Saturday 16 July 2011

America's Cup : Images from Cascais, First AC World Series Venue, by Gilles Martin-Raget


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com

America's Cup

America's Cup : Artemis Racing Train on their AC45 in Valencia


Image copyright Keith Brash/Artemis Racing

by America's Cup media

Artemis Racing welcomed local suppliers and media to the team base in Valencia Thursday. Close to 100 guests gathered to meet the team and have a close up view of the state of the art AC45, including the wing, which the team will race in the America's Cup World Series events.

Bob Billingham thanked the guests for their support the team has had over the last ten months here in Valencia, before Helmsman Terry Hutchinson explained a bit about the road ahead and Santiago Lange talked through the precise process to pick the wing and get the AC45 ready to sail.


Image copyright Keith Brash/Artemis Racing

"Who would have thought we would be back in Valencia with a multihull preparing for the 34th America's Cup, when we won the Louis Vuitton Cup here in 2007," said Helmsman Terry Hutchinson, reflecting on a conversation earlier today with Navigator Kevin Hall.

Guests enjoyed the opportunity to speak with the sailing, shore and design team members on hand about the AC45 and the upcoming America's Cup World Series event which will take place in Cascais (Portugal) from 6-14 August.

Artemis Racing
America's Cup

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week : Supermaxi Showdown


At speed: Bob Oatley’s recently modified Wild Oats XI will be put to the test at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week next month. Image copyright Andrea Francolini/AUDI

by Rob Mundle

Australia’s big guns of ocean yacht racing, the 30.2 metre long supermaxis Wild Oats XI and Investec Loyal, will renew hostilities next month when they clash at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week.

Both yachts have undergone extensive modifications in Sydney to ensure they are given the best opportunity to claim the much touted Race Week bragging rights at the completion of the eight days of racing. The regatta is scheduled for 19 – 27 August.

Wild Oats XI, owned by winemaker Bob Oatley – who also happens to own Hamilton Island – has undergone the greatest change of the two since she took line honours over Investec Loyal in last December’s Rolex Sydney Hobart race. She will be relaunched this weekend following significant hull surgery over the past two months: the forward rudder has been removed and replaced with twin retractable centreboards. These changes have been made to improve the yacht’s speed both upwind and down.

At the same time, Investec Loyal, owned by prominent Sydney accounting firm head, Anthony Bell, has already claimed bragging rights of sorts over Wild Oats XI in that she was the 100th entry registered for Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2011. Since then the fleet has grown rapidly to 139, and on current projections an impressive line up of between 180 and 200 can be expected this year.


Major makeover: a big-budget modification will bring a new lease of life to Anthony Bell’s supermaxi, Investec Loyal, at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2011. Image copyright Andrea Francolini/AUDI

When Bell took sole ownership of Investec Loyal after the last Hobart race he immediately committed to lifting the yacht’s performance to its full potential. In what can only be described as a highly commendable effort, he has coordinated a project which has seen the yacht undergo modifications to the hull, keel and rig. He has also ordered new sails and added some high-calibre crew to his already strong line-up.

“We are really looking forward to Audi Hamilton Island Race Week because it is going to give us the ideal opportunity to get the Loyal racing team together in a perfect environment of competitive racing,” Anthony Bell said. “We are already in training in Sydney and more than keen to get to the island so we can line up alongside Wild Oats XI in a world renowned regatta.”

Apart from going for top honours at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, the intensity of the competition that Wild Oats XI and Investec Loyal will enjoy on the island-laced tropical waters of the Whitsundays will be a highly beneficial build up for their next big clash, the Rolex Sydney Hobart in December.

Wild Oats XI will be transported on a huge truck across Sydney, from Bankstown to the harbour, in the very early hours of this Sunday. Once the yacht is launched and rigged skipper Mark Richards and the crew will begin extensive trialling of the new centreboard configuration.

The first test for both supermaxis will come on Saturday, 30 July, when they set sail in the Audi Sydney to Gold Coast Race. Once they finish they will continue north on a course to Hamilton Island.

