Japan's Kansai Yacht Club has announced its challenge for the 2017 America's Cup, according to the AP. The club, backed by telecom SoftBank Group, announced that SoftBank Team Japan will "compete in the lead-up World Series events later this year with the goal of competing in the 2017 America's Cup in Bermuda." Team GM Kazuhiko Sofuku said that "to lead a Japanese challenge for the America's Cup is a dream come true." A statement from the Japan team said defending America's Cup champion Oracle Team USA will provide "a base level of technical assistance" to the Japanese entrant. America's Cup commercial commissioner Harvey Schiller said, "The Japanese challenge will increase interest in the America's Cup across Asia, which is good news for all of our teams." Such "good news is welcome for an America's Cup that has been embroiled in the increasingly common wrangle over rules, venues and terms of entry." Team Australia withdrew last year from the regatta when there was "uncertainty about the venue." Italy's Luna Rossa Challenge pulled out "when the rules were changed." Emirates Team New Zealand, Sweden's Artemis Racing, Britain's Ben Ainslie Racing and Team France are the other teams currently aiming to participate in the '17 event. The lead-up World Series event begins in Cagliari in Italy in June, followed by events in Portsmouth on England's south coast, Gothenburg in Sweden and Hamilton, Bermuda (AP, 4/30).
