The announcement of the "Fresh seventeen" project for participation in the America's Cup has met with a very positive response, not only in Germany. Prominent representatives from business and industry welcomed the initiative of Deutsche Challenge 2007 AG (DC 2007 AG).
Within a few days, four first-class German sailing clubs joined the German Challenger Yacht Club (DCYC), chaired by Olympic champion Willy Kuhweide, to support the work of the founding members.
The acquisition of sponsors, which is expected to bring in a three-year budget of 45 million euros, has gained considerable momentum since its publication on 7 September. "This is a unique opportunity for our country to demonstrate its expertise," said the former President of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) and current President of the Leibniz Science Association, Hans-Olaf Henkel. "It's not just about&apos sailing, but also about technology, the art of engineering and the integration of complicated individual components into a functioning whole. And this is where Germany is strong. We should show that too."
Henkel, himself a passionate sailor, appealed to his former colleagues in industry to get involved. "I know of no other sports or cultural project in which the involvement of industry is so closely linked to the project."
In the first few days after the appearance, the marketing agency prince henry tv & sponsoring ag received more than a dozen high-quality responses to the offer to come on board with "Fresh seventeen". The sponsorship package provides for up to five partners with annual budgets of three million euros or more. Interested parties are provided with a comprehensive media value forecast that promises a high return on investment.
"Some national companies recognised the huge potential immediately," says Jacqueline Sasse, Managing Director of the marketing agency prince henry, who did not want to name any names at this stage. They include blue chips as well as M and S-Dax companies and private firms. The coming weeks will show which sponsors will integrate themselves as partners in the high-tech sailing environment of the AC, but also in the concept of the "Fresh seventeen" popular campaign.
The reactions on the sporting side of the project were no less lively. Andreas John, Director of Sport at DC 2007 AG, recorded more than two full crews of contacts in the first week alone after the so-called "going public". These included not only newcomers, but also internationally renowned veterans. John: "Interestingly, many young talents from Germany are applying, and several top professionals from abroad have signed up." This shows that the "Fresh seventeen" concept of building up young, predominantly German sailors together with AC-experienced cracks and thus introducing them to the Cup challenge will work. "Our goal is to win the silver jug at the 33rd AC by 2007," explained the 44-year-old from Hamburg.
Eberhard Magg, AG Board Member for Technology, also received a long list of enquiries and congratulations. They ranged from Germanischer Lloyd in Hamburg to various design engineers and computer experts for flow simulations to the German Aerospace Centre in Braunschweig. "Most of them are well aware that cross-disciplinary, technological collaboration is both an opportunity and a necessity in this project," says Magg, "and my conviction that we can pool our market-leading technological expertise in a German AC campaign was clearly reinforced."
A wave of sympathy is sweeping over the German Challenger Yacht Club. To the great delight of DCYC Commodore Willy Kuhweide, four first-class sailing clubs from the north, west and south of Germany have already declared their membership of the DCYC immediately after the founding members. These are the Kiel Yacht Club, the Düsseldorf Yacht Club, the Langenargen Yacht Club and the German Touring Yacht Club from Tutzing.
Kuhweide's special thanks went to DCYC coordinator Rolf Bähr (Berlin), who did an excellent job of lobbying. The Kiel Yacht Club also linked its support to its own application to organise an AC test regatta in late summer 2005. KYC Chairman Lothar Jenne: "It's a perfect match."
"We support the initiators unreservedly and have already generated a great deal of enthusiasm for this outstanding sailing event in our own ranks, among the major companies based here in the region and
in Germany's most populous region," wrote Peter Finis, Deputy Chairman of the Düsseldorf Yacht Club.
For Jens Krose, President of the Yacht Club Langenargen, it was also clear: "We on the board didn't hesitate for a moment to join. As the longstanding organiser of the only grade one match race in Germany, the Match Race Germany in Langenargen, it is of course an honour and a matter of course for us to support the DCYC and the "Fresh seventeen" campaign on their way to the 32nd America's Cup with everything we can. We would be delighted if sailors from the "Fresh seventeen" team were to join us as early as 2005 as participants against the AC greats who have a rendezvous on Lake Constance every year."
