Team 26 has today confirmed a partnership agreement with clothing firm AKUMA Sports.

The deal will see Team 26's crew, led by pilot Dan Cramphorn and throttleman Kim Collins, sporting the latest range of AKUMA offshore clothing for the 2009 season.

Dan Cramphorn, Pilot and Team Principal of Team 26, said: "AKUMA clothes are very high quality and look great. I'm hoping that we can expose their fast growing brand to an even larger audience and look good doing it!"

Cramphorn added, "Their current deals with such high-end sporting teams as the Dubai National Polo Team and the Jordan International Polo Team show that they clearly take us seriously too."

AKUMA becomes Team 26's first new sponsor of 2009 and the company will also see its logo displayed on the side of Team 26's new Sterling-powered Donzi hull.

Co-founder of AKUMA Sports, Thomas Aldersley, is delighted with the partnership.

"All of us at AKUMA are extremely excited to launch our new offshore range through this new sponsorship agreement with Team 26 for the upcoming P1 Powerboat season.

The Team 26 boys are very competitive and only have winning on their minds. We think they represent the AKUMA ethos perfectly."