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On Friday, the Swiss Defender of the Cup revealed its sailing team. The helmsman will be the American sailor Ed BAIRD, who has been tasked with steering SUI 100 to victory. He will be up against a motivated Challenger in Emirates Team New Zealand. The Kiwis, skippered by Dean BARKER (NZL), were humbled by Alinghi in 2003, when BERTARELLI's team swept the America's Cup Match, bringing the competition for the Auld Mug to Europe for the first time.

BERTARELLI said at the opening press conference. 'Everyone in Alinghi is very competitive; the 23rd is a date we have had in our calendar for a while and the closer we get to the date the more excited people get in terms of wanting to compete and do actually what they enjoy doing.'

Kiwis Win Starboard Tack Entry

On Friday, Emirates Team New Zealand won the coin toss, and the Kiwis will have the favoured starboard tack entry into the start box for the first race. The teams will alternate thereafter.

'We're just looking forward to getting into the racing,'

On Saturday morning, as the teams leave Port America's Cup for the race course, there will be fireworks and acrobatic air displays beginning with pyrotechnical sound effects at 12:30. The Spanish Patrulla Águila will salute Emirates Team New Zealand when it leaves its base just before 13:00, while the Patrouoille Suisse will do the same for Alinghi a few minutes later.

The America's Cup Match is a 'first to five' series. Each race victory is worth one point. The first team to reach five points wins the America's Cup.

The America's Cup Match and Challenger/Defender Series are designated as ISAF Special Events. For more information on the America's Cup, the Louis Vuttion Acts and the teams competing, visit the official America's Cup website - www.americascup.com.

For a complete list of all the news about the America's Cup 2007 CLICK HERE.

said BARKER, the skipper of Emirates Team New Zealand. 'We have worked very hard over the last couple of years just to get this opportunity. Now we are here we just want to get out there and do the absolute best we can. The unique thing about the America's Cup is that you don't know until probably a few races into to it how it's going to play out.'

'I am very excited about being on the water tomorrow and going for the first race. It's been four years of waiting and a lot of hard work,'