Sailing Legend Jochen Schuemann Skipper of the First European Sports Team

GORIZIA, Italy, May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- The Most Victorious GERMAN Sailor of all Time Takes Over as Skipper of the Maxi Yacht Champion Esimit Europa 2 - After Vila (ES) and Schuemann (DE) one More European Sailing Star is to Join the Already International Crew

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20110905/452758 )

The most successful German sailor of all time, Jochen Schuemann, confirmed his presence as skipper of Esimit Europa 2, the only yacht in the world to sail under the European flag. Schuemann, two times America's Cup winner and three times Olympic champion, holds several world and European titles in different sailing classes.

About getting involved in a project which is promoting better understanding among European peoples, Schuemann stated: "It is obviously a great honour for me to join this European team. Europe is one of the wealthiest and most developed continents in the world, even though it is also one of the smaller ones. I think that the single European nations are too small if we want to remain competitive in the global development of mankind. Since we are physically living on the same continent, the most logical thing is that Europeans cooperate to achieve a better future. And that's why we need one boat. Sailing has always been uniting peoples and continents", he asserted.

"It is a great pleasure to announce the beginning of such a significant cooperation on Europe's day. It has a special meaning for us", Igor Simcic, the owner of the yacht, stated. "Jochen Schuemann is not only one of the world's most outstanding sailors. He is a very noble man, who dedicated his life to sailing as a means of bringing peoples closer to each other. I am genuinely convinced that, with one more acquisition, this team can become history. The Esimit Europa 2 crew will be a living example to all Europeans of what we can achieve if we truly join our forces".

Esimit Europa 2 is one of the fastest and technologically most advanced sailing yachts in the world. The 30-meters long maxi sails under the patronage of Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, and is sponsored by Gazprom. In its first season in 2010, the yacht won all the attended regattas, providing many occasions for Europeans to cheer for their continent and to see the European flag climb upon the highest step of the podium.

    Contact:

    Public Relations Manager
    Esimit Evolution s.r.l.
    Corso Italia 226/228
    34170 Gorizia, Italy
    Tel: +39-366-675-90-92

    Website: http://www.esimit.com

SOURCE Esimit Europa Limited