South Africa challenges for 33rd America's Cup

by Team PR and Sail-World on 20 Jul 2007
The South African, America's Cup Team Shosholoza lodged a challenge in Geneva, Switzerland, on Wednesday for the 33rd running of the Cup.

Team Shosholoza founder and managing director Captain Salvatore Sarno confirmed that he had personally lodged a notice of entry and submitted the required performance bond and necessary certification with the Swiss Société Nautique Genève (SNG), the defending yacht club of the 2007 America's Cup winners, Team Alinghi.

Speaking with the same characteristic passion and commitment as he did four years ago when he lodged Africa's first ever challenge for the America's Cup, Captain Sarno confirmed that Cape Town's Royal Cape Yacht Club would again be the South African challenge club.

As in 2004 his bold move comes with no signed sponsor to back his ambitious vision of pursuing a second South African campaign.

'I am looking for a proudly South African sponsor and I am positive that we will find one to support the African dream to bring the Cup home,' said Sarno.

'We want to present ourselves as a testimony for South Africa's capacity to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup. We showed a different side of South Africa at the last Cup and everyone liked what they saw. We want to remain the country's best ambassadors on one of the world's most influential platforms.

'We will be making sure that everyone wants to come to South Africa for the soccer.' said Sarno.

In a separate report posted on the America's Cup.com site, ACM Media reported:

The Royal Cape Yacht Club and its Team Shosholoza have lodged a challenge for the 33rd America’s Cup with the Société Nautique de Genève, the Defending yacht club.

Team Shosholoza founder and managing director Captain Salvatore Sarno confirmed that he has sent a Notice of Entry and submitted the necessary paperwork and fee as outlined in the Protocol for the 33rd America’s Cup.

Captain Sarno’s Team Shosholoza was a novice team in the recently concluded 32nd America’s Cup in Valencia and the first ever challenge from Africa. The rookies turned in an inspiring performance, finishing 7th among the 11 challenging teams, and earning the nickname the ‘soul of sailing’ for their commitment and effort on and off the water.

'We showed what novices can achieve,' said Captain Sarno. 'We earned the respect of our competitors by punching way above our weight and our indomitable spirit captivated hearts and inspired millions around the world. Now we want to do another campaign. It would be silly not to. We have acquired a lot of knowledge; our crew have achieved a level close to the best in the world. We are hungry to get better results! We want to win.'

Shosholoza joins the Challenger of Record, Desafío Español and the Defender Alinghi, as the first confirmed participants in the 33rd America’s Cup.

Sail-World comment:

It is interesting to note that while this Challenge has been reported, there is no mention of the Golden Gate YC challenge or the pending court action.

Additionally the above report cites Desafío Español as the Challenger of Record when it is actually Club Náutico Español de Vela (CNEV) - a typographical error perhaps?

We can also deduce from this announcement that the Royal Cape Yacht Club along with Club Náutico Español de Vela were the two challengers who did not sign the letter reported to have been sent Golden Gate YC (BMW Oracle Racing) urging a renegotiation of the announced 33rd Protocol. Of the 11 Challengers in the 32nd America's Cup and Louis Vuitton Cups, +39 has dropped out, plus Club Náutico Español de Vela stands in the place of RFEV, the Spanish national authority sailing and Royal Cape YC, which Sail-World understands was not approached to sign.


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