The challenge deadline is 17th December 2004 (Challengers will be accepted after that date until 29 April, 2005 if accompanied by a late fee) and there are only five official Challengers who are steeling themselves for the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2007.

In spite of this, the CEO of AC Management Michel Bonnefous is feeling quietly confident. "We will certainly arrive to ten or twelve teams in the next year", he said. "An ideal number".