One of the most contentious America's Cups in history starts on Monday as Alinghi begin their defence against American challengers BMW Oracle.
There has been 30 months of bitter legal battles over the rules which has added extra spice to this year's three-race duel in Valencia.
The race has traditionally been run in monohulls but this year both sides will sail multihulls for the first time.
Oracle's trimaran is thought to have an advantage in heavy weather.
The weather could prove crucial, with light to moderate winds forecast - conditions that would suit the Alinghi catamaran.
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It's going to be a formidable match because of the boats and the technology
Alinghi president Ernesto Bertarelli
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As a result of both teams racing multihulls, the boats - both 90 feet (27 metres) long - are bigger and faster than anything ever seen before in the Cup.
BMW Oracle, owned by US software tycoon Larry Ellison, claim their boat USA, featuring a wing-sail twice the size of that on a Boeing 747 plane, can reach speeds of 40 knots and slice along with one hull lifted 30 feet in the air.
"We have an insane boat," crewman Shannon Falcone told a team blog.
Alinghi, meanwhile, backed by Italian-born biotechnology tycoon Ernesto Bertarelli, have put their faith in a tilting mast that towers 17 storeys high.
"There has never been anything like this. Size, power... it's beyond anything that has been created before," boasted helmsman Ed Baird.
Bertarelli added: "It's going to be a formidable match because of the boats and the technology and perhaps because it's a dog match."
Rough estimates are that each side has spent $200m (£128m) on their campaigns, including hefty lawyers' fees.
In the latest legal wrangle, Oracle accused Alinghi of breaking nationality rules by using US-made sails.
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606: DEBATE
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But Judge Shirley Kornreich of the Supreme Court of the State of New York said on Friday that she will not hear the case until March, effectively giving this year's race the green light.
Oracle, sailing under the colours of San Francisco's Golden Gate Yacht Club, and Alinghi, aligned to the Societe Nautique de Geneve, have been arguing over the rules since the Swiss team beat Team New Zealand in the last edition in Valencia in July 2007.
They have battled for more than two years over who had the right to challenge Alinghi, the kind of boats they could sail in and the technology that could be used.
And on Saturday, Ellison did not attend a press conference that should have featured both teams.
The America's Cup - international sport's oldest trophy - was first raced for around the Isle of Wight in 1851.
This year's showdown in Valencia is to take place over a maximum of three days - on February 8, 10 and 12.
The race rules state that there will be no racing in winds above 15 knots.
Officials could also call off a race if there was a wind shift of more than 30% on the first leg but early weather forecasts for Monday appear favourable.
The race is a straightforward 40-mile course of one upwind leg and one downwind.
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