The head of the Italian syndicate, Patrizio Bertelli, returned to Auckland to see what defender Team New Zealand and Louis Vuitton Cup finalists Alinghi and Oracle were hiding under their skirts.

Team New Zealand stole the limelight when it revealed the hula, its innovative false hull appendage - and evidently Bertelli was impressed.

His two-day trip must be regarded as significant. The wealthy businessman adopted a hands-on role in design decisions and he is understood to have insisted on the bow makeover for Luna Rossa between the first and second rounds of the challenger series when Prada was off the pace.

That he was interested enough to return and inspect other syndicates' underwater secrets, when he could have been sent pictures, suggests he feels the syndicate has unfinished business.

Bertelli intends returning for The Match between TNZ and the successful challenger. He is expected to make a decision on his syndicate's future in March or April.

Prada first challenged for the cup in 1999 when it won the challenger series final against Paul Cayard's AmericaOne but the silver bullet was then whitewashed by Team New Zealand.

Last month, the OneWorld Challenge ended Prada's challenge in the semifinals. Since then, the syndicate has scaled down its operation but operations director Laurent Esquier said the team was completing its research and development cycle.

"We are still here and we are still working because we believe this team has a future," he said.

Scale models of developments, which have been tested in tanks and wind tunnels, have now been tried on the syndicate's boats which have again been out on the water. The syndicate expects to continue testing on the Hauraki Gulf for at least another week.

Prada spokesperson Alessandra Ghezzi said the syndicate's decision on its future would be influenced by the cup winner and where the next cup will be held.

"So far, he (Bertelli) hasn't committed to another cup," she said.