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Club:
Yacht Sallskap, Sweden
Skipper: Mats Johansson
Manager: Magnus Holmberg
Design: German and Manni Frers
Main Backer: Jan Stenbeck
Budget: Undisclosed |
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www.victorychallenge.com |
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The
Swedes are back after an absence of two decades and if their performance
at the America’s Cup International Regatta last February is anything
to go by, they have discovered fast designs. The brand new, Mani Frers-designed
SWE 63 was the only new boat racing and, as an NZL 60 clone, appeared
to have pace. Frers made his move to Sweden with experience as a principal
Prada 2000 designer and a lifelong family involvement in yacht design
behind him.
To help them up the learning curve, Victory Challenge purchased NZL
38 from Team New Zealand after the last Cup and from under the nose
of Russell Coutts, who was looking to buy into fast America’s
Cup hardware as he put the Swiss Alinghi team together. NZL 38 was
Team New Zealand’s newest – but unused – boat in the
1995 competition. It provided a useful benchmark for the Swedish design
team, who began tank-testing at a government facility in Göteborg.
With both the national team and syndicate lacking current America’s
Cup experience it was decided to build an NZL 60 derivative immediately
– SWE 63.
Victory Challenge are formed primarily of Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian
and Danish sailors, although there is a group of Kiwis, Aussies and
other nationalities in the B-boat coaching team, including head coach
Skip Lissiman, a member of the winning Australia II crew of 1983.
At the head of the sailing team are two Olympic and match racing sailors,
both of whom have shared the key role in the afterguard until now.
Jesper Bank has two Olympic gold medals, the most recent won in Sydney
two years ago, while Magnus Holmberg is a three-times Olympic sailor
with two Soling match racing world championships to his name.
Sweden rank as well-funded, resourced and motivated newcomers. Any
progression beyond the quarter-finals would be a surprise but, like
Britain’s GBR Challenge, toppling a big name and making it to
the semis is the goal. |
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