The Notice of Race, including the entry form, has been posted on the regatta website – www.hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au

Race Week accommodation can be booked at www.hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au Alternatively please call 13 REEF (13 7333) within Australia, +61(0)2 9433 0444 from overseas, or email vacation@hamiltonisland.com.au

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week

Friday 15 July 2011

VOR : Team Sanya Spray Painting the Former Telefonica Blue


Image copyright Ian Roman/Volvo Ocean Race


Image copyright Ian Roman/Volvo Ocean Race


Image copyright Ian Roman/Volvo Ocean Race


Image copyright Ian Roman/Volvo Ocean Race


Image copyright Ian Roman/Volvo Ocean Race


Image copyright Ian Roman/Volvo Ocean Race


Image copyright Ian Roman/Volvo Ocean Race


Image copyright Ian Roman/Volvo Ocean Race


Image copyright Ian Roman/Volvo Ocean Race


Image copyright Ian Roman/Volvo Ocean Race

Team Sanya
Volvo Ocean Race

Rolex Fastnet Race : Fast Approaching




Rambler and ICAP Leopard approaching the Fastnet Rock. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

by Alex Bocage

The waiting is nearly over: the 44th edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race, one of the great ocean challenges, is exactly a month away. With a staggering 350 entrants at the ready, 1979’s record-breaking tally of 303 participating yachts will almost certainly be surpassed. The sheer size of the fleet is impressive. Its quality and diversity quite breathtaking. Inspiring and exhilarating in equal measure, there is every reason to believe that the 2011 Rolex Fastnet Race will maintain the event’s pioneering and prestigious tradition.

The numbers game

Due to the Rolex Fastnet’s unique allure, event organisers the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) never have any difficulty ensuring that there is a large and impressive fleet in attendance. This year is no exception. Entries came in thick and fast and were closed within ten days of opening in January. However, the requests kept arriving. After being inundated with additional enquiries from the Volvo Open 70s, the IMOCA 60s, Class 40s and Multihulls to join the 608-nautical mile marathon, the RORC adjusted the entry limit to allow these ‘professional’ classes to be counted above the initial cut-off mark.

The Rolex Fastnet Race commences from Cowes on Sunday 14 August (the first signal sounds at 10:50 BST). Whilst crews with the ambition of being the fastest to the finish will hope to spend only one or two nights at sea, spare a thought for those at the back of the pack, for whom a near week in often punishing conditions may be the order of the day.

Rambler 100 enjoying Leopard hunt

Short of a catastrophic breakdown, the fastest boat on the water at the 2011 Rolex Fastnet Race will be the 100-foot trimaran, Banque Populaire (FRA), which just broke the round the Britain Isles record by almost a day and a half. However, the battle for monohull line honours is the most anticipated clash and is expected to be the privilege of two other 100-ft challengers: Mike Slade’s ICAP Leopard (GBR), first elapsed-time finisher in the past two editions, and arch-rivals George David’s Rambler 100 (USA). The two crews know each other extremely well, given their series of tussles in recent months. A head-to-head battle in the Transatlantic Race, which saw Rambler 100 ease to line honours after ICAP Leopard lost her bowsprit, the freshest encounter.

“Having won the Rolex Fastnet Race twice, the big play is to win three in a row, which would be quite exceptional,” explains Slade, whose yacht also holds the course record of 1 day, 20 hours and 18 minutes [set in 2007]. “During the RORC Caribbean 600, Rambler 100 proved to be the faster boat in her ideal conditions. However, Rambler 100 may also need to protect herself in bad weather, more than ICAP Leopard. We feel we have a good chance in light and heavy airs, it is the bit in between that we might have a problem! I am really looking forward to the Fastnet, it should be a very exciting race but above all else, I don't want to lose our record to Rambler 100, that would be heartbreaking and we will vigorously defend it.”

Rambler 100 is as keen to renew hostilities. “We’re anticipating sailing in Cowes Week from 9-11 August and hope ICAP Leopard and others will be competing as well,” explains David, “we’ve had three races together already, the Caribbean 600, the Annapolis to Newport and now the Transatlantic Race. Rambler 100 took line honours and corrected ahead of ICAP Leopard in all three.”

David is fervent about the upcoming Fastnet Race and describes his own personal highlights of the parcours: “Beating out through The Needles in a huge fleet, the beauty of the south coast of England, the approach to the [Fastnet] Rock, and the wind and weather conditions all over the place.”


Overall winner, RAN, Niklas Zennstrom, in 2009. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

Whilst these two ocean greyhounds are clear monohull line honours favourites, they may not have it all their own way. There is the significant presence of six Volvo 70s, including two of the latest breed: Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Groupama IV (FRA). Then there is the Mini Maxi class including defending Rolex Fastnet handicap winner, the 72-ft Rán (GBR), owned by Niklas Zennström, in addition to Andres Soriano’s Mills 68 Alegre (GBR), a fantastic campaigner in the Mediterranean in recent seasons. Throwing in the American challengers, the STP65 Vanquish, and the Reichel-Pugh 66 Zaraffa, who like ICAP Leopard and Rambler 100 competed in the Transatlantic Race, it promises to be a tight contest at the top of the fleet.

