Emirates Team New Zealand and Spanish Brewery Estrella Damm have announced a sponsorship agreement for the team’s America’s Cup campaign.

Estrella Damm is the last major sponsorship deal for the team. As an elite sponsor, the Estrella Damm brand logo will appear on the yacht hulls and sails.

Emirates Team New Zealand managing director Grant Dalton said the team was very happy to welcome Estrella Damm. It is a very important day for the team,” he said. “This elite sponsorship agreement is the last major piece of the team’s funding for the 2007 America’s Cup.

“We welcome to the team a respected, high-profile, innovative Spanish company with a proud tradition and an ethos that fits well with the team. We will carry the Estrella Damm logo proudly into the Louis Vuitton Act 4 regatta which starts on Thursday.

“We look forward to building a strong relationship with Estrella Damm over the next two years,” Dalton said. “Wile funding is not complete, the team can now confidently set about the serious business at hand – winning the America’s Cup.

“That is a daunting task. We know only too well that we face some very professional, well prepared opposition and that we cannot leave anything to chance.”

Grant Dalton said the team already had a strong Spanish connection through principal designer Marcelino Botin. Dalton continued: “Marcelino and his business partner Shaun Carkeek have had a major impact on European yacht racing in recent years with their winning IMS designs. He has brought to the team design experience and expertise as the team finalises plans for the first of our 2007-generation America’s Cup class yachts.”