While the American challenger for the 33rd America’s Cup is in San Diego, preparing for the Match in February, in Europe the team is getting ready to take on the Louis Vuitton Trophy. This is the first in a number of regattas organised by Louis Vuitton and the new World Sailing Teams Association. The eight competing teams will match-race equalised ACC boats in the regatta.

BMW Oracle Racing will be represented in Nice by an all star line-up, led by team skipper and CEO, Russell Coutts (NZL), who is hoping to sail with the team in the early stages of the regatta. “I’m certainly looking forward to getting on board and doing some racing,’ Coutts said. “The Louis Vuitton Trophy is a fantastic idea and it will be great for us to compete against some of the best sailing teams in the world.”

The team will start the regatta immediately, sailing against the new Italian team – Azzurra – in the first match of the first flight of racing in Round Robin One. The American squad is scheduled to face the winner of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, and favourties Emirates Team New Zealand in Flight 12, in what should be a highlight.

The list of competitors also includes several teams new to cup-style racing, but each can boast experienced match racers on board, making for an intriguing line-up.

Racing in the Louis Vuitton Trophy is scheduled to start tomorrow (7 November). The eight teams will initially race two Rounds Robin, before the strongest teams advance to the final stages of the event, culminating in a ‘first to two points’ final between the top two teams.

For more visit www.louisvuittontrophy.com