Tales from the foreign third

Of the record breaking 350 yachts competing at this year’s Rolex Fastnet Race, approximately a third are non-British crews. A scan of the 2011 entry list highlights the global pull of the event, with yachts competing from the following countries: Austria, Belgium, China, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, the UAE and the USA.

Karl Kwok, owner of the 80-ft Beau Geste (HKG), will be taking part in the event for the third time. “I am definitely here for the challenge as this is one of the most interesting and competitive offshore races in the world,” he explains. “My first time here was in 1995, followed by my second appearance in the last edition [in 2009]. We did well on that occasion, but it could be better still!” Kwok adores offshore racing: “For me the top three blue water offshore classics are the Fastnet, Sydney to Hobart and Newport to Bermuda – in that order. And Rolex has the top two!” Beau Geste will be another yacht snapping at the heels of the 100-footers and also arrive in Cowes fresh from competing in the Transatlantic Race.

One overseas crew in particular has reason to treasure its association with the Rolex Fastnet. Six years ago, Frenchman Jean Yves Chateau’s 33-ft Nicholson Iromiguy won the competition on corrected time, the first time in three decades that the overall prize had been won by a yacht under 40 feet. For the Saint Malo-based skipper, the victory was both a surprise and a fulfilment of an ambition: “To win the Rolex Fastnet Race was like a childhood dream, it is like an ‘Everest’ in my life and in the life of each member of my crew: absolutely fantastic, unbelievable, gorgeous, not to mention the incredible fact of having beaten all the big guys. It was also very important for me to be the third French sailor to win this race and to have my name engraved on this Cup close to Eric Tabarly [the legendary French skipper who won the race in 1967]!”

Regarding the ‘draw’ of the Rolex Fastnet, Chateau continues: “It is a mythical race. This year will be our seventh time and we are always very pleased and enthusiastic to participate with the crazy dream of winning it one more time.” Amongst the sizeable French contingent is the intriguing story of the IMOCA 60 DCNS 100 (FRA), sailed by skipper Marc Thiercelin and his famous apprentice, former downhill skier and endurance motorsport driver, Luc Alphand. DCNS 100 is one of seven IMOCA 60s, including Cheminées Poujoulat (SUI) launched in May this year.

John Towers is helming the J/122 Oojah (GBR) with a US-based crew joining British boat owner Peter Tanner, their navigator for the race. The English Channel is some distance from their usual racing haven of the east coast of the United States. “As a group of Americans, we consider the Rolex Fastnet Race to be a once in a lifetime adventure that is a natural compliment to our passion for distance racing,” explains Towers, “the Fastnet is a big deal for us and an adventure that we have been planning for the last two years.”

Tanner continues: “Our goal will be the same as any other race we enter. Priority one is a safe passage. Priority two is that the experience is very positive for all members of the crew. Our third priority is to be competitive.”

Triple TP52 challenge


The three TP52s competing at the Rolex Fastnet Race will resume their engagement having been near inseparable at the recent Giraglia Rolex Cup. On that occasion, Franck Noël’s Near Miss (SUI) finished the 243-nautical mile race less than two minutes ahead of Johnny Vincent’s Pace (GBR). Bryon Ehrhart’s Lucky (USA) was only a further hour behind. On corrected time, only seven places separated the three crews, with Pace coming out on top. Over a considerably longer distance, this ‘race within a race’ will be one to follow come August.

Back of the pack

The crew of the Contessa-32 Drumbeat (GBR) will likely have one opportunity to admire ICAP Leopard and Rambler 100 - during the passage out of the Solent. For co-skippers and brothers-in-law, Mark Himsworth and Pierre Walrafen, the race ahead will be one of endurance and, at times, solitude: “It feels amazing to be one of the smallest and slowest boats competing, tacking or gybing down the Solent against much larger and faster machines after the start. All the while competing on handicap directly against them,” explains Himsworth, who will be taking part in the Rolex Fastnet for a third time.

