As previously revealed in BYM News, Shosholoza has officially announced the appointment of Alex Simonis of Simonis Voogd Design.

Shosholoza managing director Captain Salvatore Sarno said well-known Cape Town based naval architect has signed with the team for the second South African America’s Cup challenge. He will head a largely South African team of designers and hopes to utilise specialists from the previous challenge.

The official announcement of Simonis' appointment co-incides with the announcement by ACM of a new bigger, faster and more demanding 90 foot yacht, the AC90.

"It will be a giant of a racing boat", said designer Alex Simonis. "Everything about it is extreme and that’s what will make it so exciting for both sailors and spectators!".

Shosholoza's new 90 footer will be designed and built in Cape Town. A boat yard will be set up in January next year (2008)and building will start in March. The completion date is set for September. The yacht will be launched in Cape Town in October 2008 with sea trials starting in Table Bay immediately after. The yacht will be re-launched in February 2009 in Valencia, ahead of the start of racing in April 2009.

"I don’t think there is anything out there anything like it at the moment,” said Simonis, adding he had been in constant contact with Nycola Sironi, an Italian engineer and International Sailing Federation measurer, who represented Team Shosholoza at the consultation meetings in Valencia. They scrutinised every step of the rules as they developed.

"It’s a bit like the star wars programme", said Simonis. "We are going where no one has been before, but we have had experience of designing a boat of this magnitude and although we will be squeezing two years design work into five months we are looking forward to the challenge".

Simonis is best known for his 90 footer “Nicorette” which won line honours in the 2004 Sydney-Hobart race three weeks after her launching. His first “Nicorette”, an 80 footer, won the 2000 Sydney-Hobart on line honours and handicap. The Simonis 70 footer “Broomstick” was the first IMS rated maxi to be launched world-wide and won the trans-Atlantic Cape to Rio race in record time only five weeks after launching.

Simonis Voogd Design has received numerous international awards for “best boat of the year” and designed countless winning South African racing yachts. They are also the new designers for the full range of yachts produced by the well known European boatyard Dehler.

Captain Sarno said he was proud to announce the appointment of Simonis.

"I’ve known Alex for the 20 years I’ve lived in South Africa and always admired and tried to beat his yachts. He is a very passionate man like me and this is the main reason I am convinced that together we can do something very good.”"

Sarno said Team Shosholoza would re-group next month (December) in Cape Town when he would call a meeting for all sailing, build, design and shore crew. 

Captain Sarno said he hoped to retain the core Shosholoza crew from the last campaign, 85 percent of whom were South Africans, plus employ the best local sailors for the remaining places. A professional coach will be hired to manage the team and enhance performance. The team will also continue to draw on the expertise of match race helmsman Paolo Cian, currently rated third on world rankings and the multiple America's Cup experience of Tomasso Chieffi as tactician.

Shosholoza strategist Ian Ainslie and crew Solomon Dipeere and Golden Mgedeza had also gained further experience by competing on the World Match Race circuit during the European summer.

Captain Sarno said MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) South Africa would continue to support Team Shosholoza. T-Systems, the team’s chief sponsor from the previous campaign has been given an option to renew their sponsorship.