SWEDISH MEATBALLS?

"A Smörgåsbord Favorite"

Swedish meatballs are probably the best-known Swedish cooking specialty, definitely a necessity on the smörgåsbord. Norway, Denmark and Finland have their own versions, too.

Meatballs are a way to use up leftovers, hence the dozens of different recipes. The cook used the meat that was on hand, a filler that was available, and ingredients for the sauce based on not only regional or family preference, but what was handy.

Sound like the recipe for a half-baked America's Cup team?

In another world exclusive, Sailing Anarchy has learned that Sweden's Victory Challenge, with a pile of leftovers from the last campaign including two meatball boats, SWE-63 and SWE-73, is set to announce themselves as the heretofore "anonymous" seventh challenger for the 32nd edition of the America's Cup.

One of the better kept secrets so far in AC 2007, Hugo Stenbeck, son of the late Jan Stenbeck who passed away in the midst of the last campaign, has been given the green light by the family to re-launch Victory Challenge provided he finds other sponsors to complement another infusion of cash from the family's extensive holdings in manufacturing, communications and, most importantly, television.

Think of this as Ted Turner buying the Atlanta Braves to provide plenty of cheap programming for his then-fledgling UHF station.

With the help of ACM, Hugo has apparently managed to sign up other sponsors. The Victory Challenge announcement was to come shortly after the new year, but has been delayed out of respect for the many Swedish victims of the tsunami.

We can also reveal that ACM will likely give the nod to Malmoe, Sweden as the host city of the late-summer 2005 "Norther European" Acts in return for Sweden putting in a team. Kiel, Germany is the other candidate, but with the German prospective challenger, Fresh 17, looking less and less likely, and time running out, Malmoe is almost certain to be given the go.

Nonetheless it has just been announced that German TV networks ARD and ZDF have signed up for live coverage of the next Cup, and no doubt are pressuring ACM to give Kiel an "Act" to bolster interest in a team-less Germany.

1/21/05