Second top challenger joins LV Pacific Series

by Richard Gladwell on 17 Sep 2008
Sources close to a second challenger, Mascalzone Latino, confirmed to Sail-World this morning that they too will be entering the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series.

The 'Latin Rascals' as the team were known in Valencia and Auckland, finished 6th in the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup, and were notable for their defeat of Emirates Team New Zealand in the first match of Round Robin 1, in that regatta.

As a professional racing team, Mascalzone Latino won the highly competitive Farr 40 World Championship, competing against many other America's Cup teams and professional sailors.

Sail-World was advised that a formal announcement of the the Italian team's entry will be made tomorrow.

They join BMW Oracle Racing, who announced their entry overnight (NZT).

Meanwhile Team Alinghi continue to play the black notes over the series. In an interview on Radio Sport, skipper Brad Butterworth repeated the line that the Defender would not participate in the series while Emirates Team New Zealand had legal action against them in the New York Courts.

Additionally Butterworth raised issues relating to the use of the words 'America's Cup' in regard to the new series involving use of two Team New Zealand yachts. He also opined on the motives of Louis Vuitton in trying to obtain a position in the America's Cup world, without the sanction of the Defender.

Butterworth also pointed out that all entrants to the 33rd America's Cup had agreed not to participate in events that were not sanctioned by Team Alinghi and their associated parties.

From the early interest in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, it is clear that many teams previously involved in the 2007 America's Cup are prepared to snub the existing Defender, and are at least interested in sailing in the series, or are preparing to enter.