Ten teams from last year's America's Cup are among the 12 confirmed starters for the big regatta to be staged in Auckland in late January.
The cup holder Alinghi and its main rival Team New Zealand top the entries for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, in which 12 teams will share four America's Cup class boats for the match-racing regatta.
The others include the Russell Coutts-led BMW Oracle, Italy's Luna Rossa, Mascalzone Latino and newcomers Italia, along with teams from Germany, Britain, China, France and Greece.
As well as the racing, series co-organiser Team New Zealand hopes the event will help advance moves towards the next America's Cup, which is in limbo because of court action taken by BMW Oracle.
