Teams named for America's Cup bid

Swiss outfit Alinghi will defend the Cup in 2007

Six syndicates have been accepted to battle defending champions Alinghi for the America's Cup when it returns to Europe in 2007.

The event in Valencia, Spain, will see Africa's first entry - South African set-up Team Shosholoza.

The others are Team New Zealand, the USA's BMW Oracle Racing, Italians +39 Challenge and Luna Rossa Challange, and France's K-Challenge.

But GBR Challenge missed Friday's entry deadline because of a lack of funding.

Late entries, however, can still be accepted subject to a fee, up to 29 April next year.

The six challengers to Alinghi will race each other for the Louis Vuitton Cup, with the winners taking on the title holders in a head-to-head for the America's Cup.

Team NZ includes double Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie and managing director Grant Dalton.

Dalton, whose team have already raced this season, said: "We have won one of the three 2004 regattas, and had a second and third.

"That means we are the overall winner of the 2004 Acts. I don't think anyone expected us to achieve that."