Challenge (JPN) The third challenge from the Japanese syndicate funded by S&B foods chairman Tatsumitsu Yamasaki. The team was led by Australian Peter Gilmour. The team was hit early on by the loss of former syndicate head Makoto Namba, who was lost at sea, and the Asian financial crisis, which severely limited the team's budget. The team launched JPN 44 and JPN 52 for the 2000 Louis Vuitton Cup. Team Dennis Conner (USA) Team Dennis Conner was Dennis Conner's eighth America's Cup challenge or defence. The team was sponsored by Citizen Watches and USA-55 adopted the familiar name of Stars & Stripes, common to all of Conner's boats since 1986. The team was representing the Cortez Racing Association and included Peter Isler and Ken Read in the afterguard. Peter Holmberg also joined the team as a tactician, merging the US Virgin Islands Challenge into the team after the syndicate ran out of funds. Other personnel included Bill Trenkle, Tom Whidden and Erle Williams. Young America (USA) Representing the New York Yacht Club, the challenger of record, Young America built on John Marshall's PACT '95 syndicate. The team's yacht's USA 53 and USA 58 were designed by Bruce Farr and built on the 1995 Cup defender Young America. The Helmsman was Ed Baird and the crew included tactician Jim Brady, navigator Ed Adams, Ross Halcrow, Tom Burnham, Dean Brenner, and Jamie Gale. Young Australia (AUS) Young Australia was Syd Fischer's final America's Cup challenge and currently was the most recent America's Cup entry from Australia. The young crew was led by James Spithill, then just 19, and included Wade Morgan, Joey Newton, and Andy Fethers. The syndicate sailed with two old boats, Sydney '95 (AUS-29) and oneAustralia (AUS-31) which were not competitive against some of the newer designs sailed by competitive syndicates. Involved in the campaign were experienced sailors and America's Cup campaigners Sir James Hardy and Iain Murray. Round robin Three round robin series (RR1-RR3) were held. During RR1 a team scored 1 point per win. During RR2 a team scored 4 points per win. During RR3 a team scored 9 points per win. Knock-out stage Semi-finals Final References External links ultimatesail.com Notice of Race and Conditions Louis Vuitton Cup Louis Vuitton Cup Louis Vuitton Cup Sport in Auckland Sailing competitions in New Zealand 2000 America's Cup International America's Cup Class Auckland waterfront Waitematā Harbour