25 January 2009 - There's something unreal about what's going on at the Viaduct Harbour at Auckland. It's even more so on the water.

Emirates Team New Zealand and BMW Oracle Racing are showing off their secrets to the sailing world. All is revealed as yachtsmen wearing Alinghi shirts and those of every team competing in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Cup inspect every inch of USA 87 and 98 and NZL 84 and 92.

On board the yachts the hosts explain anything that's not self-evident. And once the yachtsmen, and designers, see all there is to see, they go sailing on the Waitemata Harbour.

Out on the water an Emirates Team New Zealand Boat is flying an Alinghi spinnaker. An ETNZ spinnaker is flying on a BMW Oracle boat. Some yachtsmen who were fresh into Auckland admit it all seems a little strange. However, Emirates Team New Zealand managing director Grant Dalton says it all seems rather natural.

His team has had a few weeks to get used to the idea to the new spirit of openness and cooperation. BMW Oracle shirts are a familiar sight on the base and the shore crews have worked together to re-commission the yachts.

The LVPS has already been dubbed "the friendly regatta", a none-too subtle reference to the "secret squirrel" and sometimes downright dirty goings on at some top-level regattas in the past.

Emirates Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton says it's difficult to believe what he's seeing. "There are no secrets any more. Even if there had been at the end of racing in Valencia, there are none now.

"In 2007 every syndicate went to great lengths to find out what the others were up to. The rules permitted it under certain circumstances.

"The other syndicates could photograph our yachts as long as we were no closer than 200 metres. In Auckland we have them crawling all over us. It's great.

"I like the atmosphere. It feels good to be part of this regatta. That's what we hoped to achieve when we first started talking to Louis Vuitton."

"However, I don't think there will be much sweetness and light on the water once we start racing. Then it's back to reality."

Ten syndicates, more than 200 yachtsmen and support staff are in Auckland for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. Practice started at the weekend and racing gets underway on Friday January 30 to February 14.

Racing will be broadcast live on a dedicated frequency Bsport sailing 103FM. Broadcasts will be streamed on the www. sport.co.nz and on www.emiratesteamnz.com.