Puma has signed on as the America’s Cup sponsor.  Puma will provide America’s Cup-branded merchandise starting during the America’s Cup World Series in Cascais, Portugal this month.

The deal continues through to the final America’s Cup races in San Francisco in 2013.

Puma joins Louis Vuitton among high profile sponsors of the competition.

Puma started designing for the sailing industry in 2008 when it began a line of performance and lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories named Puma Ocean Racing.