Sailing: De Savary challenge relies on patriotism

If a European challenger takes the America's Cup away from New Zealand, or the New York Yacht Club wins back the trophy it held for 132 years, Peter de Savary will mount a British challenge for the next defence, perhaps in 2006. "Conditionally, I want to go for it," he said.

His spokesman, Kit Hobday, said here yesterday that the crew would not have big salaries and would do it "for patriotism, glory and honour" in an echo of 1991, when de Savary said that, if necessary, his crew would sleep in tents on the beach. That challenge, unlike the Victory Challenge of 1983, sank without trace and cost Blue Arrow, the company backing it, £25m.

Hobday said discussions had been held with the vice-commodore of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, through which the challenge would be lodged, and officials at Buckingham Palace had been approached to use the name Britannia for the yacht. No objection had been received, Hobday said.

It was not quite clear what links there would be with an also unnamed Formula One team in terms of design input. It was hoped that the Ministry of Defence would again allow participation by service personnel, and no, there was no seed corn budget funding. But the team had a track record of fund raising and this was in no way an ego trip. For an America's Cup that would be truly different.

Very light conditions have meant a very slow opening three days to Skandia Life Cowes Week. Only four of the 32 classes were able to start.