United Internet Team Germany present new GER-89 colors

[Source: United Internet Team Germany] A Black-Red and Gold design on a white hull – that's how the German America's Cup Yacht Germany I will start at the 32nd America's Cup. Two and a half months before the first start of the regatta season on the 3rd of April, the United Internet Team Germany presents the new boat design at the boat show "boot" in Düsseldorf. Head of Syndicate, Michael Scheeren, and Ralph Dommermuth, Head of the main sponsor United Internet, revealed the new hull design on Saturday (20th of January) at the team booth.

A part of this event was Senay Pakaanen from Heidelberg. The 36-year old won the design competition of the United Internet Team Germany last fall. She won out over 700 other participants. It will be her design which will decorate Germany I in the races of Louis Vuitton Act 13, which starts at the 3rd of April, and the following Louis Vuitton Cup.

GER-89 sailing in Valencia with her new colors. Photo copyright United Internet Team Germany

While the team in Valencia is training intensely for the races of the America's Cup season, Germany I is already in her new design. "The new design has turned out well – that is exactly how a German cup-boat has to look like", says skipper Jesper Bank. Hard training with both boats is scheduled for the team as well as test races against other teams, in order to prepare Germany I as best as possible for the important races.

With a new design, a functioning new yacht called Germany I and a complete team counting 28 heads now, the United Internet Team Germany starts into an important year. For the first time in history, a German team will participate in the most important races in sailing – the America's Cup. "We are highly motivated to give everything possible for the first German campaign in the history of the America's Cup", says skipper Jesper Bank. "Germany is part of the America's Cup for the first time – this makes the campaign a huge success already. The team is set well and is looking forward to the races", Head of Syndicate Michael Scheeren adds.

GER-89 sailing in Valencia with her new colors. Photo copyright United Internet Team Germany

Besides the new yacht, Jesper Bank finds his team the biggest trump: "The team has a great internal cohesion, is highly motivated and has improved enormously within the last year", the skipper says. The sailing team of Team Germany consists of 28 sailors, 15 of which are Germans. The team is now complete including its newest members Oliver-Sven Buder and Carsten Schon. The power of Buder, a former world champion shot-putter contributes to the work of the grinders, who are responsible for hoisting the sails. 44 year old Carsten Schon is a German by heritage but has lived in New Zealand since 30 years. The trimmer, who gained America´s Cup experiences through the 2003 Team New Zealand, has a world champion title on his records and many more successful results at Offshore Races.

In Valencia, which already has been the home and workbase for the team for a year, the team has moved to a new location: The recently finished new basecamp of the United Internet Team Germany at the America´s Cup Port. The German basecamp shares the rectangular shape of the building with the rest of the teams, but has achived a way of indivualism through its wooden exterior.
"Our Basecamp already brought us the first victory- it really turned out very beautiful" voiced Jesper Bank.

The most recent success of the team was its fund raiser called "Deutschland segelt", which will continue through the end of the boot show. 150.000 were already accumulated at the beginning of the show. The fund will be donated to the charity organization "Bild hilft – Ein Herz für Kinder". The names of each individual donor will be printed on one of the spinnakers. Those spinnakers will be starting the races with the Germany I during the America´s Cup Season 2007.

GER-89 sailing in Valencia with her new colors. Photo copyright United Internet Team Germany