Japan is reaching for the America's Cup again. The challenge, which has already been announced several times by ACEA Director Russell Coutts, is to be submitted within the next few days. This is reported by the British daily newspaper "The Independent". While the sailing team is to be led by a Japanese skipper, the team list will feature at least one very prominent name: Former Cup skipper Dean Barker, 42, who was dismissed in New Zealand, will celebrate his Cup comeback under the Japanese flag.
The Japanese challenge of the Kansai Yacht Club is backed by Masayoshi Son, one of the richest men in Japan, and sponsored by Softbank. Masayoshi Son studied at the University of California and is the boss of Softbank. In 2013, Forbes magazine named Masayoshi Son one of the 45 most powerful people in the world. Japan had previously participated in the America's Cup three times in 1992, 1995 and 2000. In 1992, it was a prominent New Zealander, Chris Dickson, who steered the Japanese boat to the semi-finals of the challenger round. In 1995, Kiwi John Cutler supported the second Japanese attempt. Now it is Dean Barker who is to help the Japanese with a great deal of catamaran expertise and two decades of Cup experience.
According to The Independent, both five-time Cup winner Russell Coutts and Oracle Team USA's racing team owner Larry Ellison want to be there in person when the challenge is submitted in the coming days and the relevant challenger papers are countersigned by representatives of the defending Golden Gate Yacht Club. The late Japanese challenge is expected to be spurred on by the American defenders such as Team France with a ready-made and favourable basic design package for the new 48-foot catamarans.
It was initially unclear whether the Japanese would be taking part in the pre-regatta in Portsmouth in May. The regatta in British waters is organised by a subsidiary of the British challenger campaign Ben Ainslie Racing under the leadership of Sir Ben Ainslie. Following the withdrawal of the Italian Luna Rossa Challenge, it is also unclear whether the financially weak French team will make it to the starting line of the pre-regatta. The designated Cup skipper Franck Cammas is currently competing in the Isaf Sailing World Cup in the new Olympic discipline Nacra 17, while Emirates Team New Zealand is scheduled to start but has not yet been finalised.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
