GETTING a 2ft high 1848 silver ewer from its current home in New Zealand to Cowes for the 150 years celebration of the Americas Cup yacht races poses a problem for the organisers.

The ewer in question is the America's Cup trophy. Over the past 150 years, more money has been spent trying to win or defend the cup than is worth thinking about

The cup is simply priceless and as a result represents a significant security problem.

It travels first class by air escorted by the man who is ultimately responsible for it - the commodore of the holding Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Commodore Peter Taylor. He is supported by a security team.

The cup will travel from Auckland to London courtesy of United Airlines the America's Cup Jubilee's preferred airline.

Its arrival in Cowes will not be in an armoured car, however, as, after the security has been taken care of, there is also a significant amount of protocol to be dealt with.

At dawn on Saturday, August 18, approximately 5.30am, the cup will land in Cowes just in front of the Jubilee Village surrounded by a vanguard of Maori warriors brandishing flares to light the passage ashore.

A challenge, known in Maori as a Wero, will be made to the commodores of the Royal Yacht Squadron and the New York Yacht Club, the Cup's hosts for the week.

This involves the transfer of a small symbolic dart called a Taki. The way in which it is given and accepted relates to whether the Maori group and the people challenged have warlike or peaceful intentions.