The Team Australia Challenge America’s Cup 2024 campaign announced a Naming Rights partnership with Andoo, leading online destination for the entire home and home of feel-good living, to present Andoo Team Australia for the Unicredit Youth and Puig Women’s America’s Cup regattas in Barcelona starting in September.
Andoo Team Australia is the latest high performance sailing team to carry the Andoo moniker, following the record setting supermaxi Andoo Comanche, achieving many sailing successes including line honours in the 2022 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race and the Andoo 18ft Skiff Racing Team’s campaigns in the JJ Giltinan World Titles.
Team Australia Chair Annick Donat welcomed the sponsorship to boost the campaign in its final preparations to challenge in the 12 nation competitions only weeks away. “Andoo brings an impressive history of high performance sailing which will enhance our campaign immensely. They are big supporters of our sailors and we look forward to a strong and rewarding partnership experience.” she said.
John Winning, Patron of the Andoo Team Australia challenge & CEO of Winning Group and Founder of Andoo, said his passion for sailing and for creating exceptional experiences combine under this campaign to reach a global footprint in the most prestigious sailing event in the world.
“The America’s Cup is the Everest of sailing and putting Australia back in the fray for a new generation and for women in particular, is incredibly exciting and something we want to be part of. This sponsorship supports a significant step back into the America’s Cup for Australia after decades of absence. Australia is the nation that broke the longest sporting winning streak in the world when John Bertrand led the Australia II team to win the Auld Mug off the American’s.
“Performance and feel-good experiences are synonymous with everything that we stand for at Andoo. Andoo’s unique feel-good shopping experiences for Australian and Kiwi customers includes free next-day delivery, free removal of old products and 24/7 locally-based support”.
John Bertrand, AO, is a fellow patron for the new campaign and points to the technological innovation that was a hallmark of the Cup since his team’s winged keel revolution in 1983.
“The boats of today’s America’s Cup are unrecognisable in their speed and foiling capability. This new technology in the incredible AC40 is a key factor to bring Women into Cup competition for the first time,” Bertrand said.
The 2024 America’s Cup in Barcelona will run the Unicredit Youth America’s Cup competition in September followed by an historic first ever all female Puig Women’s regatta in October.
Winning said the opportunity created by the America’s Cup for women and youth was a true pathway to the future engagement of nations by elevating skills and interest in this great competition. “Everyone is super excited about this 12-nation competition. It will be fast, furious and thrilling and we want our brand to be right in the centre of that”.
“I have very high hopes for our team – they have been training exceedingly hard in the AC40 simulator, and on water in foiling craft like the WASZP – but getting on the water in August in Barcelona to train on the actual yachts will be a terrific opportunity to drill our team skills,” he said.
America’s Cup Regatta Director and legendary Australian sailor Iain Murray AM said this was a watershed moment in the race’s history to introduce women and youth at the elite level and an opportunity for Australia to re-engage with the sports pinnacle event.