Spanish brewery Estrella Damm backs
Emirates Team New Zealand
Emirates Team New Zealand and
Spanish Brewery Estrella Damm announced today a sponsorship
agreement for the teams America’s Cup campaign.
Estrella Damm is
the last major sponsorship deal for the team. As an
elite sponsor, the Estrella Damm brand logo will appear
on the yacht hulls and sails.
Emirates Team New Zealand managing
director Grant Dalton said the team was very happy
to welcome Estrella Damm. It is a very important
day for the team," he
said. "This elite sponsorship agreement is the
last major piece of the team’s funding for
the 2007 America’s Cup.
"We welcome to the team
a respected, high-profile, innovative Spanish company
with a proud tradition and an ethos that fits well
with the team. We will carry the Estrella Damm logo
proudly into the Louis Vuitton Act 4 regatta which
starts on Thursday.
"We look forward to building a strong relationship
with Estrella Damm over the next two years," Dalton
said.
"While funding is not complete, the team can now
confidently set about the serious business at hand
- winning the America’s Cup.
"That is a daunting task.
We know only too well that we face some very professional,
well prepared opposition and that we cannot leave
anything to chance."
Grant
Dalton said the team already had a strong Spanish connection
through principal designer Marcelino Botin.
"Marcelino and his business partner Shaun Carkeek
have had a major impact on European yacht racing in
recent years with their winning IMS designs. He has
brought to the team design experience and expertise
as the team finalises plans for the first of our 2007-generation
America’s Cup class yachts."
He said that over
coming months, the team would have a more visible presence
in Valencia with work starting on the team’s
permanent base next month.
This year Emirates Team New
Zealand is competing in the three Louis Vuitton Acts
- at Valencia starting in a few days, Malmo, Sweden
in August and Trapani, Sicily, in September/October.
www.estrelladamm.es |
