven by James Spithill, the other by ORMA 60 legend, Franck Cammas.

It will also be a first for Spithill: "Funny enough, I've never raced at Cowes, so it'll be good to finally get there. It should be quite a bit of fun. The Extreme 40s are pretty exciting, and we've sailed them in quite a bit of breeze as well so we've enjoyed it, and I'm sure Cowes will provide some pretty interesting conditions."

Ed Baird, skipper of Alinghi, is also looking forward to the third iShares Cup venue. "It's been a long time since I raced in the Solent and I'm really looking forward to coming back there and remembering all the idiosyncrasies of the area," he said. "It can be windy, it can be light, there's always some current, it can be shifty or steady - every day's different. We know that we're going to have a difficult battle with a lot of great teams again, and we're really excited about the opportunity."

This will represent possibly the first time in America's Cup history that challenger and defender have lined up before the main event and to be frank we have been twiddling our thumbs waiting for one or other to pull out. However both seem committed and the showdown seems set to take place. The Solent will of course be a fitting setting being the same waters where the America's Cup was born back in 1851. It is only a shame the Extreme 40s aren't being sent off on a clockwise lap of the Isle of Wight.

We understand from BMW Oracle Racing CEO Russell Coutts that he may not be sailing with Franck Cammas as was originally planned. However John Kostecki remains tactician on board with Spithill.

In addition to the 33rd America's Cup contenders, will be the TeamOrigin boat skippered by 2007 iShares Cup winner Rob Greenhalgh, who also came first at the last event of the series in Hyeres.

The 11 teams competing - the biggest line-up of Extreme 40s to date - also features many other starts from the Olympics and offshore worlds. They include Round 1 winner, double Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson, helming JPMorgan Asset Management. Robertson, is hoping for another big performance for JPMorgan Asset Management, sailing out of her home town of Cowes. "This event is a special one for us as we will be sailing on home territory, so I hope that we can pull out some good races and stay on the podium.

"This time last year I was preparing for my first ever Extreme 40 event, it is amazing how quickly the last 12 months have flown by! I feel like we have learnt so much as a team and I am excited to be lining up against the likes of Russell Coutts and the other America's Cup crews. I am sure that the AC teams will mean we will all be raising the bar on the water and it will keep us all on our toes."

There are more British Olympians on board iShares, skippered by 2000 Tornado representative Hugh Styles; Oman Sail, helmed by Athens 49er bronze medallist Chris Draper; and BT, with former Star sailor Steve Mitchell on the bow. Meanwhile Volvo Ocean Race, skippered by the creator of the class and himself a former Tornado Olympian, Herbert Dercksen, also had a fantastic regatta in Hyères and will be looking to continue their improving form in Cowes.

The action kicks off on Saturday 2 August - the first day of Skandia Cowes Week - when the iShares Cup races will take place over short, sharp courses, set off Lepe Beach every afternoon from 14.00-17.00.

BT trimmer Ed Barney said their team are looking forward to the new challenges of racing at Cowes. "Everyone is mega-keen to get back onboard under the watchful eye of skipper Nick Moloney, and push hard for another podium finish. We're keen to move forward on our overall position of 4th, and a tidal venue with some different sea states will undoubtedly add a different element to the racing.

"The team has a week's training in Cowes lined up before the iShares Cup and then Skandia Cowes Week to follow," added Ed, "Bring it on..!"

Then from Tuesday 5 August to Friday 8 August the Extreme 40s can join in the Skandia Cowes Week racing, with their own start at 09.45 each morning from the Royal Yacht Squadron.

iShares Cup at Skandia Cowes Week entries:
1. Alinghi (Ed Baird)
2. BT (Nick Moloney)
3. BMW ORACLE Racing (Franck Cammas)
4. BMW ORACLE Racing (James Spithill)
5. Holmatro (Andreas Hagara)
6. iShares (Hugh Styles)
7. JPMorgan Asset Management (Shirley Robertson)
8. Oman Sail (Pete Cumming)
9. Team Aqua (Cameron Appleton)
10. TEAMORIGIN (Rob Greenhalgh)
11. Volvo Ocean Race (Herbert Dercksen)