Poland’s Karol Jablonski, the current ISAF Match Racing World champion (since 1999), confirmed that he had just signed up to skipper Italian's Toscana Challenge. He will come in Italy with his usual fellow board members.

"In the recent races, we regularly reach the final stages and defeated the America's Cup stars", he said. "Our third place in the Match Racing World Championship on lake Garda gave us a big credibility in Italy and accelerated our contact".

According to the Polish match racer, a €90 million budget is provided by four title sponsors and several Toscan companies which each paid 100,000 euros.

More, Karol Jablonski confirmed his new team had bought the two former Conner's Stars & Stripes and is in discussion with Terry Hutchinson and renowned designers Reichel/Pugh of San Diego, California.

"The idea is to build a team without 'big names' but who battle hard", Jablonski explained. "Gualtiero Pantani wants people who are still hungry, people with a great potential for success".

"For me and my fellow board members, it's an unique opportunity", he said. "we will have to work hard and fight to get good results".