Germany in, Spain out of 32nd Americas Cup series

by Al Constable on 29 Apr 2005 The German Fresh 17 syndicate, based in Berlin, this week signed an agreement with United InterNet as the main sponsor for the first ever German tilt at the America’s Cup, according to German media sources.

Jesper Bank is named as the helmsman and it has been suggested the GBR Challenge boats might be purchased.

Ralph Dommermuth, founder and chairman of the board of the United InterNet AG, a medium sized Internet enterprise signed on the dotted line on Wednesday night, committing up to 25 million euro for Fresh 17 and the initial 1.25 million payment is supposed to have been paid to the Cup management group.

So at Valencia 2007, after 155 years a German syndicate will fight for the first time for the Louis Vuitton Cup, the challenger round for the America's Cup.

This is not the first time Germany has prepared to enter the America’s Cup battle. Michael Illbruck’s Pinta Racing, which was preparing an entry for the 2002/03 series, with boats almost completed, but were forced to abandon their campaign because of lack of sponsors.

The final deadline for entries 4pm Friday afternoon Valencia time, the early hours of Saturday morning, our time.

As the crunch time approaches, developments have continued. The Challenger Commission was advised last night by the Spanish Decision Challenge they will not be competing this series.

Guillermo Olivié, the Spanish syndicate chairman confirmed today that the team representing the Real Club Náutico de Madrid did not have the sponsorship support it needed.

The German entry and the withdrawal of the Spanish team leaves nine sentries from New Zealand, the US, South Africa, France, Sweden and Italy.