America's Cup season 2001 begins in earnest today with the start of the Berthon Source Regatta in Lymington which this year features three 12-metre yachts and three of their replacements - the International America's Cup Class yachts - which raced in Auckland last year.

As a build-up to the America's Cup Jubilee in August, the sleek racing machines are already starting to appear in the Solent but the 12-metre warm-up event was scrapped this week after strong winds made conditions in the Solent too testing for these highly tuned boats. Racing was scheduled to go ahead today.

Richard Matthew's Crusader, the British 1986/87 challenger, is one of the 12-metres due to take part, along with Ecosse, the former US66 from the New York YC and Don Wood's Italia, the former Italian contender that competed at Skandia Life Cowes Week last year.

It is the first time the 12 metres have raced together since 1985 in Fremantle but this week they were competing for the 1904 Royal Thames Imperial Trophy and with Harold Cudmore skippering Crusader and Warsash yachtsman Eddie Warden Owen on Ecosse, the competition was expected to be hard fought and tight to the finish.

The Berthon Source Regatta, which before the abandonment of the Champagne Mumm Admiral's Cup was always used as a preparation event, has proved popular this year with entries up by over 40 per cent.

Thirteen classes will race over three days with IC45, Sydney 40, Farr 40, Mumm 30, International 12Metre, Americas Cup Class, J80, J92, J110, J105, J120, IRM and IRC-C all expected to produce some top class racing off Lymington.

Berthon managing director Brian May said: "We are looking forward to hosting what looks to be the most exciting Berthon Source Regatta so far. We expect crews to really enjoy the magnificent America's Cup boats racing alongside International 12Ms, Farr 40s and an influx of one design boats from the ever popular J boat fleet."