USA 87 made its racing debut in the Louis Vuitton Act 10 match race event in Valencia last year and won the regatta over 10 other challengers and the Swiss Defender, Alinghi. The artworks have been created from hand-selected sections of the 218 sq m mainsail used in that regatta.
The auction opened on April 1 and closes at midnight Central European Time on July 7. During that period, three sample artworks will be on display at the BMW ORACLE Racing base in Valencia, Spain. Photographs of all 32 pieces can also be seen online at www.bmw-32originals.com. Bidders can select the specific artwork of their choice and enter the auction. The format is a 'silent auction' in which the bids remain confidential. Each bidder therefore has only one chance to enter a bid - so they should take their best shot from the outset.
Bids can be made on-line at the auction website, or via terminals in the public area of the team base in Valencia, or on the BMW ORACLE Racing website (www.bmworacleracing.com). The minimum bid is 10 Euro. There is no upper limit.
All the proceeds from the auction will go to QUÉ CHIDO e.V, a registered charity in aid of underprivileged children in Latin America. QUÉ CHIDO e.V won the BMW Group Award for Intercultural Learning in 2006.
For more information, please visit:
www.bmw-32originals.com
www.bmwgroup.com/award-life
www.bmworacleracing.com
www.que-chido.de