Yachting: Team NZ hauls Spanish brewery aboard

Spanish brewery Estrella Damm has joined Emirates Airlines as the major backers for Team New Zealand's 2007 America's Cup campaign.

Estrella Damm is the last major sponsor for the team, Team New Zealand's managing director Grant Dalton said today.

"We welcome to the team a respected, high-profile, innovative Spanish company with a proud tradition and an ethos that fits well with the team. We will carry the Estrella Damm logo proudly into the Louis Vuitton Act 4 regatta which starts on Thursday (Friday NZT).

"While funding is not complete, the team can now confidently set about the serious business at hand -- winning the America's Cup.

"That is a daunting task. We know only too well that we face some very professional, well prepared opposition and that we cannot leave anything to chance."

Dalton said the team already had a strong Spanish connection through principal designer Marcelino Botin.

He said that over coming months, the team would have a more visible presence in Valencia with work starting on the team's permanent base next month.

Team New Zealand will compete in the three Louis Vuitton Acts (warm-up regattas) at Valencia starting in a few days, Malmo, Sweden in August and Trapani, Sicily, in September-October.

- NZPA