News Release

ORACLE TEAM USA and YANMAR are renewing their partnership for the upcoming edition of the AMERICA’S CUP, the competition for the oldest trophy in international sports.

In its capacity as an Official Technical Partner, YANMAR will power the team’s campaign for the 35^th AMERICA’S CUP, hosted in Bermuda, where the crew will defend their title in 2017.

This represents a renewed partnership between two leaders in their respective fields, continuing a successful collaboration during the 34^th edition of the AMERICA’S CUP held in 2013 when the team celebrated its victory over Emirates Team New Zealand after a dramatic three weeks of racing that resulted in one of the all-time greatest comebacks in sports history.

YANMAR has a wealth of experience in delivering technologically sophisticated marine engines, drive systems and products and service of unparalleled performance and quality. YANMAR will pursue the highest levels of technological excellence towards assisting the crew in their pursuit of victory in the 2017 finals.

The company will provide 8LV inboard marine diesel engines and ZT sterndrive systems for the team’s two 46-foot chase boats, renamed “Chase Boat YANMAR 1” and “Chase Boat YANMAR 2” respectively. Not limited to towing, the boats play the essential role of tracking race progress, gathering and analyzing data on the crew’s daily performance and being ready to provide support. A dependable partner during training at the team’s base in Bermuda, the boats will assist the crew all the way through to the final battle of 2017. 

“YANMAR is critical for ORACLE TEAM USA,” said skipper Jimmy Spithill. “The race boats are so fast now that the only way we can have our chase boats stay close enough to support us is to have them powered by the right engines. The chase boats help us gather and analyze data on the performance of the race boats. The durability and reliability of the YANMAR engines allow us to go into the race with confidence. We are going for our third straight victory with YANMAR”.

As a partner of the team, YANMAR’s distinctive logo will be displayed on the race and chase boats, as well as uniforms and a variety of promotional material.

“It is a great honor for all of us at YANMAR to partner with ORACLE TEAM USA for the second time,” said Ken Araki, Officer of YANMAR Holdings Co., Ltd. “Being selected by the world’s leading racing team is proof of the durability and reliability of our engines. From the preliminary stages of the Louis Vuitton AMERICA’S CUP World Series to the 2017 AMERICA’S CUP finals, YANMAR will stand by the team; we are looking forward to working together towards a triumph in the AMERICA’S CUP.”

YANMAR will increase its brand exposure through association with the world’s leading racing team, further building a premium brand as a provider of superior technologies and products, while joining the crew on their path to a third consecutive victory in the AMERICA’S CUP. 

About ORACLE TEAM USA:

ORACLE TEAM USA has won the last two AMERICA’S CUP events, including a historic come-from-behind victory in September 2013. The team has now relocated to Bermuda where it is preparing for a ‘three-peat’ third consecutive victory. ORACLE TEAM USA is led on the water by skipper and helmsman Jimmy Spithill, the youngest skipper to claim victory in AMERICA’S CUP history. The team was founded by Larry Ellison in 2000 and first won the AMERICA’S CUP in 2010.

The 35^th AMERICA’S CUP:

The AMERICA’S CUP is the world's premiere international yacht race where clubs from around the world compete to be the world's best. It's also a stage where each team challenges with innovative boat design and technology, as well as advanced technical ability in fluid dynamics and meteorology and cutting edge engine technology.

Beginning in 1851, the AMERICA’S CUP predates the modern Olympic Games by 45 years, soccer's World Cup by 79 years and golf's Open Championship by 9 years, making the well-known trophy the oldest sporting prize still awarded in modern times.

Date: June, 2017

Location: Bermuda

Race format: One-on-one match racing

Defending champion: ORACLE TEAM USA

Challenger: Three of five competing teams will qualify for the Louis Vuitton Cup scheduled for April 2017 in the July 2015-October 2016 AMERICA’S CUP World Series race