With four successful weeks of the Summer 2004 sailing programme behind them, it is an exciting time for the GBR Challenge as they move into phase two of testing.

The changes to the America’s Cup Class Rule (Version 5.) allow for larger sail areas throughout the sail inventory. Because of this, significant changes to the rigs have been made, not only to compensate for additional loads put on the mast but to enable accurate analysis of the new sail designs.

Work on the mast, rigging and sail systems over the past months has been extensive and phase two of the on water testing will allow the teams of designers to begin taking data which will be used in the R&D of future designs.

The modifications that rig 2 has undergone include installation of camera systems and strain gauges to provide accurate data of the rigs performance.

GBR Challenge was back on the water on 28th June 2004 as planned for the first phase of their on the water testing in the 2004-2007 programme. GBR 70 ‘Wight Lightning’, the boat that the team raced in the 2002/03 Louis Vuitton Cup in Auckland has been given a facelift and was looking fabulous in its new navy blue livery.

The team are following a programme of technical testing, following some modifications to GBR 70, which were carried out as a result of the two rounds of tank testing completed so far.

Adrian Stead, tactician from the 2003 GBR Challenge campaign and acting as Helmsman on GBR70 this week commented, “This is the first time GBR 70 has been sailed in UK waters and it feels really good. Getting the team spirit up and running again with renewed focus and vision makes us all feel 100% positive about our progress".

The team will carry on with this programme of on-the-water testing throughout the summer of 2004 making valuable use of this time period whilst finalising sponsorship contracts. They will also be using this period for sponsor hospitality and media on-the-water interviews in the build-up to the first America’s Cup regattas in September 2004.

Jeremy Elliott, a Sailing Team member in 2003 and now also part of the technical group added:

" Since our return from New Zealand we've worked hard on an in-depth technical review and begun tank work on aspects of the new ACC Rule. In the background, a number of other technical projects have been ongoing and its great to see those developments now taking shape and to get out there sailing GBR70 once again."

The team, who were beaten in the quarter-finals of the qualifying regatta for the last America's Cup, launched a quest last May for a sponsor willing to inject £3.25m a year (around €5 million). But though "significant conversations" are under way with a number of "global brands", Harrison has indicated he will pull the plug on the operation if funding is not secured within five weeks.

"Peter Harrison can't underwrite [the team] beyond June," said GBR Challenge's head of sponsorship and marketing Leslie Ryan. "He funded the campaign 100% last time but said it would be 50% this time. If no partners are found the team won't progress forward."

GBR Challenge issued an update about its sailing programme, which starts on 28th June 2004.

A squad of sailors has been put together to complete this initial period of sailing and on water testing. This complements the overall design testing programme and begins the next phase of team development and progress.

"Our design programme has been ongoing since April 2003 and we have already carried out two stages of tank testing, which have led to some exciting results", said Derek Clark, Head of Design. "We are finalizing modifications to GBR 70 so that we can move quickly to full size on water testing during this summer period."

A sailing squad has been put together for the Summer 2004 programme and it includes many of the talented sailors that were involved in the previous GBR Challenge campaign.

"For this testing period, we were looking to bring in sailors who could immediately step into the frame, in order to maximize the effectiveness of this test period", commented James Stagg, who has been responsible for coordinating the squad. "The Summer 2004 sailing squad gives us continuity from the last Challenge."

"Many of the sailors have existing commitments at this stage, so a squad is an ideal way for them to ramp up their involvement in GBR Challenge", he added. "We are currently in conversation with a number of other potential squad members, from both the UK and abroad, and will be adding further sailors as time progresses."

GBR Challenge is in the final stages of sponsor negotiations and, with the start of sailing and increased team visibility on the water from end June onwards, sponsors will be able to see an immediate benefit from their involvement.

List of GBR Challenge sailing squad for 2004 summer testing period :

Adrian Stead, Andy Beadsworth, Chris Mason, David Carr, Derek Clark, George Skuodas, Gerry Mitchell, Guy Reid, Guy Salter, Ian Budgen, Ian Walker, James Stagg, Jeremy Elliott, Jim Turner, John Taylor, Jules Salter, Mark Sheffield, Matt Cornwell, Mo Gray, Richard Sydenham, Simon Fisher, Simon Fry, Simon Shaw, Tim Powell, Will I’Anson

 Ian Percy switches allegiance to Italians (05/22/04)
 (source : The Independent)

Britain is set to lose one of its most talented sailors to an Italian team challenging for the next America's Cup in Valencia in 2007.

