11 teams for RC 44 circuit this year

Plus new stars and events, announced today in Milan

With six international regattas, some of the world’s best sailors, new teams and an official logistics partner, the second RC 44 Championship taking place this year has been firmed up.

The RC 44 Championship Tour 2008 will comprise six regattas in three different countries. World renowned sailors have been participating in the tour, including James Spithill, Dean Barker, Lorenzo Bodini, Cameron Appleton, Sébastien Col, Russell Coutts, Mateusz Kusznierewicz, Ray Davies and Morten Henriksen.

A new partnership with DHL will provide logistical services for all competing teams. This is especially appropriate as the class combines innovative sailing concepts with new solutions for transporting boats and equipment.

“When Andrej Justin and I started working on the design of the RC 44, we simultaneously tried to develop solutions aimed at simplifying the transportation of the boats," says co-designer Russell Coutts. "Our vision was to be able to race in a variety of new locations using simple and cost effective systems. For example, the requirement that the boat and equipment fit within a 40ft container was the prime reason for features such as the removable stern and the two parts mast.



“Today, we are very pleased to announce our partnership with DHL, who are world leaders in logistics. Organizing regattas at various new locations is a challenge where boats and equipment need to be moved to each venue in a safe and timely manner. DHL has great experience in moving Formula One equipment around the world. Their expertise and support are a very welcome contribution to building the international circuit of RC44 events.”

Wolfgang Giehl, Director of Corporate Branding and advertising for Deutsche Post World Net, adds:”With our partnership for the RC44 Championship Tour, DHL demonstrates that success in world class sailing and world class logistics is based on the same attributes: reliability, speed and perfect teamwork. We are convinced that through our logistics services we can help this racing series to become even more powerful than it is already today.”

The 2008 Championship Tour will take the RC 44 fleet to Abu Dhabi (UAE), Cagliari (Sardinia), Traunsee (Austria), Lake Garda, Trieste (ITA) and Dubai. It will conclude with will crown both a professional match race champion and an owner-driver fleet race champion. At each event there will also be a DHL coastal race which will be scored as part of the fleet race regatta.

17 identical RC 44 one-designs have been built to date with boat 18 due for completion in early March.


RC 44 Championship Tour 2008:

Date	Regatta	Organiser	Country	Town
March 3 – 7	Abu Dhabi Grand Prix	Attention	United Arab Emirates	Abu Dhabi
April 23 – 27	Cagliari Cup	FD Consulting	Italy	Cagliari
May 28 – June 1	Austria Cup	Profs	Austria, Lake Traunsee	Gmunden
July 9 – 13	Malcesine Cup – 2008 Continental Challenge	Fraglia Vela Malcesine	Italy, Lake Garda	Malcesine
October 7 – 11	Trieste Cup	QB	Italy	Trieste
December 10 – 14	Gold Cup	DIMC	United Arab Emirates	TBC

RC 44 Championship Tour 2007 line-up:

1) Team Aqua, Chris Bake / Cameron Appleton
2) Team Omega, Russell Coutts
3) Cro-A-Sail, Miroslav Reljanovic / Morten Henriksen
4) Beecom, Isao Mita / Kevin Harrap
5) Team Ceeref, Igor Lah / James Spithill
6) Ekipa 44, Team Ekipa
7) Magia Alike, Team Magia
8) Team ES Bankers Dubai, Patrick de Barros / Dean Barker
9) Mascalzone Latino, Vincenzo Onorato / Matteo Savelli
10) Team Hiroshi / Citta di Milano, Armando Giulietti / Sébastien Col
11) Team Organika, Maciej Nawrocki, Mateusz Kusznierewicz