United Internet Team Germany nominates new crew

by Kai Meesters on 14 Nov 2007 Only six weeks after his engagement as United Internet Team Germany’s Head of Team Jochen Schümann managed to already gather a strong group around him. Apart from commissioning and testing former Alinghi yacht SUI 91 – which is now GER 91 - the United Internet Team Germany was busy engaging the sailing- and the design team in the last couple of weeks.

Jochen Schümann and his new skipper, the former Español-skipper Karol Jablonski, have made some drastic changes. When committing the sailors, the 53-year old emphasized especially on demands like age, perspective, experience and ability to work in a team. Performing as the Head of Team, Schümann is not only looking at participating successfully in the 33. America’s Cup, but furthermore constructing a basis for a successful continuation of the German campaign in the 34. America’s Cup. 'Germany needs a long-term perspective in the America’s Cup – and we would like to offer this with the United Internet Team Germany', says Schümann.

So far, the three times Olympia winner and two times AC champion has included four sailors of the last German America’c Cup campaign in his current sailing formation: The two Germans Matti Paschen (age 35/ trimmer) and Jan Schoepe (age 33 / pitman) as well as the two French Philippe Mourniac (age 42 / navigator) and bowman Jean Marie Dauris (age 35). 45 year old skipper Karol Jablonski was able to entice four of his team mates away from his former employer Desafio Español: The internationally experienced pros Hartwell Jordan (age 46, mainsail trimmer, USA), Frederico Giovanelli (age 33, grinder, Italy), Mikkel Rosberg (age 37, trimmer, Denmark) and the Spanish Victor Mariño Prieto (age 32, traveler). The team will furthermore be supported by sailors of BMW Oracle Racing. With Kiwi Ian Baker (age 33, grinder), Rodney Dawson (age 39, afterguard), Zachary Hurst (age 30, trimmer) and 31-year old German bowman Tony Kolb, four sailors could be lured away from the semi finalist of the last Louis-Vuitton Cup.

Being involved with the United Internet Team Germany is, of course, something very special for Tony Kolb: 'It has always been my dream to sail the America’s Cup with a German team.' The same says Tim Kröger.

The 42 year old from Hamburg has been the Boat Captain of Team Shosholoza in the last America’s Cup. The team is furthermore supported by Luna Rossa grinder Magnus Augustson (age 34, Sweden) and Emanuele Marino (age 35, Italy), the South African Marc Lagesse (Team Shosholoza, navigator, age 37) and the Australian Luke Molloy (Victory Challenge, age 27, mainsail trimmer). More sailors are to be engaged in the next year. After all, the new 90-foot-racer will have to be sailed by 20 crew members.

The current sailing team of the German team contains 19 people of eleven different countries. The average age is 37. As Jochen Schümann is sure, a team can only be in the business of the America’s Cup with an international team. 'A national rata makes absolutely no sense. If you want to survive internationally, you have to position yourself accordingly. The bar is raised pretty high in the America’s Cup. We want to reach the semi final and performance is all that counts. Our sailor’s nationality is not important', says Schümann.

Teamwork on GER 91 is already working fine on the water. Skipper Karol Jablonski is happy with the first training. 'GER 91 feels good and is very fast. Spirits are high among the crew' says the semi finalist of the 32. America’s Cup. In a training session between Desafio Español and GER 91, the German yacht was already one bow ahead.

The German America’s Cup Team has also enforced the design department with the new management- and technology partner Porsche Consulting. The consulting company, which is under the leadership of Oliver Kayser (age 43), is now responsible for all process control and the boat building process. Next to Swiss Dr. Marc Wintermantel (age 34), who was a structural engineer in the former German campaign, the team will be reinforced by former Shosholoza designer Jason Ker (age 36, England) and the French Dimitri Nicolopoulos (age 44; Areva Challenge). They will now work on the realisation of the new design rules which were announced last week.

According to this, Head of Syndicate, Michael Scheeren, is very satisfied with the state of affairs. 'Everything goes according to plan and we are well positioned early in the game. The whole team will now work hard to realize our goal to reach the semi final of the 33. America’s Cup', explains Scheeren.