News Release: Monday July 23, 2007
TEAMORIGIN BECOMES AN OFFICIAL CHALLENGER OF THE 33RD AMERICA'S CUP
Today, Monday 23rd July 2007, the Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), represented by Alinghi, received a challenge from the Royal Thames Yacht Club (RTYC), represented by TEAMORIGIN, for the 33rd America's Cup. AC Management (ACM) has now informed the RTYC and TEAMORIGIN that its challenge has been accepted.
Following the Spanish Club Náutico Espaņol de Vela's challenge represented by Desafio Espanol and the South African Royal Cape Yacht Club's challenge represented by Team Shosholoza, the Royal Thames Yacht Club's challenge, represented by Sir Keith Mills' TEAMORIGIN, becomes the third officially accepted challenge for the 33rd America's Cup since Alinghi completed its successful defence of the 32nd America's Cup on 3rd July 2007.
Sir Keith Mills commented from London, "TEAMORIGIN and the RTYC have together challenged for the America's Cup believing that a Host City, a full regatta programme for the coming seasons and a class rule for the new boat to be used for the 33rd America's Cup Match will shortly be announced. TEAMORIGIN further believes that several other teams will challenge in the coming weeks and months following these announcements."
John Stork, Vice-Commodore of the RTYC, added, "The impetus and momentum created by the event organisers ACM over the course of the past four years with the 32nd America's Cup gives the Royal Thames every confidence that the 33rd America's Cup will be just as successful, both on and off the water."
Mike Sanderson, Team Director of TEAMORIGIN, said, "These are exciting times for the America's Cup competition. A new class of boat will put all challengers, old and new, on an equal footing. Other than the techniques used to design and build boats there will be little of technical value to be taken forward from the old class. The first generation of any new yacht racing class always sees many differences show up in the different concepts adapted by the various design teams. We believe it will be easier for a new team to become competitive at the America's Cup with the introduction of a new class of boat and should deliver faster sailing and a more exciting spectacle."
Sir Keith Mills concluded, "Our goal is to win the America's Cup and bring the Auld Mug back to British shores for the first time in history. The challenge is therefore an important and positive step forward to achieving our objectives and we look forward to further event details being announced and other teams joining us for the 33rd America's Cup."
This is the 21st time that a British yacht club's challenge for the America's Cup will result in racing for the ultimate prize in sailing. The name TEAMORIGIN is a subtle reminder that the origins of the whole America's Cup phenomenon can be found in a race that took place in 1851. This original race saw the yacht 'America' beat a fleet of British racing yachts around the Isle of Wight, the prize for which was a sterling silver wine ewer. This trophy was popularly renamed the America's Cup as a result of that yacht's notoriety. A Deed of Gift, first written in 1871 and updated several times since, transformed the America's Cup into a perpetual challenge trophy open to yacht clubs from all nations. It has just been put back into competition for the 33rd time.
TEAMORIGIN will formally present its key team members at the Southampton Boat Show on Friday 14th September 2007.
To sign up for regular team updates please visit www.teamorigin.com
Further information on TEAMORIGIN, images or interview requests please contact:
Media:
Tim Kelly
Pitch PR
+ 44 20 7494 1616
+ 44 7773 325 533
tim.kelly@pitchpr.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
About the America's Cup
The America's Cup is not only the most famous and prestigious regatta in sailing, but also the oldest active trophy in international sport, predating the FA Cup by two decades and the Modern Olympics by 45 years. The origin of the America's Cup dates back to 1851 when the schooner 'America' from the New York Yacht Club won the race around the Isle of Wight against 15 yachts representing the Royal Yacht Squadron. America won by 20 minutes, and the cup takes its name from America's historic victory. The New York Yacht Club reindexed unbeaten for 25 challenges over 132 years until 1983 when the Cup was won by the challenger, Australia II of Australia, ending the longest winning streak in the history of sport.
About TEAMORIGIN
TEAMORIGIN was launched in January 2007 by Sir Keith Mills and is aiming to make sailing history by becoming the first British challenger ever to win the America's Cup. Team Director Mike Sanderson, the record-breaking ISAF World Sailor of the Year 2006 and winning skipper of the 2005-06 Volvo Ocean Race, is seeking to bring together the best talent and highest quality assets to create a world-beating team. TEAMORIGIN has committed to participate in at least two America's Cup campaigns, the 33rd and 34th editions of the event, likely to take place in 2009 and 2011. The team will be funded through a combination of private and commercial investment.
About Sir Keith Mills
Sir Keith Mills is one of Britain's most successful businessmen and sports administrators. He is the founder of Air Miles International Group BV (AMIG) and Chairman of Loyalty Management Group Ltd (LMG), the company which owns and manages the Nectar programme in the UK and licenses Air Miles programmes internationally. In September 2003 Sir Keith was appointed International President and CEO of London's bid for the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Having led London to victory and established the London Organising Committee which will stage and host the Games, Sir Keith will reindex as non-executive Deputy Chairman of the Organising Committee, working alongside Lord Coe to oversee operations.
About ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB
The Royal Thames Yacht Club is the UK's oldest yacht club in continuous existence having been founded in 1775. It is highly appropriate that this should be the UK challenging yacht club for the America's Cup since it played that precise role in the first challenge in 1870. The club, based in London's West End, will now have challenged for the Cup on 4 occasions.
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