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New Zealand Clothing Company Joins illbruck Challenge

by Jane Eagleson 26 Jun 2001 18:19 BST

The New Zealand based clothing brand, Line 7, has signed an agreement with the illbruck Challenge to become its clothing supplier for the Volvo Ocean Race and America's Cup 2003. illbruck Challenge and Line 7 announced the relationship jointly today at a press conference during the Kieler Woche international regatta.

A well known name in the sailing community worldwide, the agreement signals Line 7's first-ever official endorsement of a high-profile European sailing team.

"We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with the illbruck Challenge," said Line 7's International Markets Manager, Gavin Brown. "The Illbruck name has a fantastic reputation worldwide. We are really excited by the determination and professionalism of the team," Brown said. The agreement also gives Line 7 responsibility for selling official illbruck Challenge merchandise worldwide and it will operate a supporters store located at the team's America's Cup base in Auckland.

Gill will continue in its role as technical clothing supplier to the illbruck Challenge, outfitting the team with technical gear for both the Volvo Ocean Race and America's Cup 2003.

"The illbruck Challenge is fortunate to have two world-class clothing partners in Line 7 and Gill," said Glenn Bourke, illbruck Challenge Chief Executive Officer in announcing the Line 7 relationship. "The team has worked with Gill for two years in developing custom technical gear and now we can broaden our range of team clothing that is available not only to crew but to illbruck supporters at retail. The retail clothing arrangement with Line 7 allows our team to focus on delivering strong performances at the world's pinnacle sailing events while the clothing experts provide the team with quality gear and a retail program that has a proven track record."

Line 7 has been a clothing partner of America's Cup defenders, Team New Zealand, since 1994 and is the official supplier to America's Cup 2003. It is the only clothing label to have been worn by five winners of the America's Cup.

The name "Line 7" refers to an old New Zealand superstition about the luck line on a sea captain's hand.

"The team's decision to be the first to participate in both the Volvo and the America's Cup was a major factor in our decision," Brown said. "Both of these events enjoy huge popularity in our key markets in Europe and, of course, New Zealand and Australia. We have brought luck to a few teams over the years and we hope this tradition will continue with the illbruck Challenge."

The illbruck Challenge is a competitive international sailing program that over the past 30 years has earned success at many of the world's top regattas. The illbruck Challenge is now pursuing the world's two pinnacle sailing events: the Volvo Ocean Race, the world's premier ocean race, and the America's Cup, the world's top match racing event. The illbruck Challenge is representing the Duesseldorf Yacht Club in Germany's first-ever Challenge for the America's Cup, the competition for the oldest international trophy in sport.

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