America's Cup could come to Britain

The historic British home of the America's Cup is considering a bid to hold the 2007 competition after landlocked Switzerland won the supreme yachting trophy.

Cowes on the Isle of Wight now sees its best chance of getting the competition back home for the first time since 1851.

It was then that the Cowes Royal Yacht Squadron lost the first competition to the Americans and the trophy has never been won by Britain again.

The chance has arisen because the Swiss yacht Alinghi beat Team New Zealand 5-0 in the final of the cup in Auckland to become the first European country to win it.

With only Lake Geneva available, the victorious Swiss are going to have find somewhere else to hold the competition.

Leader of the Isle of Wight Council Shirley Smart said contact has been made with the winners to try to get a deal to bring the "Auld Mug" back home.

"We would love to attract it back to the island. It's the home of the competition and it would put the island on the map," she said.

"I know inquiries are being made and we have contacted the Swiss."

The council is now entering into talks with the Royal Yacht Squadron to put in a formal bid. They have already said they are keen to hold the event.

Mrs Smart said the island could not hold the competition on its own and would be looking for a "Solent challenge", bringing on board the bigger neighbours of Southampton and Portsmouth.

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