Over the weekend Martin Tasker (TVNZ) reported that of the three potential Australian challengers, two had made enquiries about leasing NZL-60 and NZL-57 from Team NZ. If the challenges go ahead the syndicates are interested in training and working their campaigns up from the Viaduct Harbour in Auckland.

One of them should be the project representing the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron which is henceforth named "C7 Syndicate" (like the Australian sports channels Seven Network's C7 ?). Kristine Condell, C7 syndicate CEO, said the team will not make a final decision either way on the bid until March 1, 2004.

"We needed to treat this as if we were going to do a fund raiser for a merger or an acquisition and that’s exactly how we started out", she said. "We put budgets together, feasibility studies – created what I believe is a credible business plan. And from there we’ve started talking to sailors and designers."

On the other hand, it was not disclosed if the second one is the Destremau's Ozboyz Challenge, the only official candidate so far. Or a third project which could be the new team evoked by Syd Fisher (who has organised teams for the past five challenger series).