(23
August 2006, Valencia) He has been strategist in every race that Victory
Challenge has sailed in the pre-regattas of the 32nd America’s Cup.
Now he
is changing his position on the boat.
Mattias Rahm, 33, with four World Championship medals to his credit, will be
second helmsman when Victory Challenge begins the two-boat training.
“Mattias has a great deal of match racing experience from the world match
racing tour, both together with me and as skipper. We have now tested him as
helmsman on our America’s Cup boats over the last few weeks and he has
proved, especially in the training matches against the other teams, that he
has the qualities that are necessary to take the helm of these larger yachts
as well,” says Magnus Holmberg, skipper and helmsman.
“It
is a challenge that it’s hard to say no to; it is the ultimate job for a
sailor, to take the helm of an America’s Cup boat. I will have good use of
my match racing experience and my time as strategist, and I hope I won’t
disappoint anyone,” says Mattias Rahm.
He is
the younger brother of Victory Challenge’s tactician, Stefan Rahm, 38, and
joined the team when training for the 32nd America’s Cup began in Valencia
in May 2005.
As
on-board strategist in every match and in every fleet race that has been
sailed since then, he has been in contact with the weather team before the
race, checked shifts in the wind while they sail and looked for the optimal
sailing without considering competitors.
As
helmsman he will be responsible for how the boat is sailed.
Mattias Rahm has a fine list of merits. His four World Championship medals
consist of gold in E-dinghy, as well as silver and bronze in 470. He has
also won a European Championships gold in 470 and took part in the Sydney
Olympics in 2000. Since then he has concentrated on match racing.