SoftBank Team Japan Enter The America’s Cup
The America’s Cup have confirmed that a Japanese team will enter the race, with SoftBank Team Japan set to compete in the 2015 America’s Cup World Series events and challenge for the 2017 America’s Cup in Bermuda.
The statement said, “SoftBank Corp. and the Kansai Yacht Club announced they have come to an agreement to challenge for the 2017 America’s Cup. As SoftBank Team Japan, the team will compete in the 2015 America’s Cup World Series events, and challenge for the 2017 America’s Cup in Bermuda.
“The campaign was confirmed by Kazuhiko Sofuku, “Fuku”, a veteran of four previous America’s Cup campaigns who has been appointed as the team’s general manager.”
Celebrating the challenge for the America’s Cup [photo courtesy SoftBank Team Japan/Yoichi Yabe]
“To lead a Japanese challenge for the America’s Cup is a dream come true,” said Fuku, who last raced with a Japanese team for the Cup 15 years ago as bowman for Nippon Challenge during the 1999/2000 Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series.
“This is a great opportunity for Japan and for Japanese sailors to get back into the America’s Cup game,” Fuku explained. “We are planning to build up our team using America’s Cup World Series events to recruit and train Japanese sailors for our crew.”
SoftBank Group representative Masayoshi Son said, “I am thrilled to announce that we will be supporting Team Japan at the America’s Cup.” He added, “Taking on this major challenge at the pinnacle of yacht races matches with the SoftBank Group’s aim to be the global No.1. We look forward to cheering on Team Japan along with all of their supporters.”
SoftBank Team Japan is challenging under the banner of the Kansai Yacht Club, among the most distinguished clubs in the country.
“It is an honor for the Kansai Yacht Club to try for the America’s Cup for the first time,” said Commodore Ko Watanabe. “This is a great challenge to take on, not just for our club, but for the entire country. With support from across the entire nation, I am sure we will represent Japan with pride.”
A base level of technical assistance from Oracle Team USA will be provided to SoftBank Team Japan as it prepares for the 2015 America’s Cup World Series events.
“SoftBank Team Japan is a very positive addition to the America’s Cup,” said Commercial Commissioner Harvey Schiller. “The Japanese challenge will increase interest in the America’s Cup across Asia which is good news for all of our teams and partners.”
This now means six teams are scheduled to compete as in addition to the new Japanese entrant there were already five teams entered; defending champion Oracle Team USA, Artemis Racing from Sweden, Ben Ainslie Racing from Great Britain, Emirates Team from New Zealand, and Team France.
The Italian team Luna Rossa was also due to compete, but recently withdrew in protest over rule changes which will involve smaller boats being used as a cost saving measure.
Japan have contested the America’s Cups three times: 1992, 1995 and 2000.
SoftBank Corp. and the Kansai Yacht Club announced they have come to an agreement to challenge for the 2017 America’s Cup.
This now means six teams are scheduled to compete as in addition to the new Japanese entrant there were already five teams entered; defending champion Oracle Team USA, Artemis Racing from Sweden, Ben Ainslie Racing from Great Britain, Emirates Team from New Zealand, and Team France.
Welcome team Japan!
May not be the last addition either.
This is great. Some inaccurate local reporting elsewhere had it down to only 4 teams a couple of weeks ago. 6 teams and counting is fantastic for Event and Bermuda.
Welcome Japan!! One of my favourite countries! I think I have found my team to cheer on!
This great news……I just hope we didn’t pay them or offer any ridiculous incentives……
Really? You were doing great with the first half then you just had to ruin it.
Rhonda, Try getting up on the right side of the bed for a change.
you mean like we do with the airlines?
@ Rhonda,
You are such a bitter little person. Get Help… soon!.
Great news, great exposure for Bermuda
This should be ignored and discussion should be focused on Jetgate.
lol
Cue: Mindless PLP supporters you should chime in with some self serving comments which help absolutely nobody but your own misguided egos, and are believed by an ever decreasing amount of equally mindless PLP supporters.
Particularly pay attention to spreading the fairly tale abouit how everything would be so much better under PLP rule and after all foreigners are shown the door.
Then you can sign yourself Mockingay or some other bird brain name.
Italians Threaten To Withdraw Over Boat Change
ACACACACAC!! Aka “Betty”
ACACACACAC!! says:March 26, 2015Looks like if the rules are changed this will have a major impact on the AC. It will surely reduce the number of very key participants & Powerhouse teams. Which is likely to result in an overall loss of money. Will changes be made? WHAT is the status now of the AC?
ACACACACAC !! says:March 26, 2015What will be the outcome for the AC if it the Powerhouse Teams withdrawal from the AC?
ACACACACAC says:March 27, 2015It is highly likely to have an impact. The two Powerhouse teams are a key factor in this race, it will results in less money been made for sure. Lets be real here.
I’ll wait but I’d bet they’ll be just as quiet as the PAC Port Royal article yesterday.
Konnichiwa Team Japan!
I just got off utube listening to an old song called sukiyaki…my father loved Japan and trained at shotokan for seven years….this team will no doubt raise the bar of expectation as far as competition goes….is Norway…Sweden…or Finland or Holland innit?….without them you really don’t know how good you are…you need something to compare to really…
Artemis=Sweden
Artemis Racing is from Sweden
Money follows money smdh.
Why is that a bad thing when its coming here…?
Great news, SoftBank Team Japan welcome aboard.
TOLD YOU SO,bring the price more even,although still out of our pay scale,and more will participate.
It is like having aHUGE Goverment it is not the solution,it is the problem.
Now is it 5 or 6 teams that have sign up so far? I am confused. I hear different reports and they contradict one another. So NZ have pulled out right? That would make it 5 right? Just looking for clarity so we can all be on the same page. As I said I have heard both 5 and 6 teams being reported as signed up.
NZ has not pulled out and are unlikely to do so which makes it 6 teams signed up to date. The only thing that happened was Luna Rosa pulled out and since NZ were allies with Luna Rosa and shared the same views on the rule change people assumed they would pull out as well.
Just so you know… they don’t care about small minded Bermudiens. .. they HAVE to have millions of dollars just to enter this set of races… the trolls out there have absolutely no idea what is to desend on the island…
All I can think of is the SoftBank dog..