Yachting: China ready to raise sail

China became the latest debutant America’s Cup country when it registered its guarantee of 1 million euros (NZ$1.75m) hours before yesterday’s deadline. China, South Africa and a new German syndicate – United Team internet Germany – have never competed for the Cup before and join nine other syndicates challenging for the global symbol of yachting supremacy and riches in Valencia in 2007. The Chinese entry will be assessed by lawyers in the next few days but they are expected to approve the joint venture between France’s former syndicate, Le Delfi, and China’s China equity Investment Corporation.