News Release

Yanmar Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Osaka City; President: Takehito Yamaoka) has been selected as the OFFICIAL TOP MARINE PARTNER for the Louis Vuitton AMERICA’S CUP World Series Fukuoka, a qualifying event for the 35th AMERICA’S CUP finals scheduled to be held in June 2017.
The Fukuoka competition* will be held from November 18, 2016 to November 20, 2016 in Jigyohama, Chuo Ward, Fukuoka City, and will be the first time, since its inception in 1851, that the America's Cup will be held in Asia.

Yanmar served as a technical partner for Oracle Team USA which won successive victories in the 33rd AMERICA’S CUP (2010) and 34th AMERICA’S CUP (2013). Since the 34th AMERICA’S CUP, Yanmar has provided marine engines (8LV diesel engines) and drive systems (ZT drive systems) for the chase boats which have become essential for team victory.

The chase boats not only continuously follow the developments of the races, which can exceed speeds 40 knots (74.1 km / h), and provide the team race boats with reliable support, but also provide the team race boats with continuous support during training and collect and analyze data need for the races, making them an essential tool for improving the performance of any team aiming for victory. Yanmar diesel engines and drive systems are highly trusted by the team crews for their speed, power, and durability which allow them to withstand even the roughest conditions.

Yanmar has continuously supported the livelihoods of those whose lives and work revolve around the ocean by providing highly reliable marine diesel engines and boats for the seas of Japan and the rest of the world. In recent years the company has also worked to further enjoyment of the sea and the pleasure that people gain on the ocean by sponsoring various marine sports and events. Hoping to further convey this pleasure to an even greater number of people, Yanmar has decided to serve as the OFFICIAL TOP MARINE PARTNER for this AMERICA’S CUP, which will be the first to be held in Asia.

By sponsoring the AMERICA’S CUP, Yanmar hopes to contribute to the further development of marine sports culture, as well as to the realization of its brand statement of "A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE" and the development of "a society that provides exciting experiences that are both spiritually rich and emotional".

• Official event website

*Sponsors: Organizing committee of Louis Vuitton AMERICA’S CUP World Series Fukuoka

＜Reference Materials: The AMERICA’S CUP＞

The AMERICA’S CUP is the world's premiere international yacht race which began with the participation of an American team in a yacht race held as part of the Great Exhibition world's fair held in London in 1851, with American team winning the race and taking the trophy cup back to the United States with them. The "AMERICA’S CUP" trophy which has been continually issued to the winning teams of the AMERICA’S CUP competitions is said to be the oldest, continually in use sports championship cup in the world.
In the Louis Vuitton AMERICA’S CUP World Series, teams from all over the world compete in simultaneous races over 2 years in various countries throughout the world, with the final single winning team to compete one-on-one again the previous AMERICA’S CUP champions Oracle Team USA in the final round (to be held in the British Overseas Territory of Berumuda) of this 35th AMERICA’S CUP in 2017.
Five qualifying events have already been held in various countries all over the world for this series. The 6th Chicago competition (United States) was held from June 10 to 12, 7th Portsmouth (Great Britain) competition from July 22 to 24, and the 8th Toulon (France) competition from September 9 to 11.
Oracle Team USA are the defending champions who have maintained control of the cup in the 2010 and 2013 AMERICA’S CUP events. Yanmar competed side-by-side in the races with this world's strongest team as a technical partner in the previous (2013) 34th AMERICA’S CUP. In this Fukuoka competition, Yanmar will be participating as not just a team partner, but as the top partner for the Fukuoka competition to bring this exciting AMERICA’S CUP opportunity to Japan.
We hope you look forward to the showdown between the defending champions Oracle Team USA and our own home team Softank Team JAPAN.

＜About Yanmar＞

With beginnings in Osaka, Japan in 1912, Yanmar was the first ever to succeed in making a compact diesel engine of a practical size in 1933. Moving on, with industrial diesel engines as the cornerstone of the enterprise, Yanmar has continued to expand its product range, services, and expertise to deliver total solutions as an industrial equipment manufacturer. As a provider of small and large engines, agricultural machinerys and facilities, construction equipment, energy systems, marine, machine tools, and components — Yanmar’s global business operations span seven domains.
On land, at sea, and in the city, Yanmar’s Mission of “providing sustainable solutions focused on the challenges customers face, in food production and harnessing power, thereby enriching people’s lives for all our tomorrows,” stands testament to Yanmar’s determination to providing us with “A Sustainable Future.” For more information, visit Yanmar Co., Ltd. at its global website at https://www.yanmar.com/global/about/.