It is another step into the future for the German America's Cup campaign: the yacht, which United Internet Team Germany started building during the Louis Vuitton Cup, will bear the sail number GER 101.
After checking the construction progress, Americas Cup Chief Surveyor Ken McAlpine has assigned this number to the new German Cupper. It is the 100th sail number of the International Americas Cup Class (IACC) - the number 13 was not assigned.
Like the GER 89, the GER 101 is also being built at the Knierim-Yachtbau shipyard in Kiel. Since 22 May, seven boat builders and engineers from United Internet Team Germany have been busy with the construction, supported by Knierim-Yachtbau. The GER 101 is based on the experience gained by the United Internet Team Germany design team over the last two years. Initial technological progress has already been made in mould construction. This was completed after just four weeks, and production of the actual hull has now begun. This also marks the moment when the Americas Cup Measurement Committee assigns the sail number to a new build.
"We are very happy about this further important moment for the first German Americas Cup team. The GER 101 is the link between Germany I and possible other yachts for the next Cup. Technologically, she helps us to close the gap to the top teams. In terms of sailing, together with the GER 89 she will form the basis for a solid two-boat campaign in the future," says syndicate boss Michael Scheeren.
The early construction date was necessary because the boat is still considered a cupper for the 32nd challenge. If the rule that two new boats can be built per edition remains in place, the German team would be able to complete two more, meaning that they would effectively have three new boats for the next challenge.
Another possible strategy would have been to buy a data and boat package from another team in this edition and build on it. However, as the future of the Cup is still open and it is therefore not yet clear which teams will continue and which boats will be offered, the German team obviously did not want to take the risk of delaying the start of the test programme with two boats.
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital
