Auckland's modern racing fleet is highly competitive. With several long-established yacht clubs on the Waitemata Harbour catering for keel yachts and centreboarders, there is racing almost every night of the week, and during weekends. As it has been for over a century, the Waitemata is the spawning ground for the Kiwi yachtsmen and yachtswomen now coveted by international syndicates from as far afield as the Swiss Alinghi team, the U.S. Oracle team and Italy's Luna Rossa campaigns. The next America's Cup race in 2013 will be in catamarans, which achieve speeds never before seen under sail. In 2012, high-tech catamarans are experimenting in the fresh air of the Waitemata and the practice will become increasingly frenetic as the fiercely competitive challenger series looms.
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