View source for China Team

{{Short description|Chinese yacht racing team}}
{{Infobox Sailing team
| shortname = China Team
| image =
| Fullname =  China Team
| club = {{yachtclub|Qingdao International Yacht Club}} 
| nat = {{CHN}}
| owner = Chaoyong Wang
| skip = Ian Williams
| year = 2005
| wins = 
| sailno1 = CHN–95
| boats1 = ''[[List of IACC yachts|CHN 95]]''
}}
'''China Team''' is a [[yacht racing]] team formed in 2005. China Team first appeared in competition in the [[Louis Vuitton Cup 2007]], the challenger series held prior to the [[America's Cup]]. They had an alliance with [[France|French]] team, [[LE DEFI|Le Défi]], increasing their access to craft and knowledge considerably.

In 2008, the team announced World Match Racing Champion [[Ian Williams (sailor)|Ian Williams]] as the new skipper and a majority of the French team has been replaced with a fresh group of sailors from five countries.

They competed in the [[Louis Vuitton Pacific Series]] in 2009 and will compete in the [[2013 America's Cup]].<ref>[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10715624&ref=rss China Team join America's Cup] ''New Zealand Herald'', 29 March 2011</ref>

==Team profile==
Headed by [[Chaoyong Wang]], the China Team are in the process of rebuilding their program and have made numerous changes since America's Cup 32. [[Stuart James]] was originally brought in as Chief Marketing Officer, but has since been promoted to Executive Director. The team has added World Match Racing Champion Ian Williams as skipper and replaced most of the French Squad with a multinational contingent representing five countries and numerous America's Cups. The team still features five Chinese sailors with several more working their way through a development program.

The China Team's most significant win in the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2007 came with a surprise showing against America's Cup powerhouse BMW/Oracle. It would be China Team's first and only victory of the competition.

Under the direction of the new management team, Executive Director [[Stuart James]], Principal [[Ian Charles Stewart]] and Skipper [[Ian Williams (sailor)|Ian Williams]], entered the program into the 2009 Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. Expectations were low considering the team's poor results from the 2007 LV Cup and that the newly formed team entered the regatta with virtually no practice time.

After losing all four races in the first round robin, the team found their legs in the second round, winning all three of its races and moving into the elimination round against Italy's Luna Rossa. A victory against Luna Rossa would have set up a rematch from the 2007 LV Cup between China Team and BMW/Oracle.

Ian Williams managed to force the Italians into an early penalty prior to the start, but Luna Rossa led at the gun and through the first three marks. Luna Rossa was out in front by 135 meters when they started their penalty turn at the finish line. China Team quickly made up ground and the boats crossed the line side by side. The officials declared Luna Rossa the winner by one second or twenty centimeters.

China Team would finish the regatta in seventh place.

==2009 Louis Vuitton Pacific Series roster==
Jim Turner – Mid Grind
Mal Parker – Downwind Trimmer
Sean Couvreaux – Bow
Andy Fethers – Mid-Bow
Tom Burham – Pit
Mikkel Rossberg – Upwind Trimmer
Sean Clarkson – Main Trimmer
Ed Smythe – Traveler
Wang Jue - Forward Grind
Chris Main – Strategist
Mark Nichols – Pit/Runner
Richard Sydenham – Tactician
Simon Shaw – Navigator
Wearn Tan - Mast
Ian Gordon - Forward Grind
Matt Stewart - Aft Grind

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081201181133/http://www.inchinasailing.com/ Official Website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070920174438/http://www.americascup.com/en/americascup/teams/index.php?idContent=13811 America's Cup profile page]

{{2013 America's Cup}}
{{LouisVuitton 2007}}

[[Category:America's Cup teams]]
[[Category:2005 establishments in China]]