Karol Jablonski will steer the German America's Cup team into the future with immediate effect: he has signed a contract as skipper of the United Internet Team Germany. Details of the contract have not been disclosed for the time being.
The Pole with a German passport had previously formed a powerful unit from the Spanish team Desafio Español in 2007 and led it very convincingly to the semi-finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup. Only there did the ESP 97 have to concede defeat to the current challenger - Emirates Team New Zealand - after a thrilling 2:5 regatta.
"The fact that we were able to recruit Karol Jablonski for our team is a success for us. His exceptional sailing skills, which he most recently demonstrated as helmsman of the Spanish team, and the fact that Germany has been his second home for many years, make him the ideal person for this position in our team. With him, we will be able to develop a promising concept and a strong team for another German Americas Cup participation," says syndicate boss Michael Scheeren.
"I am very much looking forward to this new challenge. I am very optimistic that we will form a competitive team and accept the challenge of the 33rd America's Cup," said Karol Jablonski at the signing of the contract in the German House in Valencia, the base of United Internet Team Germany.
The 44-year-old Jablonski received his basic sailing training in his native Poland. He later found his sailing home on the Steinhuder Meer in Lower Saxony. From there, he achieved numerous successes and is now one of the absolute world leaders in match race sailing. Among other things, he won the Admirals Cup for Germany in 1993 and the Mumm 18 World Championship in 1999. He became world champion in match racing in 2001 and is currently ranked 5th.
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital
