We are often asked for a quick rundown on each of the twelve teams competing in AC32. Here is a good summary that ran in today's Washington Post, written by Angus Phillips. The full article is worth reading, and is available here. Note that in the summary below France (Areva) is a bit out of date -- they anounced on Friday Thierry Peponnet had been excused from further participation as skipper, to be replaced by his tactician Sebastian Col.


America's Cup Teams
by Angus Phillips, Washington Post Outdoor Editor

USA
BMW Oracle is the second Cup attempt of San Francisco software billionaire Larry Ellison, whose Oracle entry made it to challenger finals in 2003. The team will spend more than $100 million and build two new boats in this attempt, with four-time Cup skipper Chris Dickson of New Zealand at the helm, Frenchman Bertrand Pace calling tactics and Ellison himself steering "when Chris lets me."

NEW ZEALAND
Emirates Team New Zealand is a fully funded, two-boat campaign headed by Grant Dalton, one of the island nation's most famous offshore sailors. Skipper Dean Barker returns from the Kiwis' unsuccessful Cup defense in 2003, with American Terry Hutchinson of Annapolis calling tactics and U.S. Olympian Kevin Hall navigating.

SOUTH AFRICA
Shosholoza is a small-budget campaign headed by Salvatore Sarno, chief of the team's co-sponsor, Mediterranean Shipping Co. Italian-born match-racer Tomasso Chieffi does the driving after countryman Paolo Cian finishes the prestart. Shosholoza takes its name from a 200-year-old song sung by workers on the way to the South African gold mines.

FRANCE
Areva Challenge is sponsored by the global nuclear energy company by the same name and has French Olympian and Cup veteran Thierry Peponnet at the helm. It's a fully funded, one-boat campaign. Dawn Riley, who was on the 1992 Cup-winning America 3 team and the 1995 women's team Mighty Mary, runs the sailing program.

SPAIN
The entry of the host nation is a fully funded, two-boat effort with strong support from the national government and from King Juan Carlos, a keen competitive sailor. The king christened the first new Spanish boat in May; a second is in the works. Polish match-racing champion Karol Jablonski steers.

SWEDEN
Victory Challenge returns from an effort in 2003 that was marred by the death of its founder and chief sponsor, wealthy media magnate Jan Stenbeck, who suffered a heart attack just before racing began. His son, Hugo, has taken over the reins with continuing backing from the family businesses. Skipper is Swedish Olympian Magnus Holmberg.

ITALY
Luna Rossa: The third straight Cup effort from Patrizio Bertelli of the Prada fashion dynasty is rated one of the top three challengers. Bertelli's first Luna Rossa raced against Team New Zealand in the Cup match in 2000; his second was a challenger semifinalist in 2003. Skipper Francesco de Angelis gets help this time from highly regarded, 27-year-old Australian match-racer James Spithill. Luna Rossa will build two new boats for 2007.
Mascalzone Latino: The second Cup effort by Italian ferryboat magnate Vicenzo Onorato has built one new boat for 2007 and is considering a second. The mostly Italian crew is headed by skipper Vasco Vascotto.
Plus 39: A small-budget, one-boat, first-time challenge that takes its title from the telephone dialing code for Italy. Team is led onboard by two British Olympians, gold medalist Iain Percy at the helm and two-time silver medalist Ian Walker calling tactics.

CHINA
Asked about the budget for this first-ever Cup team from China, French-born skipper Pierre Mas just laughed and shook his head. The team is building a hull at bargain basement rates in China and may attach the deck from its training boat, the old French war horse Le Defi. Mas has four or five Chinese nationals on the crew; the challenge is considered a first step in the learning process.

GERMANY
Danish Olympian and America's Cup veteran Jesper Bank is skipper of the fully funded United Internet Team Germany, first Cup challenge from Germany. The team has been training in a cast-off Italian Cup boat while awaiting arrival of its new boat this year. The Germans will host a three-boat regatta with BMW Oracle and Shosholoza in Kiel in August.

SWITZERLAND
Swiss defender Alinghi easily won the Cup from Team New Zealand, 5-0, in Auckland in 2003 after dominating challenger trials. Skipper Russell Coutts later left, creating a void being filled by tactician Brad Butterworth of New Zealand and helmsmen Jochen Schuemann of Germany, Peter Holmberg of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Ed Baird of Florida. Who will emerge as leader remains to be seen, but Alinghi is blessed with money to build two new boats and the benefits of being defender, which means no racing against the rest of the fleet is required until the best-of-nine Cup match next June.


Will one of the eleven Challengers relieve Alinghi from the
burden of holding the Cup?