AMERICA’S CUP: Ben Ainslie Racing, the British Challenger for the 35th America’s Cup, announced its new global partnership with Land Rover this morning.

As Title and Exclusive Innovation Partner, Jaguar Land Rover’s engineers and designers will work closely with the team to provide race winning technology.

The new team, renamed Land Rover BAR, was announced at the team’s new 74,000sqft purpose built, sustainable (BREEAM Excellent) home in Portsmouth, UK, just days after the facility became fully operational.

Jaguar Land Rover’s Advanced Engineering Team has already started work on a number of design challenges where they can contribute their unique knowledge.

The British automotive manufacturer will become a core member of the team’s Technical Innovation Group (TIG), powered by PA Consulting.

The TIG will bring together the best of British design, technology and innovation to contribute to this unique technical and sporting challenge, with the ultimate aim of bringing the Cup home.

The America’s Cup is the oldest international trophy in sport. It started here, and Britain has never won it.

Mark Cameron, Jaguar Land Rover Global Experiential Marketing Director said: “At Land Rover we have a long history in sailing.

“This incredible partnership with BAR has given us the opportunity to showcase our world class expertise in advanced engineering and innovative technologies which lie at the heart of everything Land Rover does.

“Yes, we make cars, but we will make a real difference to the performance of the Land Rover BAR team and we will help create the fastest boat possible in the hope of bringing the America’s Cup to the UK for the first time.”

Ben Ainslie, Team Principal of Land Rover BAR said: “We are delighted to have Land Rover as our Title and Exclusive Innovation Partner.

“A great British brand, but also a fantastic engineering and technology company that will work hand in hand with our design and engineering team, and our Technical Innovation Group.

“Together we will develop race winning technology for our America’s Cup Class boat.”

Land Rover BAR will start its challenge – representing Royal Yacht Squadron Racing – for the America’s Cup at home in Portsmouth in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Portsmouth, in a month’s time.

Over 90,000 tickets have already been sold for the four days, 23rd to the 26th July 2015.

The last few tickets are still available to come and support Land Rover BAR as they start racing for the 35th America’s Cup.

via Boating Business – Land Rover BAR will ‘bring the cup home’.

If you think Ian Walker has reason to celebrate after beating six other skippers to win the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15, then imagine how Patrick Babin feels right now – he defeated more than 200,000 rivals to win the official virtual game version of the nine-month marathon (full story below).

– Parisian Patrick is Virtual Regatta champion

– IWC timepiece is reward for hours of dedication

ALICANTE, Spain, July 7 – If you think Ian Walker has reason to celebrate after beating six other skippers to win the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15, then imagine how Patrick Babin feels right now – he defeated more than 200,000 rivals to win the official virtual game version of the nine-month marathon.

Patrick’s prize for his success, which like Walker’s demanded huge dedication from October to June, is an IWC Portuguese Yacht Club Chronograph Ocean Racer timepiece worth €12,500.

The Parisian put himself in pole position to win the Virtual Regatta race after clinching Leg 7, but was not able to relax until the finish line in Gothenburg, just like the real racers at the end of last month.

“The guy in second place was hot on my heels when we left Lorient and I had to control him,” he said. “The race wasn’t won yet. I managed to finish the last leg in third place so it ended well.”

It certainly was not all plain sailing through all nine legs, though.

“I was 238th in one of the long legs early on,” he said. “These legs were the same challenge for the game players as they were for the sailors – except that there were many, many rivals for us.

“That makes for a lot more possibilities in the longer legs where all options are explored. It’s harder to win then.”

So what motivated Patrick, a former national dinghy champion, to devote hour after hour to the Game?

“We’ve just virtually sailed around the world. How rare is that! And I really enjoyed the international side of it – that doesn’t exist in French virtual races,” he said.

“I’ve received a lot of messages in English; it was great seeing so many people playing around the world. I took the time to answer all of my messages. I do hope to play again in two years’ time.”

Jon Bramley, news and media director for the Volvo Ocean Race, said: “Our sincere congratulations go to Patrick and all the players of the game for the 12th edition.

“The dedication and expertise needed to win the virtual race over nine months is incredible – lose your focus for a few hours and all your hopes can disappear.”

Philippe Guigné, president and founder of Virtual Regatta, added: “I want to thank in particular all the Volvo Ocean Race team who participated in the success in the Virtual Game and who made it possible for our virtual sailors to get inside the skins of the Volvo skippers over nine months around the world.”

via I beat more than 200,000 to win Virtual Game| Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015.