some 30 America's Cup yachts from the New York Yacht Club were loaded on to the 456-foot semi-submersible Super Servant 3 yesterday to start an 11-day trip from Newport to Cowes for the America's Cup Jubilee.

Loading of the 12 metre yachts started on Tuesday though since masts were already stepped, transporters had to wait for a suitably low tide to pass under the Newport Bridge.

The yachts include: Columbia, Intrepid, Freedom, Fiddler (America II), Hissar (KZ-5), American Eagle, Gleam, Valiant, Northern Light, Nefertiti, Onawa and Lionheart.

The first three successfully defended the Cup: Columbia in 1958, Intrepid in 1967 and 70 and Freedom in 1980.

Also there are such well-known yachts as Ticonderoga, Black Knight, Nirvana and Marilee. For most of these yachts, this is their first trip outside the United States.

The yachts are due to arrive in the Solent on August 13, four days before registration for the regatta, the 150th anniversary event of the first race around the Isle of Wight.

Though staged in England in 1851, the Cup was won by America and has never returned to these shores, possession lying with the US - the New York Yacht Club defending the title 25 times until 1983 - and more recently Australia and New Zealand.

Following the Jubilee, many of these yachts will go on a Grand Tour, to be staged in the Mediterranean: Prada Veteran Boat Rally (Sardinia), Monaco Classic Week, Regates Royales (Cannes) and Les Violes de St Tropez.