Yachting: NZ stop considered for new world series

New Zealand is under consideration as a stop for the new America's Cup World Series, which is due to start in Europe in July.

The series is the first step in the build-up to the next America's Cup and it will be raced in AC45s, a new class of wing-sailed catamaran.

The AC45 is intended as a learning vessel as the cup moves from traditional monohulls.

The 2013 cup regatta in San Francisco will be contested in AC72s, a larger 72-foot (23m) version of the AC45.

The first venues for the eight-round world series have yet to be announced, but America's Cup Race Management (ACRM) chief executive Iain Murray today said the plan was to have the first events in Europe in July, August and September.

As for whether Auckland might join the circuit after that, Murray said there had been preliminary discussions and "there are certainly encouraging signs".

"We have to sit around the table and work through it and that will happen shortly," he said.

"There's a realisation that the America's Cup is a significant event for New Zealand, certainly with the America's Cup having been down here and the economic impact that it brought."

Murray is due to meet government representatives during the next fortnight to discuss the issue.

Meanwhile, he said there were seven confirmed teams for the next America's Cup -- defenders Oracle Racing and six challengers.

Three of the challengers have been announced -- Italians Mascalzone Latino, Sweden's Artemis and Aleph of France.

Of the three others, Murray said there was a second entry from France, one from Australia and one from an "unnamed" country.

Murray said indications were that "we will have many more" syndicates taking part by the time entries close on March 31.

Team New Zealand are widely expected to be at the start line, although they are still to confirm their participation.

ACRM is building 10 AC45s in Auckland, with the competing teams each purchasing one for the world series.

Warkworth-based Core Builders Composites began work on the first of the catamarans in September.

It was launched last month, has undergone sea trials and was officially handed over to ACRM in a ceremony in Auckland today.

"When you see the complexity of a boat like this and the fact that there hasn't really been one built like this before, to come up with all the technology, all the design and to get it here by January is truly an achievement," Murray said.

"For the boat to have sailed now for a few weeks without any failures, to be travelling down the harbour at warp speed in fresh winds, is a remarkable outcome."

Associate Minister of Tourism Jonathan Coleman, who was at the ceremony, said the fact the AC45 fleet was being built in New Zealand was another accolade for this country's marine industry.

The sector employed more than 10,000 people and was worth $1.7 billion, a figure it was aiming to increase to $2.6 billion by 2015.