Sunreef Yachts just partnered with E1 racing team owner Rafael Nadal last month. Now Azimut Yachts is backing rival Marc Anthony's team.
There appears to be a growing trend among high-end yacht builders to take sides with the burgeoning E1 racing circuit.
Last month Sunreef yachts partnered with Rafael Nadal, who owns 'Team Rafa', and now Azimut Yachts will put their backing behind fellow team owner Marc Anthony and 'Team Miami.'
The new E1 Series is in the midst of its inaugural season as it pushes to make headway into mainstream sports media. The series has already attracted massive investment from the likes of Anthony and Nadal, not to mention NFL legend Tom Brady, soccer superstar Didier Drogba, DJ and record producer Steve Aoki, F1 driver Sergio Perez, and more.
The race schedule takes a similar approach to F1 auto racing by visiting a major global waterfront city for each event. The series has stops in Jeddah, Venice, Puerto Banas, Geneva, Monaco, Rotterdam, and Hong Kong.
The race boats are called 'RaceBirds' and feature a unique hydrofoiling design paired with electric outboard motors. The RaceBird pilots go head-to-head in tight-turning heat races in order to advance to the final. Each of the nine teams features two pilots per team, one male and one female. The boats can reach speeds up to 57 mph.
The first three races in Saudi Arabia, Italy, and Spain are already complete and Azimut will come aboard with three races left to bolster Team Miami towards its first championship.
Robert Jakobi, CEO and co-founder of E1 Team Miami, said in a statement: "the partnership between Azimut Yachts and Team Miami is extremely exciting. Both brands are at the forefront of their industries, pushing the boundaries of technology, luxury, and environmental stewardship. With Azimut Yachts, we are not just elevating our brand presence globally, we are also emphasizing our commitment to sustainability. It reflects our vision for a greener future in marine sports and luxury yachting. We are excited to embark on this journey together, enhancing the race experience for our fans and introducing them to the unparalleled elegance and eco-consciousness of Azimut Yachts."
Jad Zakkak Migliorini, Azimut head of sales Europe and marketing director, also added: “The brand’s purpose of ‘dare to amaze’ pervades Azimut’s activities, and we believe that today, more than ever, the challenge is to combine a passion for performance, innovation, and glamorous technology with a commitment to sustainability. E1 does this in the greatest possible way, and we are thrilled to be Team Miami’s partner.”
Team Miami, helmed by Anthony and food entrepreneur Robert Jakobi, as well as pilots Anna Glennon and Erik Stark, won at the latest event in Puerto Banus, Spain and currently leads the championship standings.
The obvious overlap between E1 racing and recreational yachting will likely generate more overlap in the future. The E1 Series and high-end yacht makers are both investing heavily in eco-conscious directives and greener technologies for the future of boating. Given that each event is a waterfront spectacle in the most popular yachting locations around the world, yacht builders will likely take advantage of the marketplace to bring products for fans to experience.
Fans of Team Miami and Azimut can look forward to exclusive events and experiences at each of the remaining races.
The next event on the E1 schedule is in Monaco, Italy on July 27th and 28th. The RaceBirds will run their circuit right in front of the iconic marina along the Monaco waterfront. The feature race is scheduled for 4 pm CET on July 28th.
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