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www.china-team.org
CHINA TEAM is the first syndicate ever to carry the Chinese Flag in the
history of the America’s Cup. It was founded on the 8th of March 2005
by a group of Chinese businessmen led by Chaoyong Wang, President of
China Equity (one of the leading venture capital funds in China) in
association with the company Le DEFI, which brings its know how and
technical platform from two preceding French campaigns in the America's
Cup.
The syndicate represents the Qingdao International Yacht Club, hosting
yacht club for the sailing events of the 2008 Olympic Games, and marks
the entrance of China in the grand concert of the America’s Cup.
To create the first Chinese participation in the America’s Cup is an
immense challenge, which takes place in Europe, but also in China where
sailing is a new sport and in full development. The objective is to
promote the America's Cup and sailing in China as well as to scout out
and train talented sailors, which will allow constructing a
progressively stronger team.
In October 2006, Frank Pong, a central figure in Asian sailing, a
former Commodore of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and owner skipper of
one of the most beautiful racing sailboats in Asia, rejoined the China
Team as Honorary President.
The China Team ambassador is Xin Li, a Chinese model and actress and former basketball champion.
History and creation
2004: WANG ChaoYong and LI Yifei, president of MTV China and vice
president of Viacom Asia, were present in the first regattas of the
newest edition of the America’s Cup in Marseille, France. They returned
to China with the conviction that their country, in full economic
expansion, must participate in this competition and reconnect with
their ancient and prestigious maritime tradition.
In the early 15th century, under the leadership of Admiral ZHENG He,
China dominated the oceans. The junks of the “Treasury Fleet” measured
up to 120 meters long and constituted marvels of technology featuring
items such as ballasts and retractable appendages, which we would not
find on western sailing vessels until the end of the 19th century.
Fleets of more than 300 vessels carrying up to 27,000 sailors crossed
the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. It was the golden era for China on
the seas. The Ming dynasty was open to the ocean and the world. The
closing of the empire within itself was synonymous with its decline.
Today, with the return of China in the affaires of the world, it is a
question of pointing its bow into waters of the most prestigious
regatta in the world.
But the America’s Cup demands racing at the highest level with boats
prepared to the closest millimeter and expert crews founded on years
working together. Today, China is a novice in sports sailing: 600
graduates in sailing in 2004, without any experience on large boats,
among whom 200 constitute the high level group for the Olympic Games.
It is impossible to enter the Cup without abandoning an existing
sailing commitment.Telephone calls are made to the United States,
England, and France to find help in building a team. Between the
managers of Le Défi and Wang Chaoyong the electricity flows
immediately!
In December 2004 Xavier de LESQUEN, Pierre MAS and Luc GELLUSSEAU leave
for Pekin to meet with WANG Chaoyong. Objective: to seal an agreement
to mount together the first participation of China in the America's
Cup.
It would take two months to agree on the principles of the
collaboration. And the remaining formula put in place was not lacking
in originality: It is WANG Chaoyong who invests in a French company, Le
Defi, whose headquarters are based in Lorient, who then engage the
CHINA TEAM, the first team representing China in the America’s Cup! It
is CHINA TEAM by LE DEFI: relocation in reverse, in a way, because
Chinese funds allow a new team, primarily French in the beginning, to
be set in motion.
The goal of the China Team is to bring together young Chinese talent
and experienced Asian sportsmen to form a brand new team for the 32nd
America’s Cup.
La fédération chinoise de voile
The Chinese Yachting Association (CYA) is the official organization
which, under the authority of the Ministry of Sports (GAS) oversees
sailing in China. Its secretary general, LI Quanhai, director of
aquatic sports in GAS, was present during the first discussions
concerning creating CHINA TEAM and advancing the development of the
team. He is the one who oversaw introducing the first Chinese sailors
into the history of the Cup. So this is how ZHAO Fei, LIU Guangyi and
WANG Peirui, came to join the team in May 2005 and participated in the
six Louis Vuitton Acts of 2005.
In February 2006, CHINA TEAM and the Chinese yachting association
signed a partnership for the next two America’s Cups. Common objective:
organize the recruitment and selection of Chinese sailors in a
systematic way whilst developing sailing and its competition in China
for the next two editions.
Sailing camps in China
In 2006, the CHINA TEAM and the CYA organized Sailing Camps in China:
training sessions and recruiting took place with CHINA TEAM permanent
crew, who sailed with the young Chinese sailors in a match race format.
The best amongst them will have a chance to join CHINA TEAM.
The first Sailing Camp took place in March 2006 with 12 Chinese
sailors, then in Hong-Kong for training aboard Jelik and Boracay, 2
maxis made available by Franck Pong. 5 sailors joined the team in
Valencia for Acts 10 and 12.
The session in Shenzhen was followed by a sailing camp in Qingdao in September 2006 and another in Xiamen in November 2006.
In 2007, for Act 13 and Louis Vuitton Cup regattas, Chinese and Asiatic sailors make up of about a third of the sports team.
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