Louis Vuitton Cup

Eight teams from seven countries will begin a series of match races today, at Nice on the French Riviera. They will compete in equalized America’s Cup Class boats.

Notably absent from the race competitors is Societe Nautique de Geneve’s Alinghi team, which lost to Emirates Team New Zealand in the Louis Vuitton Pacific races at Auckland, NZ, in February 2009. BMW Oracle Racing’s America’s Cup team will race for the Vuitton Nice trophy skippered by team CEO Russell Coutts.

When multiple challenges for the America’s Cup were instituted in 1970, the Louis Vuitton Cup became the elimination series to select the single yacht to then race against the Cup defender.

Here are the teams that will race for the Louis Vuitton Nice trophy:

Azzurra (ITA)
BMW ORACLE Racing (USA)
Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL)
K-Challenge (FRA)
Swedish Challenge Artemis (SWE)
Synergy Russian Sailing Team (RUS)
Team French Spirit (FRA)
Team Origin (GBR)

The Louis Vuitton series is organized by Louis Vuitton and the new World Sailing Teams Association. The association plans to hold several regattas each year in different venues. Cities that have expressed interest include Hong Kong, Auckland, and New York.