The syndicates BMW Oracle Racing, Team Shosholoza and UI Team Germany prepare to race Grand Prix in August in Kiel.

The Louis Vuitton Act 12 finished on July 2 was the last qualification regatta for the 32nd America's Cup in 2006. But for the three teams the racing season has not yet ended. In Kiel they will sail another showdown.

For the first time in the 155-year old history of the oldest sports trophy in the world, America's Cup Racing Yachts will sail fleet and match races directly in front of the German public.

The three top skippers Chris Dickson (USA 71), Mark Sadler (RSA 48) and Jesper Bank (GER 72) are promising thrilling battles in the demanding waters of Kiel.

In the beginning of the event, on Thursday (August 3) the teams will sail a warm-up on J/80 boats in the afternoon (13-17 h). Each crew will consist of two America's Cup sailors supplemented by VIP guests.

The first fleet race starts on Friday at noon directly in front of the Institute of Marine Sciences. Turning marks in the inner fjord of Kiel lead the impressive yachts along the cities' coastline and then out again to the open Baltic Sea at the bay of Strande or Stollergrund at Kiel Bay, where a round robin with three match races will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Even out at sea the sailing stars will not be out of sight.

After their daily match race duels boat against boat, which will also be held on Saturday at the same time and Sunday two hours earlier, the trio starts again for a fleet race. The finish can be watched in the inner fjord of Kiel at around 6 to 6.30 p.m. (Sunday 4 to 4.30 pm).

"It will be a great opportunity to line up against two other challengers in a different venue from Valencia and bring the excitement of America's Cup Class racing to Germany for the first time", says Chris Dickson, skipper of the USA 71.

"We race every chance we get in preparation for 2007. Many of us have sailed in Kiel but never before in America's Cup Class yachts so it will be a new experience for all of us".