AC Team United Internet Team Germany

We had the chance to join the press conference of the German AC - challenger United Internet Team Germany held at Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee, VSaW, Berlin. The management of the Syndicate:

• Michael Scheeren - Head of Syndicate
• Eberhard Magg -Technical director
• Jesper Bank - skipper

have been so kind to answer our and other journalist questions about the team, their progress with the new yacht and their aims for the upcoming LVC and the AC in 2007.

At the end of the AC season 2006 what is your resume for UITG?

M.Scheeren:
We are very satisfied by the positive progress made by UITG. We made big improvements within the sailing team, we are working on a solid financial basis by our main sponsor and our new yacht GER-89 was let into the water two months ago. We have been prepared for the disapointing result of Act 12 because it is no surprise to finish at the end of the list when you go into the regatta with the oldest boat. But know we are looking forward to sail our new yacht and the first tests of GER-89 shows that the boat hits his design targets.

After the new yacht, GER-89, was presented to the german public we heard that there was some noise below deck during the frist structual tests. How serious was that problem and how did you fixed it? Just add some layers of carbon and epoxy resin and clue it together?

E Magg:
To fix that special problem it took just a stringe of epoxy and four rivets. Building a boat at that level is an art and it would be surprising if everything is perfect at the end.

GER-89 has arrived at the team base in Valencia at the July, 24th. When will you start with the sail test at the Mediterian?

E. Magg:
We splashed the boat for the first time on August, 8th, and have been very lucky with the weather. At the beginning of the tests we had light winds, ideal for testing hull and mast. Later we hoisted the main, next day the winds was stronger and we decided to hoist the genoa too. Yesterday we heeled the yacht up to 25 degrees, nothing broke and everything is within the estimated figures. It was really impressive to stay below the deck during the first tests and listen to the noises coming from the hull.

How different is the new boat from GER-72, the "Old Lady" which was build as ITA-72 by team Mascalzone Latino in 2002?

E. Magg:
GER-72 lost nearly 250 kg from the start of our AC campaign, was upgraded to V.5 of the class rules and got a millennium rig to stay competitive with the other teams. But the last AC-Act clearly showed that the new yachts beat our old warhorse every day without any problems. GER-89 is a great step ahead for our team. Most significant difference is a significant less width agains GER-72 but the yacht is much more stable and faster than the old one.

It seams that there is no revolutionary design idea like double rudder or twin keel on GER-89. The design looks conservative and reminds me to SUI-64 and SUI-75.

E.Magg:
The success of Alinghi showed that their yachts are fast within a large range of wind. Our design team and the sailing team worked out what kind of boat would be competetive against the other teams. The computer tests showed on basis of the physics of wind, water and dynamic movement the quality of a design similar to Alinghi.

Jasper Banks

Jasper Bank:
We spoke with the design team what kind of yacht I and the sailing team prefere for the AC. We had to decided between a design that will be very fast upwind or a design that tack fast and easy without losing to much boat speed. Because the disadvantages of the upwind runner I decided to go for the design that will give us the ability for fast maneuver during the match races.

Mr. Banks did you sailed the new yacht by now?

J. Bank:
No, I´ve been at Danemark for the Danish Match Race GP. Next week I will be back at Valencia and sail the yacht the first time. Eberhard told my that the team is very happy with the new boat.

What will happen with GER-72?

M. Scheeren:
After the end of our roadshow through Germany GER-72 will go to Valencia too. The yacht will be the sparring partner of GER-89 during the upcoming sail tests.

How much is it worth to test with the oldest yacht of the last AC-Act?

E.Magg:
GER-72 is improveded up to the end of her potential. We know the deltas of GER-72 against other boats like Alinghi, BMW Oracle and Emirates/NZ. As a example if GER-72 starts 2:30 minutes in front of GER-89 we know fast the new yacht is when both finish equal.

Why did UITG not build a second yacht for a serious 2 boat campaign?

M. Scheern:
Mr. Dommermuth, CEO of United Internet and main sponsor behind the campaign, asked us if we want to go and build a second yacht. But there is not much time left before the LV-Cup so we do not have the time and the men power to run a proper 2-boat-campaign at the moment.

L-R Marcus Schaps - Head of Communications, Michael Scheeren - Head of Syndicate, Eberhard Magg - Technial director

What is the aim for UITG in the Louis-Vuitton-Cup next year?

M. Scherren:
We said it before that our aim it to sail the semi-finals of the LV-Cup. Our campaign started late but we made great improvements since then. Our sailing team and our shore crew works better from Act to Act and now we can beat most teams when we sail with yachts of the same standard. The last Act was disappointing from our result but everyone who knows about the AC knows that you need more than great teamwork if you are sailing the oldest boat in the fleet.

J.Banks:
Last week at Kiel we sailed against BMW Oracle and Shosholoza the German Sailing GP. Both team used their old boats from which are same generation as GER-72 and we beat them. We finished second after we had to give up the match against BMW after the forestay broke on the way to the windward mark. But the crew handled that situation very well and was able to save the mast. That is a good example for the improvent of the team.

What was the reason for the broken forestay?

E.Magg:
I checked the forestay at our team-base at Valencia. I think that it was a material problem, no handling problem. The PBO part show signs of material fatigue. Normally we change the forestay after 250 hours of sailing, but this forestay broke after 160 hours.

Which other teams do you aspire to be competitive with in the semi-finals?

J.Banks:
The last AC-Act shows the domination of the Big Four: Alinghi, BMW Oracle, Emirates Team NZ and Luna Rossa followed by a group of strong teams with no significant leader. To me Victory Challenge, Desafio Espanol, Mascalzone Latino and +39 are the top team of that group. And we have to fight and beat these teams to make it into the semi-finals.

Will UITG stay in the AC after 2007?

M.Scheeren:
Untied Internet as our main sonsor is very satisfied how the brand developed in the past, i.e. they doubled their admittingness. We never planed that our campaign will be dead after 2007, we always keep the next event in 2011 in our mind. It would help our campaign a lot if the AC stays in Europe after Valencia.

08/28/06