United Internet Team Germany steps up preparation pace in Valencia

A couple of days after officially receiving GER-91, United Internet Team Germany is stepping up its activities in Valencia. Despite the rainy weather, the German America's Cup challenger masted earlier today its second boat, GER-89.

Our apologies for the slow flow of news lately, but two factors contribute to that. Firstly, just two teams are really operating right now in Valencia, that is Desafío Español and United Internet Team Germany. As Brad Butterworth said in his interview here, Alinghi is on a standby mode, while Team Origin still hasn't arrived and as far as we know they haven't got a base allocated yet in Port America's Cup. Secondly, as we said, the weather has been really awful, rainy and cold, during the last two weeks.

The United Internet Team Germany base with the team's two boats GER-89 and GER-91. Valencia, 18 October 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

GER-91 (ex SUI-91), now painted white, sits in the German team's base. Valencia, 18 October 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

United Internet Team Germany to focus training with other challengers

[Source: United Internet Team Germany] The tension in the Port America’s Cup in Valencia is building: In only two weeks Louis Vuitton Act 13 starts. Until then all teams have to train intensively to be prepared for the last pre-race before the official start of the Louis Vuitton Cup – so does the United Internet Team Germany: “We have eleven sailing days ahead of us and we want to seize every one of it”, says Lutz Patrunky.

+39 Challenge will be one of the opponents for the German team during training in the last two weeks before Act 13

The coach of the German team is responsible for the organization of the training within the team. “I will try to arrange as many practice races against the other teams as possible. This is the best possibility for training manoeuvres, tactics and boat speed. There won’t be very much training between GER 89 and GER 72 anymore”, says Lutz Patrunky.

In every training regatta the crew is giving everything to be prepared best for Act 13. In the pre-races Cup Defender Alinghi will meet the eleven Challenger teams for the last time. All twelve teams will be racing in seven fleet races.

United Internet Team Germany on intensive two-boat training

[Source: United Internet Team Germany] The United Internet Team Germany is on target for the crucial races of the 32nd America's Cup. While training the team offers an impressive picture: The two snow-white yachts GER 89 and GER 72 with their new black-red-golden design are competing with each other off Valencia's coast. The team is preparing for the Louis Vuitton Act 13 and the Louis Vuitton Cup, which will start in April. "At the moment we are maximizing our possibilities. The team is highly concentrated and I am very happy", says skipper Jesper Bank.

During the training with both yachts, the team is collecting essential data and knowledge in order to prepare GER 89, namely Germany I, for the awaiting races. "In practice races against GER 72 we optimize GER 89 further and further. The next step is the training-regattas against other teams. Only then we can evaluate the true performance of Germany I", says Jesper Bank.

The United Internet Team Germany will participate in the 32nd America's Cup races as the first German team ever. The young German crew is therefore keen to meet their challenge: "We advance in training and the team continues to develop every day. Even though we still have a lot to do – we are very much looking forward to the races in April", says Nico Jeschonnek. The 29-year-old is member of the United Internet Team Germany as midbow and boat captain of the Germany I.

The United Internet Team Germany is getting prepared for the races of the America's Cup season by training with both yachts GER 89 and GER 72. Valencia, 8 February 2007. Photo copyright: Richard Walch / United Internet Team Germany

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

GER-89 is back on the water in Valencia

Good news for Team Germany: The German America's Cup yacht Germany I is ready for action. So the team can already sail its new yacht before the Christmas break, what was planned for the beginning of the new year up to now. "It feels good to sail again the first America's Cup yacht ever built in Germany", Skipper Jesper Bank describes his impressions after training on Monday.

"Now we can make the most of the last days before Christmas and then continue with the preparations for the America's Cup season in the new year", Bank says about the plans of his team. To gain further time for training, the team has shortenend its Christmas holiday and restarts on January 8. Team Germany prepares itself for the crucial races of the 32nd America's Cup in Valencia, which start on April 3 in 2007 with the Louis Vuitton Act 13.