Team Alinghi Announces New Partners
Team Alinghi Announces New Partners
Team Alinghi, winner of the America's Cup 2003, is proud to announce its new partners for their America's Cup 2007 campaign: UBS and Infonet (main partners), Audemars Piguet, SGS and Nespresso (co-sponsors). Thus, three of Alinghi's partners from the 2003 Cup remain with the team, while Nespresso and SGS represent two new co-sponsors joining for the next campaign. S.Pellegrino joins the Team as an official supplier.
Three additional co-sponsors will also join the team in the near future along with official suppliers who provide the team with crucial support. EPFL remains the scientific partner of the team.
To be an Alinghi partner requires like mindedness and the desire to achieve a common goal: to win the America's Cup. In return, Alinghi partners stand to leverage the benefits of an exciting program with the team that is planned for the lead up to the America's Cup 2007.
Accordingly, Alinghi partners will be involved in an exciting program with many activities planned in the lead up to the America's Cup 2007. The Team will participate in a series of promotional pre-regatta events organized by ACM starting in 2004.
Just nine months after Alinghi's victory, preparations for the next America's Cup are already underway. The Alinghi design team has begun working together while the sailing team has continued to sail independently in various international regattas to maintain their skills and improve their competitiveness.
QUOTES:
Russell Coutts, Executive Director, Team Alinghi: " This is an important day for Team Alinghi and for the America's Cup. UBS, Infonet, Audemars Piguet, SGS and Nespresso are all highly regarded international businesses. That they have confirmed their decision to partner with us is a great source of inspiration for our Team. The partners of Team Alinghi are an integral part of the Team and we consider them Team members."
Peter A. Wuffli, CEO, UBS: "Our partnership with Alinghi has been extremely successful and their vision is closely aligned to our own. With its victory in the America's Cup, the perfectly synchronized Alinghi team gave impressive proof of their strategic and tactical prowess, their experience and passion, as well as their mastery of cutting edge technology. And these same key attributes, which powered Alinghi to a winning performance in sailing's toughest challenge, are also instrumental to our company's success in global financial business."
Jose Collazo, Chairman, President and CEO, Infonet: "It is often said that winners like to stay with winners. We truly believe that, and are excited to be continuing our sponsorship of Alinghi, the premier match racing team in competitive yachting. This sponsorship will help us continue to build our brand awareness and public profile across the world, while keeping us in the company of a winning organization whose dedication to success through teamwork, superior technology and dedication, is much like our own."
George-Henri Meylan, Managing Director, Audemars Piguet: "Alinghi is the first European boat to become the Defender of the America`s Cup since the event`s inception in 1851. Such an achievement is the product of superior professionalism by the Team as well as excellent collaboration with its sponsors. Audemars Piguet is proud to again be associated with this exciting adventure."
Jean-Luc De Buman, Senior Vice President, SGS : " Only a strong team sharing common goals can achieve such success and go beyond limits. Our goal, that we share with Alinghi, is to establish, where possible, new standards of performance. This is why SGS, with a presence in almost all maritime ports, is pleased to be associated with the America`s Cup."
Gerhard Berssenbrügge, CEO, Nespresso: "Alinghi's achievements are proof of its world-class team whose passion allows them to combine pioneering materials and technologies with unmatched skill, fighting spirit and clear focus to be the very best in their class. Alinghi is an icon for excellence in sailing, and Nespresso is proud to join in its campaign to win the prestigious America's Cup again in 2007."
(See next page) ALINGHI SIGNS HELMSMAN PETER HOLMBERG
Team Alinghi today confirmed that it has signed helmsman Peter Holmberg to join the team's afterguard. Highly regarded on the international match racing circuit, Holmberg was most recently helmsman on Oracle BMW Racing during the America's Cup 2002/3, and raced in the afterguard of Stars & Stripes in the America's Cup 2000 Challenger series.
A native of the Virgin Islands, Peter learned to sail in the warm waters of the Caribbean, starting his international racing career when he was just nine. He won the Silver Medal in the Finn Class in 1988 at the Olympics in Korea after which Peter began his professional racing career, winning two world championships and many other international sailing events including the 2001/2002 Swedish Match Tour.
QUOTES: Jochen Schuemann, Sports Director: "We wanted to bring another experienced helmsman into the Alinghi afterguard," explained Schuemann. "Peter is highly regarded on the match racing circuit and his skill as a helmsman will be a huge asset to the team. We look forward to having him on board."
Peter Holmberg, helmsman: "It's a great honour to be invited to join Team Alinghi, winners of the America's Cup 2003. I have great respect for what they have achieved as a team and the level of professionalism at which they operate. This will be a great experience."
Name Peter Holmberg Age: 43
Nationality: American Lives in: St Thomas, Iles Vierges