Youth America's Cup: "We want to bring AC enthusiasm to every harbour pub"

Team Germany qualified for the Red Bull Youth America's Cup. already managed a fortnight ago - However, the financing was still on shaky ground. It is now clear that the crew led by helmsman and Olympic participant Paul Kohlhoff will be sailing off Bermuda on an AC 45 F from 12 June.

Thomas Stamann's SVB is involved as a name sponsor. YACHT online met the busy Bremen-based shipper at boot Düsseldorf, where the first meet & greet with the sailors of the German campaign is taking place this evening.

Mr Stamann, thanks to your commitment, Paul Kohlhoff and his team will definitely be at the start. Can you explain why you want to see the SVB logo on the wing rig of a foiling AC 45 F?
It's quite simple: I also started out very small. So I know how difficult it is to get support as a young person with big goals. I also have two children of around the same age myself.

Why get involved in the Red Bull Youth America's Cup?
I think it's sad that we don't have a home team in the actual Cup. It can't really be that we can't manage that in Germany. So I'm pleased that we can help the boys to compete in Bermuda. Who knows, maybe for some of them it will be the springboard for a professional career.

High-tech sailing ranks behind football in popularity on many local piers. Doesn't the Cup miss your main clientele?
You know, I travel a lot on the North Sea and like to go to a harbour pub in the evening. That's where we want to take the AC enthusiasm! We have to poke people in the eye and show them the passion with which the guys fight. When an AC 45 starts flying, it's incredibly fast. We can definitely appeal to motorboat drivers with this.

How do you intend to do that?
We will soon be presenting the entire SVB Team Germany, with blogs, portraits and videos. Our reach helps a lot. We have 320,000 customer addresses; 160,000 people receive our online newsletter. We will use this to share the enthusiasm with which the crew is tackling this project. They are doing a really great job. There's so much passion involved, it's infectious.

Last weekend at the FlagshipNight, I attended the presentation of the Seamaster Award to the young French single-handed sailor Clarisse Crémer experienced. I felt the same passion there. It just sweeps you away.

Do you take care of the sponsoring yourself?
No, my daughter Judith does that. I said from the start: if we get in, you have to take over. She is now 28 years old and much closer to the team than I am.

Will you be in Bermuda to watch the regattas live?
Let's see. Judith will definitely be there. And maybe I'll watch it in a harbour pub on ServusTV, as they broadcast the races live.

Homepage of the SVB Team Germany

Facebook page of the German Youth America's Cup campaign