Defender to assist new Japanese Challenger at 35th America's Cup

by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com on 30 Apr 2015 The Kansai Yacht Club with sponsor Softbank Corporation have announced they have come to an agreement to challenge for the 2017 America’s Cup.

The new team will be known as SoftBank Team Japan and will compete in the 2015 America’s Cup World Series events, and challenge for the 2017 America’s Cup in Bermuda.

Entries closed for the America's Cup on August 8, 2014 however late entries can be accepted at the whim of the Defender, America's Cup Events Authority.

In a refreshing move for the America's Cup, the Japanese Team posted a copy of their Letter of Challenge for the premier trophy in sailing.

SoftBank Team Japan's campaign was confirmed today by Kazuhiko Sofuku, “Fuku”, a veteran of four previous America’s Cup campaigns who has been appointed as the team’s general manager.

Fuku's profile states that he has been involved in numerous international projects as a bowman. Career highlights include Americas Cup with BMW Oracle. He has also competed on the World Match Racing Tour with Peter Gilmour and the Audi Med Cup with Audi/Q8 TP52 Team. In 2012 Fuku is sailed with Container on the TP52 circuit.

“To lead a Japanese challenge for the America’s Cup is a dream come true,” said Fuku, who last raced with a Japanese team for the Cup 15 years ago as bowman for Nippon Challenge during the 1999/2000 Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series.

“This is a great opportunity for Japan and for Japanese sailors to get back into the America’s Cup game,” Fuku explained in the official statement. “We are planning to build up our team using America’s Cup World Series events to recruit and train Japanese sailors for our crew.”

SoftBank Group representative Masayoshi Son said, 'I am thrilled to announce that we will be supporting Team Japan at the America's Cup.' He added, 'Taking on this major challenge at the pinnacle of yacht races matches with the SoftBank Group's aim to be the global No.1. We look forward to cheering on Team Japan along with all of their supporters.'

SoftBank Team Japan is challenging under the banner of the Kansai Yacht Club, among the most distinguished clubs in the country.

“It is an honor for the Kansai Yacht Club to try for the America’s Cup for the first time,” said Commodore Ko Watanabe. “This is a great challenge to take on, not just for our club, but for the entire country. With support from across the entire nation, I am sure we will represent Japan with pride.”

A base level of technical assistance from Oracle Team USA will be provided to SoftBank Team Japan as it prepares for the 2015 America’s Cup World Series events.

Oracle Team USA are already providing a free design package to the fledgling Team France, who currently only have sufficient sponsorship from Groupama for the America's Cup World Series regattas in 2015. The team has sponsorship discussions underway at present.

“SoftBank Team Japan is a very positive addition to the America’s Cup,” said Commercial Commissioner Harvey Schiller. “The Japanese challenge will increase interest in the America’s Cup across Asia which is good news for all of our teams and partners.”

The addition of the Japanese team, if accepted, will bring the number of Challengers back up to five - after the departure of four time Challenger Luna Rossa who would not accept that the Class to be used in the Cup could be changed, without the unanimous agreement of all teams, nine months after the Rule was issued and Entries opened.

The next deadline for teams looms on May 1, with the requirement to pay the last installment of the $900,000 entry fee and lodgement of the $1million Performance Bond. However in the secretive, majority rules, world of the current America's Cup organisation it is believed that the financial requirements have been weakened but not publicly announced and this date and amount of payments required may have altered.