AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- The environmental group Greenpeace staged a small protest Tuesday against the involvement of a nuclear sponsored French team in sailing's America's Cup.

Twelve protesters in kayaks and several on shore flew anti-nuclear flags and banners as France's Le Defi Areva left its base for the first day of challenger racing in the 31st America's Cup.

Police used inflatable boats -- part of a fleet of 11 providing on-water security for Cup competitors -- to keep the protesters at a distance from the French yacht.

Greenpeace opposes the involvement of the French nuclear power company Areva in the regatta, saying it defies New Zealand's nuclear free policy.

''The arrogance of such a dangerous and dirty industry thinking that they can come to nuclear free New Zealand and use this event to promote their business cannot go unchallenged,'' Greenpeace spokesperson Bunny McDiarmid said.

Areva is a supplier of nuclear energy products and services with plants in 30 countries.

The French yacht, FRA-69, was damaged when it was struck by a Greenpeace vessel during a protest at its launch in Lorient, France in June.

It was in Auckland Harbor, not far from where the French team now parades its sponsor's logo, that the Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior was sunk in a bombing on July 10, 1985.

One man died and two French secret agents were found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for their parts in the attack.

The Rainbow Warrior had been used to protest French nuclear testing in the South Pacific.