SOUTH AFRICAN AC CHALLENGE?

If Team Shosholoza actually files a challenge (requiring a 1 million Euro performance bond among other hurdles) and then gets to Valencia for the racing, it will be the first-ever AC challenge from that continent. Great for the Cup! Now we need one from South America.

Would be nice, too, to have one from Asia again. The Japanese challenged in 92, 95 and 00, and with their economy starting to improve perhaps we will see another though it does not seem likely for 07. Meanwhile, there appears to be a slim chance of a Chinese challenger, or even one from Malaysia, but don't hold your breath.

Team Shosholoza bought from the ex-Prada syndicate (now Luna Rossa) ITA-48, a 2000-vintage AC boat, and presented its colorful albeit busy new livery at a launching ceremony last week...



...and are now training off Cape Town in Table Mountain Bay, photographed here during, perhaps, a sail trimming drill....



We are told Shosholoza means "Go Forward" and is from a SA folk song in the same vein as the USA's "I've Been Working on the Railroad."

All involved in the next Cup hope they get their finances finalized and make it to the starting line.