Iain Murray, chairman of Azzura Marine the chosen builder of the Performance Yachts PY-115 and PY-125, has been selected as Regatta Director for 34th America’s Cup.

Iain Murray builder of the Performance Yachts PY-115 and PY-125 is selected as Regatta Director for 34th America’s Cup

America’s Cup experience and business acumen are the primary attributes of the new 34th America’s Cup Regatta Director, Iain Murray.

As Regatta Director, Murray (52, Sydney, Australia) heads up the new America’s Cup Race Management (ACRM), holding the dual role of CEO of the independent organization.

This is the first time in the event’s 159-year history that the defender has divested management of the competition into the hands of a neutral body, a central part of its vision to move the America’s Cup into the future.

Established by four times America’s Cup helmsman, Olympian, and ten times World Champion sailor Iain Murray AM, Azzura Marine combines decades of boat building experience, world class facilities and state-of-the-art technology to produce quality custom motor and sail vessels and high performance racing yachts, to the same high standards as required to construct the PY-115 and PY-125.

“Azzura Marine has exactly the right pedigree to deliver the quality yachts expected by discerning Performance Yachts clients,” stated Performance Yachts founder Adrian Nicolle.

Iain Murray AM, said he was excited at the prospect of further expanding the group’s marine interests.

Adrian Nicolle pointed out that “With Southern Ocean Marine building our PY-100 and PY-109 models and Azzura Marine the PY-115 and PY-125, I am confident that Performance Yachts has two of the world’s top boat builders producing our yachts”.

Designed by Bill Dixon and his team at Dixon Yacht Design the PY-125, like her sisters, is a thoroughly modern, light but immensely strong fast cruising yacht, which offers sumptuous accommodation for owners, guests, and crew. Furthermore, she will be more than capable of making her presence felt at the world’s top superyacht regattas.

The PY-125 will be available with the unusual, but highly effective lifting keel option, as seen on the PY-100. Not a customary feature on such a sleek yacht, it does not intrude into, or compromise the yachts living accommodation, but succeeds in minimizing her draft to a shallow 3.75 metres with keel up and a hydro-dynamically efficient 5.25 metres with keel down.

Performance Yachts will announce its full 2011 range later this year.