The RC 44 Class launches its 2008 season

[Source: RC44] The RC 44 Class is proud to launch its second season with the support of DHL as Official Logistics Partner.

The RC 44 Championship Tour 2008 will comprise six regattas in three different countries. World renowned sailors have been participating in the tour, including James Spithill, Dean Barker, Lorenzo Bodini, Cameron Appleton, SébastienCol, Russell Coutts, Mateusz Kusznierewicz, Ray Davies and Morten Henriksen.

The partnership is especially appropriate as the class combines innovative sailing concepts with new solutions for transporting boats and equipment.

“When Andrej Justin and I started working on the design of the RC 44, we simultaneously tried to develop solutions aimed at simplifying the transportation of the boats, says co-designer Russell Coutts. Our vision was to be able to race in a variety of new locations using simple and cost effective systems. For example, the requirement that the boat and equipment fit within a 40-foot flat deck container was the prime reason for features such as the removable stern and the two parts mast.”

"Today, we are very pleased to announce our partnership with DHL, who are world leaders in logistics. Organizing regattas at various new locations is a challenge where boats and equipment need to be moved to each venue in a safe and timely manner. DHL has great experience in moving Formula One equipment around the world. Their expertise and support are a very welcome contribution to building the international circuit of RC44 events."

Wolfgang Giehl, Director of Corporate Branding and advertising for Deutsche Post World Net, adds:”With our partnership for the RC44 Championship Tour, DHL demonstrates that success in world class sailing and world class logistics is based on the same attributes: reliability, speed and perfect teamwork. We are convinced that through our logistics services we can help this racing series to become even more powerful than it is already today.”

The 2008 Championship Tour will take the RC 44 fleet to Abu Dhabi (UAE), Cagliari (Sardinia), Traunsee (Austria), Lake Garda, Trieste (ITA) and Dubai.

The 2008 Championship Tour will crown both a professional match race champion and an owner-driver fleet race champion. At each event there will also be a DHL coastal race which will be scored as part of the fleet race regatta.

Seventeen rigorously identical RC 44 one-designs have been built to date with boat 18 due for completion in early March.

RC 44 Championship Tour 2008:

March 3 – 7 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (UAE)
April 23 – 27 Cagliari Cup (ITA)
May 28 – June 1 Austria Cup (AUT)
July 9 – 13 Malcesine Cup (ITA)
October 7 – 11 Trieste Cup (ITA)
December 10 – 14 Dubai Gold Cup (UAE)