Victory Challenge secures services of German Frers Jr

by Bert Willborg, Victory Challenge on 13 Apr 2005 Victory Challenge today (local time) announced that the team has signed German ‘Mani’ Frers Jr. as the boat designer for its participation in the 32nd America’s Cup.

Mani, as he is known, was the designer behind the syndicate’s successful and highly acclaimed boats Örn (SWE 63) and Orm (SWE 73) for the last America’s Cup in Auckland.

’We were extremely satisfied with Mani’s work last time, and are really happy that he is onboard again. He is one of a kind and one of the very best in this business,’ said Magnus Holmberg, sailing manager for Victory Challenge.

The signing was executed in a ceremony at Mani Frers naval architecture and engineering office in Milan, Italy, in the presence of among others, Magnus Holmberg, Hugo Stenbeck, the initiator behind the challenge for 2007, Christer Salén, commodore of Gamla Stans Yacht Sällskap and Sam Murch, shore manager for Victory Challenge.

Frers is responsible for the design of the two race yachts for the 2007 America’s Cup, as well for the re-design of Örn and Orm, to make them eligible for the participation in this year’s pre regattas in Valencia, Spain, Malmö, Sweden and Trapani, Sicily.

'We will have a boat ready for Act 4 & 5 in Valencia in June,’ says Murch.

The America’s Cup Class has been changed since Auckland, and the new version allows more sail area, a lighter boat, but with deeper draft keel, providing the same stability as before. The result is a lighter, faster boat, ‘turbo-charged’ for the 32nd America’s Cup.

’Even if we didn’t sign until today, I have done my homework, so the re-building of the boats can start immediately,’ says Frers adding, ‘it was a pleasure working with Victory Challenge last time and I’m happy there will be a second challenge. I look forward to it.’

Prior to his involvement with Victory Challenge, which started five years ago, Frers was one of Prada’s head designers of the boat that took the Italian syndicate to final in the 2000 America’s Cup.

His first involved in the America’s Cup was in 1992, when Frers worked for his father German Sr., who designed the Il Moro di Venezia; Italy’s first America’s Cup finalist.

During the last ten years, Mani has also actively participated in various races and championships on board his designs.

German Frers Jr. was born November 21, 1969, in New York, U.S.A. He has a B. Eng. in Yacht and Powercraft Design from the Southampton Institute, United Kingdom.

Victory Challenge was founded by media and telecom entrepreneur Jan Stenbeck ahead of the America’s Cup held in Auckland 2003.

Stenbeck passed away suddenly, just before racing started, but the syndicate still completed the competition in honour of his memory and in respect for his dreams and visions. His son, Hugo Stenbeck, joined Victory Challenge and the management of the syndicate.

Victory Challenge won 11 matches - more than any other Swedish syndicate had done before.

In the quarter-finals, the Challenge was knocked out the French syndicate Le Défi Areva, but finished in fifth place after being defeated by America's Cup finalists from 2000; Italian syndicate Prada, in the battle for a place in the semi-finals.

Victory Challenge will start sailing in the Acts in Valencia in June, together with at least eight other challengers, plus the Swiss defenders, Alinghi.

Following Valencia, the Acts will be held in Malmö, Sweden, in August/September, with the final Acts of the year being held in Trapani, Sicily in September/October.

Victory Challenge has the support of, among others, two companies in the Stenbeck group from the previous challenge; the media company Modern Times Group and the Tele2 telecom group.

The intention is to build a syndicate sponsored by companies which see the possibilities offered by the world's most prestigious sailing competition being held in Europe for the first time since 1851.

Companies are invited to take part in a sponsorship extending over three years and can take advantage of the enormous media impact that will be guaranteed internationally that will be amplified even further in the countries where the Stenbeck group is active.

www.victorychallenge.com