[Jan Stenbeck, founder of Victory Challenge]

(2002-08-21, Auckland) A minute's silence was held at the Victory Challenge base today in respect of the tragic passing of Jan Stenbeck. Stricken by sorrow, the team could do the only thing possible. The crew took Orm, christened and launched just the day before, on her maiden voyage in Auckland's harbour.
Flags were flying at half-mast on all the bases in the America's Cup village as Orm was towed out of Viaduct Harbour.

With great sorrow, Invik & Co AB, Tele2, MTG AB, Metro International S.A., Millicom International S.A., Transcom WorldWide S.A. and Industriförvaltnings AB Kinnevik yesterday announced the death of the companies' chairman, Jan Hugo Stenbeck, at the age of 59.

Notice of his death came just hours after the Swedish America's Cup challenger's newest boat Orm (SWE 73) was christened and launched at the Victory Challenge base in Auckland. Jan Stenbeck was not only the founder of the challenge, he was also head of the syndicate and its staunchest supporter. He was interested in all details, large and small, even in Victory Challenge. Just this weekend, he was involved in the planning of the christening via telephone from his residence in Luxembourg.

When the Victory Challenge team were informed of the tragic event it was also made known that the challenge would continue as planned. There's only 40 days left until the America's Cup starts with the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series.

The morning briefing was called for 0700 this morning and started with a minute's silence. Straight afterwards, Orm was taken out for her maiden voyage.

As Orm was being towed out of Viaduct Harbour, the flags of all the syndicates that are so far in place were flown at half mast; the Stars and Stripes at the American challengers OneWorld, Oracle and S&S; the Italian flag at Prada, the Union Jack at GBR Challenge, the Swiss flag at Alinghi and the New Zealand flag at the America's Cup defender Team New Zealand.
"We acknowledge the support shown to us with a warm heart", says Mats Johansson, project leader and skipper of Victory Challenge. "We shall also forward the condolences to Jan Stenbeck's family."

Mats Johansson has been in almost daily contact with Jan Stenbeck ever since the project was initiated with the purchase of the New Zealand Black Magic boat NZL 38 two and half years ago.

[Orm's maiden voyage in Auckland's harbour today]

"Everything we've achieved here has been according to Jan's thoughts and instructions", says Mats Johansson. "It's an enormous loss to us, meanwhile we have received clear instructions to carry on with Jan's wishes. The project will go on. We're focusing on getting ready for the Louis Vuitton Cup now. Everyone in the team is thinking of him and his family."

Jan Stenbeck should have returned to the base in Auckland, which he visited earlier this year, to follow the racing. "He was really looking forward to the start of the America's Cup and only last weekend he was so curious about whether Orm was really as fast as all the tests have shown", says Mats Johansson, who helmed Orm himself during the maiden voyage. "Jan would have been so happy to get the call telling him the christening, launch the first voyage had gone perfectly and that Orm had performed fantastically in the water."

A candle is lit beside a portrait of Jan Stenbeck inside the Victory Challenge base. Beside them are letters of condolence from the sailing world. The table and floor are decorated with flowers from the other syndicates, partners and the Swedish consulate in Auckland.

The Victory Challenge project's main sponsors comprise three public limited companies founded by Jan Stenbeck, Tele2 (telecom), MTG (media) and Metro (newspaper).

Bert Willborg/Victory Challenge