Six America's Cup teams practice on Wednesday at the Monsoon Cup

The Monsson Cup kicked off this Wednesday with an opening ceremony, practice sailing and an exhibitional pro-am regatta.

Racing for the lucrative purse begins in earnest tomorrow with a number of matches pitting national and regional rivals against each other, as well as leaders in the Match Racing World Championship standings.

Flight 1, Match 1 will see Ian Williams of Team Pindar squaring off against Paolo Cian and Team Shosholoza. Williams leads the standings with 47 points, and Cian is tied for third with 30 points. Both have scored wins in the first five stages. Williams won the Bermuda Gold Cup last month and Cian was victorious at St. Moritz Match Race in August.

Match 2 has Sébastien Col of France’s Areva Challenge for the America’s Cup scheduled to race compatriot Mathieu Richard of the Saba Sailing Team. Col lies seventh in the standings with 29 points after winning Stage 3, the Danish Open, in August, and Richard is sixth in the standings with 30 points after having finished second in Bermuda.

In Flight 3, Match 1, Peter Gilmour, the reigning Monsoon Cup and World Match Racing Champion, races against Peter Holmberg, of America’s Cup defense syndicate Alinghi. The two are spirited competitors who have a deft touch on the helm and use the rules to their advantage.

Match 4 in the flight pits a pair of Asians against each other in what is believed to be the first such meeting in an ISAF Grade WC match-race regatta. Malaysia’s Tiffany Koo, winner of the first Malaysian Match Race Championship, will race Singapore’s Wearn Haw Tan, a member of the China Team. Tan placed 13th in his World Tour debut at St. Moritz Match Race in August, while Koo is making her debut.

America's Cup teams in the Monsoon Cup

United Internet Team Germany
Skipper: Jesper BankSkipper and Helmsman of United Internet Team Germany

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Crew: Henrik BlakskjaerTactician of United Internet Team Germany

Click for more info, Thomas JacobsenTraveller of United Internet Team Germany

Click for more info, Mike MottlTrimmer of United Internet Team Germany

Click for more info, Jan SchoepePitman of United Internet Team Germany

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Team Shosholoza
Skipper: Paolo CianHelmsman of Team Shosholoza

Crew: Ian AinslieAfterguard of Team Shosholoza
, Fernando Colaninno, Pierluigi Fornelli, David RaeTrimmer of Team Shosholoza


Areva Challenge
Skipper: Sébastien ColHelmsman of Areva Challenge

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Crew: Christophe AndréGrinder of Areva Challenge

Click for more info, Benoît BriandMainsail Trimmer of Areva Challenge

Click for more info, Gilles FavennecMember of Areva Challenge

Click for more info, Thierry PeponnetTactician of Areva Challenge

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Alinghi
Skipper: Peter Holmberg
Crew: Rodney Ardern, Lorenzo Mazza, Dean Phipps, Piet van Nieuwenhuyzen

China Team
Skipper: Wearn Haw TanTrimmer of China Team

Crew: Thierry BarotGrinder of China Team
, Xavier HussonPitman of China Team
, Yurii Siegel, Zhang Wenpei

Luna Rossa Challenge
Skipper: James SpithillHelmsman of Luna Rossa Challenge

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Crew: Magnus AugustonGrinder of Luna Rossa Challenge

Click for more info, Torben GraelTactician of Luna Rossa Challenge

Click for more info, Michele IvaldiNavigator of Luna Rossa Challenge

Click for more info, Joe NewtonTraveller of Luna Rossa Challenge
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It's not called the Monsoon Cup for no reason. Four America's Cup teams tried to practice on Wednesday under the pouring rain. From right to left, Areva Challenge, Luna Rossa, Alinghi and United Internet Team Germany. Terengganu, 29 November 2006. Photo copyright Guido Cantini / World Match Racing Tour