Iain Percy, Olympic gold medallist in 2000 and a top prospect for a medal in Athens in the Star, is expected to be named by the Clan Des Team syndicate - which should be re-name Plus 39, Italy's international dialing code - as one of its recruits, on Monday at their Lake Garda base.

The Cowes-based GBR Challenge claimed that Percy had signed a confidentiality agreement with them in August last year, but that on Thursday Percy had informed the design director, Derek Clark, "of what appears to be his final decision."

Percy's move could not have come at a more sensitive time. He was central to GBR Challenge's attraction to potential sponsors and an agreement for major financial support had been expected within two weeks.

But Ian Walker, skipper of GBR Challenge in Auckland in 2002, insisted Percy's departure would be "no disaster for the team".

Another of Britain's top sailors, Ben Ainslie, had, like Percy, been linked with Team New Zealand since he sailed with Dean Barker last October but may now similarly opt for an Italian job.

According to the Scuttlebutt of the day GBR Challenge has signed a Design Software Technology Partnership with UGS PLM Solutions.

UGS PLM will also be the exclusive provider of product lifecycle management products and services to provide planning and race configuration data for the British-based team.

This "exclusive deal" is a little bit surprising considering that EDS announced in July that "K-Challenge will use its software solutions to design and develop its watercraft to meet its aggressive competitive goals".

Irishman Gordon Moultrie, the newly appointed team principal, affirmed on Thursday the team's commitment to turn the campaign into a four-year sporting business with Formula One-style sponsorship deals.

With 15 years' experience in the information technology industry and organisational expertise honed in the EDS Atlantic Challenge, he takes the helm at a time when GBR's team building and sponsorship negotiations are well under way.

Moultrie said he intended the British challenge, strongly supported by Harrison, to further popularise the sport, and to pull in more sponsors for the full four years of preparation and racing, along the lines of Formula One sponsorship packages.

Arrangements were already "far beyond" the stage they were at a year before the last campaign started.

"Sailing is where Formula One was ten to fifteen years ago", Moultrie said. "We are putting in place a much broader group of commercial business sponsors than before, as sailing is no longer confined to wealthy individuals."

"We want to have in place six to ten core sponsors across all levels of commitment who will work closely with us and each other. We will offer promotion and corporate hospitality second to none."

The Cowes-based team with four boats will start its sailing programme in June in readiness for the preliminary regattas in Marseilles and Valencia in the autumn. An interim sailing base has been hired at Valencia's Real Club Nautico for Mediterranean training and trials.

Technical specialists leaded by technical coordinator Derek Clark have successfully completed a second phase of tank testing on the modified hull of the GBR70 while others work on the rig developments, sails and hardware systems.

About a third of the team of about 96 has been recruited. It will include ex-Prada men Andy Hemmings, a sails specialist, and Will Brooks, a structural engineer.

With the world's best sailors preparing for the Athens Olympics, Iain Percy, an Olympic gold medalist, is joining GBR for the first time. GBR is also involved in discussions with former skipper Ian Walker and Ben Ainslie, another Olympian.

Tecnical partnerships concerned include Wolson, QinetiQ and Insensys.

"The new race structure favours all teams", Moultrie said. "There will be more exciting racing, more spectator opportunities and more time for testing. "

The GBR (America's Cup) Challenge confirmed that they have reserved space at the Real Club Nautica Valencia and have appointed Michael ten Bokum to manage logistics on behalf of GBR Challenge in Spain.

The team is working closely with Real Club Nautica to progress the development of the site and are currently finalizing layout plans and aim to have a presence in Valencia from this summer onwards.

The GBR Challenge shore crew will arrive in Spain next Tuesday in order to prepare the first step of training in Valencia.

The Real Club Nautico de Valencia will accomodate five syndicate in the former Desafio Español base for the Louis Vuitton Cup 2000.