Team NZ's challenge gains some German horsepower

By JULIE ASH

His round-the-world yacht was lime green, but German businessman Michael Illbruck won't mind if his America's Cup yacht GER68 is painted in good old black.

Illbruck has loaned to Team New Zealand, free, his yacht, which was built for the last cup but was never completed after his syndicate failed to raise enough money.

Designed by Michael Richelsen, who has recently joined Alinghi, and Friedrich Judel and Torsten Conradi from the firm Judel/Vrolijk, the hull has been lying in a boat yard in Germany for the past two years.

The yacht, which is similar in style to Alinghi and Oracle, is expected in July in Auckland, where it will be completed and sailed against the black boats.

"This is the first German America's Cup boat ever built; it is historic," Illbruck said in Auckland last week.

"The fact Team New Zealand are going to sail it is absolutely unbelievable."

Now a member of Team New Zealand, Illbruck doesn't have a specific role, but will contribute to the syndicate financially and will return to Auckland this year to see GER68 launched.

"The only wish I have is to sail on GER68. Even if I just sit and don't do anything ... I will be more than happy."

He also hopes his support will help Team New Zealand and their sponsors and raise the profile of the America's Cup in Germany.

"When you see the talent in Team New Zealand and when you see the chemistry, I am convinced that they have a very good chance of doing very well in the next cup.

"I always believe that you have to lose big time in order to win big time.

"In every loss there is a huge opportunity. People realise their strengths but they also realise their weaknesses and that makes them stronger."

Illbruck said the cup had almost become too much of a rich man's game.

"The sailing world is at the mercy of a few individuals. We have to bring sailing to more of a corporate sponsorship level."

Illbruck, who is the head of his family's international company, illbruck GmbH, which makes automotive and building products, was brought up around boats.

His father, Willi, started the family's passion for sailing and as a result the Illbruck name is now linked to a long line of racing yachts, all called Pinta.

Three of the 15 Pinta yachts were built at Auckland's Marten Yachts. Another performance cruiser is under construction.

The Illbrucks were among the first to set up professional racing teams employing sailors from throughout the world.

Russell Coutts and Don Cowie were two New Zealanders who sailed with Illbruck's father in the Admiral's Cup and One Ton Cup.

The family were also behind the Illbruck syndicate that won the 2001/02 round-the-world yacht race in which eight of the 12 crew where New Zealanders.

Although a keen sailor himself, Michael Illbruck did not sail on the green machine. "I wanted to sail from Miami to Baltimore but there was light wind so [illbruck skipper] John Kostecki said no, too much weight.

"But I would never go into the Southern Ocean," he said.

"I'd go to the South Island to ski but never to sail.

"I like to go out in the morning and come back at night."

Further reading: nzherald.co.nz/americascup