While still basking in the glory of South Africa's successful bid to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup, another South African sporting delegation is in Switzerland this week to submit the country's first ever Challenge in the world's premier yachting event - the America's Cup.

Representing a new challenge for the America's Cup, and the first ever from the African Continent, the challenge will be officially lodged with the America's Cup (AC)management in Geneva, Switzerland, tomorrow morning (Wednesday 19 May) on behalf of Cape Town's Royal Cape Yacht Club.

The South African America's Cup Challenge is the second challenger after the Italian Circolo Vela Gargnano Yacht Club's Clan des Team sailing team to join the Golden Gate Yacht Club's Oracle BMW Racing team in challenging for the 32nd America's Cup to be held in Valencia, Spain in 2007.

Oracle BMW is the official challenger of record as they were the first to enter a challenge against the Swiss Alinghi Challenge - the current holders of the America's Cup after their victory in New Zealand last year.

The Royal Cape Yacht Club's Letter of Challenge signed by the club's commodore, Mr Russell Vollmer, plus other required documentation, formalities and funds will be presented to the CEO of AC Management, Mr Michel Bonnefous in Geneva by a South African America's Cup Challenge delegation led by Challenge managing director Captain Salvatore Sarno.

Captain Sarno, who is also chairman of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (South Africa), is driving South Africa's maiden challenge with huge passion, vision and commitment.

Captain Sarno confirmed that a Performance Bond of one million Euros (a form of deposit ensuring participation in the event and cover against any possible debt in Valencia) and an entry fee of 50 000 Euros will be paid to the AC Management. In addition 25 000 dollars will be paid to AC Property in a separate trademark agreement for usage of the America's Cup logo.

The Royal Cape Yacht Club is one of the oldest and best known yacht clubs in South Africa. Situated at the foot of Table Mountain on the Atlantic Ocean in Cape Town - Africa's centuries old tavern of the seas - the Club is famous world-wide for its warm hospitality.

The Club has generated entries in many international events including the Whitbread, the BOC, the One Ton, 1/2 Ton and 3/4 Ton World Championships. Locally it is the centre of offshore yacht racing in South Africa. The Royal Cape Yacht Club are the trustees of the Lipton Cup in South Africa and are well known for their summer Table Bay Week regattas and high profile trans-Atlantic Cape to Rio yacht races.

Geoff Meek, skipper of the SA America's Cup Challenge 2007 and a champion SA yachtsman with numerous world championship titles to his name, has been a member of the Royal Cape Yacht Club since 1970.

Accompanying Captain Salvatore Sarno in Geneva are Mr Brian Bayliss, the financial director of the SAAC Challenge 2007 Syndicate, Dr Luigi Saidelli, an Italian based businessman, who will represent the South African Challenge on the AC Challenger Commission and Mr Didier Botge, a Swiss based lawyer.

Captain Sarno said Dr Saidelli, although based in Portofino, Italy, is a director of the Cape winery, Rupert & Rothschild Vignerons, with close links to South Africa. He was selected as the South African America's Cup Challenge representative on the AC Challenger Commission after he expressed enthusiasm for the campaign during a visit to South Africa. He is well known in Italian yachting circles and has previous America's Cup experience through the Venetian-based IL Moro de Venezia Challenge.

Dr Saidelli speaks Italian, English, French and Spanish, and being resident in Europe means easier and less costly access to the Commission meetings in Valencia.

Mr Botge is a personal friend of Captain Sarno's who has offered his services to the South African America's Cup Challenge 2007.