St. Francis Yacht Club announces Alcatel as sponsor of J/70 Worlds

by Meredith Laitos on 11 Aug 2016 St. Francis Yacht Club and the International J/70 Class are pleased to announce Alcatel as the title sponsor of the 2016 Alcatel J/70 Worlds, which will take place on San Francisco Bay from September 24 to October 1, 2016. By integrating the company’s mobile devices, tablets and virtual reality technologies into this international sailing event, Alcatel will enhance the regatta for sailors and spectators alike.

Alcatel devices—which include smartphones, tablets and wearables—are sold in more than 170 countries worldwide. The company, which is a mobile brand of TCL Communication, puts an emphasis on delivering experience-rich value to its customers and is currently the fourth largest mobile handset manufacturer in North America.

First launched in 2011, the J/70 Class does not yet boast the rich history that has flowed past both Alcatel and the St. Francis Yacht Club (established 1927), but it is rapidly catching—and surpassing—many One Design classes, both nationally and internationally. There are currently more than 1,100 J/70s afloat, and the class has contested two World Championships, the first in Newport, Rhode Island in 2014 and the second in La Rochelle, France in 2015. This year’s Alcatel J/70 Worlds will mark the first time the class has contested its top prize on the West Coast. It will also mark the first time that St. Francis Yacht Club has hosted this international event.

“The St. Francis Yacht Club is thrilled to have Alcatel on board as the J/70 Worlds title sponsor,” said Lynn Lynch, Race Director at St. Francis Yacht Club. “Much like the J/70 class and the St. Francis Yacht Club, Alcatel is a forward-thinking company, and we’re already seeing an exciting energy develop between the brands. I’m confident Alcatel’s title sponsorship will take what was already going to be a great regatta and help turn it into a world-class event.”

With Alcatel as title sponsor, each participating boat will receive an award-winning Alcatel IDOL 4S smartphone that will double as an onboard tracking device via a mobile application, offering spectators a fully integrated viewing experience. To take it a step further, Alcatel will have on display its virtual-reality goggles that can plug into an IDOL 4S to display a skippers-eye view of J/70 Worlds. Thanks to 360-filming technology that interplays seamlessly through Alcatel’s phones and goggles, those ashore will be able to virtually experience the thrills of being on the water.

“As a J/70 sailor myself, it is very exciting to see the IDOL 4S bring a whole new suite of experiences to this World Championship,” said Vittorio Di Mauro, Senior Vice President of TCL Communication and President of the Italian J/70 Class.

Steve Cistulli, President and General Manager for Alcatel, North America added, “I cannot wait for participants and fans to experience IDOL 4S and the J/70 Class VR content we’ll showcase exclusively during this event that will bring a more immersive view of J/70 racing.”

To date, there are 74 boats registered to sail from 16 countries, including returning aces such as Julian Fernandez Neckelmann (MEX) and his Flojito Y Cooperando teammates, who owned the podium at the 2015 J/70 World Championship. Still, given other national and international contenders—such as Tim Healy, Jud Smith and Claudia Rossi—Neckelmann and company will have their work cut out. “The high level of competition at this event will be staggering,” said Christopher Howell, the J/70 Class Executive Director. “Between skippers and crew, you will see World Champions and Olympic athletes from multiple classes.”

Registration for the Alcatel J/70 Worlds is open until August 15, 2016 after which an additional fee will apply. For more information or to register for this exciting World Championship, please visit website.