Today, China Team announced that Russell Coutts, CEO of the current America’s Cup champions ORACLE Racing-Team USA as well as the most successful skipper in the 161 year history of the America’s Cup, will be present at the Hainan Rendez-Vous, held from 6 to 8 April, 2012 in Sanya, China.

Russell Coutts joins China Team in Sanya, China

The Olympic Gold medalist and four-time winning skipper will be a special guest of honor of China Team, the official and exclusive Chinese challenger for the 2013 America’s Cup in San Francisco, as well as VIP at the Hainan Rendez-Vous.  Coutts will speak to the invitation-only audience of the main gala dinner about the upcoming challenge in San Francisco for the oldest trophy in international sport, the America’s Cup and how a Chinese challenger is key to the event.

“A Chinese challenger for the 34th America’s Cup in San Francisco speaks to both the growth of the sport and the strength of the venue.  We are looking forward to China Team’s participation and the healthy competition it will bring,” said Russell Coutts.

China Team chairman, Mr. Wang Chaoyong is delighted to be the host for Russell Coutts in China, as China is a growing market for all things sailing (yachts and motorboats) and with more and more Chinese taking to the sea, China will very soon become an important country for water sports.

“China Team is developing its team of both international and Chinese sailors, and will be the only team to require a national crew mandate; we have committed that most sailors on China Team during  the America’s Cup will be Chinese, to reflect the growing interest that China is taking on this sport,” says Mr. Wang.

“Having Russell Coutts supporting China Team in our home country really shows how important China Team is to the America’s Cup. We value his support tremendously.”