Oracle named Presenting Sponsor of Allianz Cup

by Sean McNeill on 3 Oct 2006 The world’s largest enterprise software company, Oracle (NASDAQ-GS: ORCL), will be the presenting sponsor of the Allianz Cup, Stage 5 of the 2006-’07 World Match Racing Tour.

The official title of the event is Allianz Cup Presented by Oracle. It will be hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club and racing is scheduled Oct. 25-29 on San Francisco Bay.

The World Match Racing Tour is the world’s leading professional sailing series. The events of the World Tour determine the ISAF Match Racing World Champion, who will be crowned in December 2007. A total of 15 events comprise the 2006-’07 World Tour schedule.

“It’s great to have Oracle aboard as presenting sponsor of the Allianz Cup,” said Scott MacLeod, President of the World Tour. “With the great support from our sponsors and partners and a fantastic lineup taking shape, this new event of the tour is shaping up to be outstanding.”

A total of 16 teams are planned for the $100,000 event that awards $25,000 to the champion and the entry list features some of the world’s best match-racers.

Skippers who have accepted invites to the event include New Zealander Chris Dickson, skipper and CEO of BMW ORACLE Racing, Australian Peter Gilmour, the reigning match-racing world champion and three-time World Tour champion, New Zealander Dean Barker, the helmsman of Emirates Team New Zealand, American Ed Baird and Virgin Islander Peter Holmberg, both helmsmen for Alinghi, and Jesper Bank, the Danish skipper of United Internet Team Germany.

The six skippers have accounted for 12 match-racing world championships and 21 career victories on the World Tour. Gilmour leads the way with four Worlds and 11 career Tour victories.

BMW North America (Woodcliff Lake, N.J.) has been named a Main Partner of the Allianz Cup Presented by Oracle. BMW AG (Munich, Germany) is a Partner and Official Car the World Match Racing Tour and is also a partner in the BMW ORACLE Racing Team, the Challenger of Record for the 32nd America’s Cup in 2007.

Shoe manufacturer Sebago (Rockford, Mich.) and Sailing World magazine (Newport, R.I.) are official suppliers of the regatta. Sebago is also a sponsor and Official Footwear of the World Tour. San Francisco-based KGO TV and Radio are the official television and radio stations.

Oracle is proud to serve as presenting sponsor in its hometown, San Francisco. And, as a partner in the America’s Cup team, Oracle will support the lone U.S. stop on the World Tour.

The World Tour is sanctioned by ISAF, sailing’s world governing body. The World Tour Partner and Official Car is BMW (Munich, Germany). World Tour sponsors include Sebago (Rockford, Mich.), the Official Footwear Supplier, Travel Places (West Sussex, England), the Official Travel Partner, and Wedgwood (Stoke-on-Trent, England), the Official Trophy Sponsor.

For more information on the World Match Racing Tour, its competitors and events, please visit the official World Tour Web site, www.WorldMatchRacingTour.com. World Match Racing Tour television programs may be viewed on demand by clicking on the television icon on the home page of the Web site.