Team Alinghi has officially confirmed that it has signed helmsman Peter Holmberg as a member of the Afterguard. Holmberg was world number one for a long time, last helmed for Oracle BMW Racing during the America's Cup 2002/2003 and sailed as a member of the Afterguard on the Stars & Stripes in the challenger series of the America's Cup 2000.
Born in the Virgin Islands, Peter Holmberg learnt to sail in the warm waters of the Caribbean. He started his international sailing career at the age of nine. In 1988 he won the silver medal in the Finn class at the Olympic Games in Korea and then began his career as a professional sailor. To date, he has won two world championship titles and many other international regattas, including the Swedish Match Tour in 2001/2002.
Alinghi Sports Director Jochen Schümann says in the official press release: "We wanted to bring another experienced helmsman into the Alinghi afterguard. Peter is highly respected in the international match racing circuit and his skills as a helmsman will be a tremendous asset to our team."
Schümann emphasises to YACHT online that the 43-year-old is a particularly good fit for Alinghi on a personal level. He is a pleasant, calm guy and also a former Finn sailor like Coutts and Schümann.
Peter Holmberg says of his new job: "It is a great honour to be invited to work with Team Alinghi, the winner of the 2003 America's Cup. I have great respect for what Alinghi has achieved as a team and for the professional way of thinking and working, the Alinghi team culture. It will be a great experience for me."
Alinghi also presented its sponsors for the America's Cup 2007. As before, UBS and Infonet will be the main partners. Watch manufacturer Audemars Piguet remains a co-sponsor. They will be joined by Nestlé's coffee company Nespresso and SGS, a Swiss company with 32,000 employees that is active in quality assurance in the food sector. Pellegrino is supporting the team as an official supplier.
Alinghi's partners are offered a varied programme that includes numerous activities. These include all the regattas in the run-up to the America's Cup organised by the ACM from 2004 onwards, as well as participation in promotional events and leisure activities.
Nine months after its victory, Team Alinghi is now starting its campaign for the 2007 America's Cup and the designers have already started work while the sailors are still sailing independently to gain additional experience and increase their competitiveness. The team will then take part in all America's Cup events organised by the ACM.
Team Alinghi will soon be joined by three new co-sponsors. The team will also receive substantial support from its official suppliers. The EPFL remains Alinghi's scientific partner.
Russell Coutts, Director: "This is a great day for Team Alinghi and for the America's Cup. UBS, Infonet, Audemars Piguet, Nespresso and SGS are high calibre international brand names. The fact that these companies are joining forces with us - or supporting us - is a great source of motivation. Team Alinghi's sponsors are fully integrated into the project in every respect, so we consider them to be members of the team."
Peter A. Wuffli, CEO UBS: "The collaboration to date has been very successful, and Alinghi's vision is an excellent fit with that of our company. By winning the America's Cup, the perfectly coordinated Alinghi team has impressively demonstrated strategic calculation and tactical skill, experience and speed as well as mastery of leading technologies. These key factors, which have catapulted Alinghi to the top of the world's sailing elite, are also decisive for our company's success in the global financial business."
"As the saying goes, winners like to join winners. That's exactly how we feel, and that's why we want to maintain our sponsorship commitment to Alinghi, the number one match racing yacht," says José A. Collazo, Chairman, President and CEO of Infonet. He continues: "Our commitment to Team Alinghi, a winning team that shares our values of teamwork, dedication and technical superiority, will help to promote our brand and values around the world."
Georges-Henri Meylan, Delegate of the Board of Directors of Audemars Piguet: "Since the America's Cup was founded in 1851, Alinghi is the first European boat to compete as a Defender. This success is the result of the great professionalism of the Alinghi team and the excellent co-operation with the sponsors. The Audemars Piguet Manufacture is delighted to be embarking on this wonderful adventure once again."
Jean-Luc De Buman, Senior Vice-President SGS : "Only a high-performance team that shares common values can achieve an unrivalled victory, crossing borders. Our ambition and that of Alinghi is to set a new standard of performance at every opportunity. That's why SGS, which is represented in practically every seaport in the world, is so happy to join forces with Alinghi for the America's Cup."
Gerhard Berssenbrügge, CEO, Nespresso: "Alinghi's remarkable achievements are testament to a world-class team whose passion allows them to combine various factors such as innovative materials, ground-breaking technologies, unrivalled expertise, fighting spirit and a clear focus on being the absolute best in their class. Alinghi is a symbol of sailing excellence. Nespresso is proud to support Team Alinghi in their campaign to win the prestigious America's Cup again in 2007."
