China Team
Encyclopedia
China Team is a yacht racing
team formed in 2005. China Team first appeared in competition in the Louis Vuitton Cup 2007, the challenger series held prior to the America's Cup
. They had an alliance with French
team, Le Défi
, increasing their access to craft and knowledge considerably.
In 2008, the team announced World Match Racing Champion Ian Williams
as the new skipper and a majority of the French team has been replaced with a fresh group of sailors from five different countries.
They competed in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series
in 2009 and will compete in the 2013 America's Cup.
The China Team's most significant win in the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2007 came with a surprise showing against America's Cup powerhouse BMW/Oracle. It would be China Teams first and only victory of the competition.
Under the direction of the new management team, Executive Director Stuart James, Principle Ian Stewart and Skipper Ian Williams
, entered the program into the 2009 Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. Expectations were low considering the team's poor results from the 2007 LV Cup and that the newly formed team entered the regatta with virtually no practice time.
After losing all four races in the first round robin, the team found their legs in the second round, winning all three of its races and moving into the elimination round against Italy's Luna Rossa. A victory against Luna Ross would have set up a rematch from the 2007 LV Cup between China Team and BMW/Oracle.
Ian Williams managed to force the Italians into an early penalty prior to the start, but Luna Rossa led at the gun and through the first three marks. Luna Rossa was out in front by 135 meters when they started their penalty turn at the finish line. China Team quickly made up ground and the boats crossed the line side by side. The officials declared Luna Rossa the winner by one second or twenty centimeters.
China Team would finish the regatta in seventh place.
Mal Parker – Downwind Trimmer
Sean Couvreaux – Bow
Andy Fethers – Mid-Bow
Tom Burham – Pit
Mikkel Rossberg – Upwind Trimmer
Sean Clarkson – Main Trimmer
Ed Smythe – Traveler
Wang Jue - Forward Grind
Chris Main – Strategist
Mark Nichols – Pit/Runner
Richard Sydenham – Tactician
Simon Shaw – Navigator
Wearn Tan - Mast
Ian Gordon - Forward Grind
Matt Stewart - Aft Grind
Yacht racing
Yacht racing is the sport of competitive yachting.While sailing groups organize the most active and popular competitive yachting, other boating events are also held world-wide: speed motorboat racing; competitive canoeing, kayaking, and rowing; model yachting; and navigational contests Yacht racing...
team formed in 2005. China Team first appeared in competition in the Louis Vuitton Cup 2007, the challenger series held prior to the America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
. They had an alliance with French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
team, Le Défi
LE DEFI
Le Défi was a French America's Cup team that competed in the 1992, 1995, 2000 and 2003 Louis Vuitton Cups and in the first few Acts of the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup. After 2005 Le Défi supported China Team.-History:...
, increasing their access to craft and knowledge considerably.
In 2008, the team announced World Match Racing Champion Ian Williams
Ian Williams
Ian Williams is an American rock guitarist. He became noted for his finger tapping guitar playing in bands such as Don Caballero, Storm & Stress and currently in Battles.-Biography:...
as the new skipper and a majority of the French team has been replaced with a fresh group of sailors from five different countries.
They competed in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series
Louis Vuitton Pacific Series
The Louis Vuitton Pacific Series was a match race regatta in America's Cup Class yachts in Auckland, New Zealand during January and February 2009. Racing started on 30 January. The Louis Vuitton Pacific Series was organised in association with the New Zealand Government, Emirates Team New Zealand,...
in 2009 and will compete in the 2013 America's Cup.
Team Profile
Headed by Chaoyong Wang, the China Team are in the process of rebuilding their program and have made numerous changes since America's Cup 32. Stuart James was originally brought in as Chief Marketing Officer, but has since been promoted to Executive Director. The team has added World Match Racing Champion Ian Williams as skipper and replaced most of the French Squad with a multinational contingent representing five countries and numerous America's Cups. The team still features five Chinese sailors with several more working their way through a development program.The China Team's most significant win in the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2007 came with a surprise showing against America's Cup powerhouse BMW/Oracle. It would be China Teams first and only victory of the competition.
Under the direction of the new management team, Executive Director Stuart James, Principle Ian Stewart and Skipper Ian Williams
Ian Williams
Ian Williams is an American rock guitarist. He became noted for his finger tapping guitar playing in bands such as Don Caballero, Storm & Stress and currently in Battles.-Biography:...
, entered the program into the 2009 Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. Expectations were low considering the team's poor results from the 2007 LV Cup and that the newly formed team entered the regatta with virtually no practice time.
After losing all four races in the first round robin, the team found their legs in the second round, winning all three of its races and moving into the elimination round against Italy's Luna Rossa. A victory against Luna Ross would have set up a rematch from the 2007 LV Cup between China Team and BMW/Oracle.
Ian Williams managed to force the Italians into an early penalty prior to the start, but Luna Rossa led at the gun and through the first three marks. Luna Rossa was out in front by 135 meters when they started their penalty turn at the finish line. China Team quickly made up ground and the boats crossed the line side by side. The officials declared Luna Rossa the winner by one second or twenty centimeters.
China Team would finish the regatta in seventh place.
2009 Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Roster
Jim Turner – Mid GrindMal Parker – Downwind Trimmer
Sean Couvreaux – Bow
Andy Fethers – Mid-Bow
Tom Burham – Pit
Mikkel Rossberg – Upwind Trimmer
Sean Clarkson – Main Trimmer
Ed Smythe – Traveler
Wang Jue - Forward Grind
Chris Main – Strategist
Mark Nichols – Pit/Runner
Richard Sydenham – Tactician
Simon Shaw – Navigator
Wearn Tan - Mast
Ian Gordon - Forward Grind
Matt Stewart - Aft Grind