CHINA TEAM, the history of the first Chinese syndicate
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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.
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 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.