23 September 2004

South Africa's debut challenge for the America's Cup in 2007 presented the opportunity to showcase the country's technology, human initiative, skills and expertise in a way that few other international campaigns could.

Speaking on the occasion of Proudly South African Week, Durban based Captain Salvatore Sarno, chairman of Mediterranean Shipping Shipping Company (South Africa), and the man behind the SA America's Cup Challenge said his chief reason for pursuing his African dream of an America's Cup Challenge for the first time in the event's 153 year history was because it presented the perfect opportunity for showcasing a Proudly South African initiative that truly encompassed the typical African spirit and passion to succeed.

"That South Africa has even been able to mount a challenge for the Cup is like winning gold at the Olympics but more importantly it serves as an indicator of the international status of a country in terms of leading edge technology, human initiative and skills," said Capt Sarno.

"The America's Cup is the oldest sporting trophy on the globe but it is far more than just a yachting or sporting event. Besides the sailing aspect, the four year campaign will involve the design and building of two new hi-tech all carbon fibre racing yachts, built to the America's Cup class rule, right here in South Africa. As in Formula One Motor racing this will demand that we push our design, technology and boatbuilding expertise to new limits.

"Only the most technologically advanced countries in the world can mount a challenge for the Cup and this gives us the chance to present South Africa as a modern, dynamic, exciting country with the skills and technological expertise equal to the best in the world.

"It is an opportunity to show that all South Africa's citizens can work together, do well and have success together. In essence it is an opportunity to be part of the African renaissance. The America's Cup is the most sophisticated sporting event in the world. It is a perfect fit," said Captain Sarno.

He said the South African America's Cup fledgling Team Shosholoza had already successfully flown the South African flag at the first of the America's Cup pre-regattas, the Marseille Louis Vuitton Act I in France earlier this month, by not only winning most of the starts in the week long regatta but by winning the hearts of the huge international media contingent at the event.

>From the outset the 21 member sailing and shore crew of Team Shosholoza, which is truly representative of all South Africans, captured the attention of the media through their typical South African openness and friendliness but also through their passion and courage to compete against the best in the world in the toughest of competitions.

Team Shosholoza were quickly dubbed the "crowd favourite" and referred to as the "team with "heart", the "most popular team" and the "golden boys" of the regatta "who had made a friend of everyone in Marseille". "Our 21 member team, were the youngest, lightest and most inexperienced yet they held their own against the top competing teams, including the current defenders of the Cup, the Swiss Alinghi team, the BMW Oracle Racing Team from the US, Emirates Team New Zealand and two French Teams, and proved themselves true ambassadors for their country," said Capt Sarno.

Yacht Shosholoza , flying a massive South African flag, was the only America's Cup competitor to be moored every night in the heart of the old harbour and was constantly photographed by the thousands of tourists that strolled among the quayside shops and restaurant.

Captain Sarno himself made headlines at the opening ceremony in Marseille when he said :

"I have been told several times that it is a wonderful thing that we are here as an African team, trying to take the America's Cup to South Africa. But that is not exactly what we are here for. Really we are here to bring a part of Africa to Europe and the America's Cup."

Team Shosholoza will continue to fly the South African flag high in the final two America's Cup pre-regattas this year - the Valencia Louis Vuitton Acts 2 and 3 which start in Valencia, Spain early next month. (October).

Meanwhile the design and construction of the new SA America's Cup Challenge racing yacht has moved into top gear. Design time is estimated at 90 000 hours and will involve tank testing numerous models as well as incredible employment opportunities for local engineers, aeronautical and IT specialists, yacht and mast builders and people in related industries in a world class project.