The reality soon becomes quite different, as Himsworth reveals: “After 24 hours, most of the competition is long gone. Thereafter it’s occasionally difficult to keep your mind away from the thought of the faster boats turning towards (or arriving at) Plymouth while ours plugs steadily westwards round Land’s End. It’s a pretty solitary undertaking when you’re on watch and your co-skipper’s sleeping and none of your competitors are visible, but that’s all part of the attraction, and there’s still plenty going on in Plymouth when we arrive!”

Trophy hunt

The main trophy for overall victory in the Rolex Fastnet is the Fastnet Challenge Cup. In addition, there are more than 30 additional trophies that will be awarded at the prize giving on Friday, 19 August at the historic Royal Citadel, home of the 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, overlooking Plymouth Sound and Sutton Harbour, where the majority of the fleet will berth.

Rolex Fastnet Race

Extreme 40 : Aberdeen Asset Management Announces Sponsorship of Extreme 40 Catamaran at Cowes Week


Aberdeen Asset Management Extreme 40 at Cowes. Supplied image.

by Louise Nash

Aberdeen Asset Management has today announced its sponsorship of an Extreme 40 catamaran to compete in Act 5 of the Extreme Sailing Series™ 2011, at the inaugural Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week taking place from 6th – 12th August 2011.

The sponsorship of an Extreme 40 adds action and spectacle to the global asset manager’s growing sailing sponsorship portfolio. The Extreme 40 catamarans are amongst the fastest and most exciting class of racing boat to compete at Aberdeen Cowes Week and their inshore competitive racing nature provides dramatic and adrenaline fuelled action for the spectators.

Skippering the ‘Aberdeen Asset Management’ boat will be British Olympic 49er class contender John Pink. Pink is joined on the Extreme 40 with his regular 49er crew Rick Peacock. Pink and Peacock will join the very best sailors in the world, of 15 different nationalities, to fight it out for the Act 5 trophy. Pink said “I was proud to be asked to take the helm of Aberdeen’s first Extreme 40 entry, and to compete in the Extreme Sailing Series on behalf of the company in the first Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week. The Extreme 40s are incredibly exciting both to sail and to watch and I look forward to hopefully bringing home success for Aberdeen at Cowes. Getting involved with Extreme 40s is a wise move on Aberdeen’s part – the Extreme Sailing Series is established as one of the top events in the sport, now in its fifth season, and is a truly global tour attracting huge crowds and international media coverage”

Martin Gilbert, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Asset Management, said “We are delighted to be sponsoring an Extreme 40. The Extreme Sailing Series is seen as the pinnacle of exhilarating ‘stadium’ sailing and as we seek to deepen our involvement within sailing, taking on such an exciting sponsorship is perfect for our brand development within the sport. We are very excited about all of our sailing sponsorships coming together at the forthcoming inaugural Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week.”

Aberdeen announced its three year sponsorship of Cowes Week in January 2011, and its growing sailing portfolio also includes support of the Dragons Class, and the X One Design Class in this, their Centenary year.

The Extreme 40s, XODs and Dragons will all be in action at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week from 6 – 12 August this year.

Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week
Extreme Sailing Series

VOR : CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand Completes Tough Testing Phase


CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand comes out of the water after testing. Image copyright Chris Cameron/CAMPER with ETNZ

by Lucy Harwood

- CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand complete sail testing across 8,000 nm from the tropics to the edge of the Southern Ocean
- Final re-fit ahead of the start


- CAMPER shipped to Europe in August





Boat testing for the CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand crew has ended. After sailing 8,000 nautical miles in the last three months, CAMPER has been lifted out of the water and is being decommissioned before shipping to Europe later this month. 

CAMPER was launched in April, since then the team has taken on a schedule, which has included a tour of New Zealand, the Auckland Fiji race, their 2000 mile qualification sail and many offshore sailing trips.

CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand skipper Chris Nicholson:

“Our testing phase in New Zealand is complete we have sailed 8,000 nautical miles since April. We’ve sailed from the tropics to the edge of the Southern Ocean, so it’s been a great opportunity for us to really push CAMPER in a wide range of true race conditions. With our time in New Zealand now drawing to a close, we have new goals now for Europe leading up to the starting line". 



The sailing team will remain in Auckland until the end of July to finalise details on the sail inventory and other areas ahead of the race.

“We have a lot of work to do over the next few days before we ship the boat to Europe. We will analyse all the data that has been collated over three months of testing. Will Oxley and Andrew McLean have been working on the analysis, looking at every possible option for sails, loads, speed and overall performance in different conditions”

“While we’ve been working from constant updates on this throughout the testing period, this is a chance for the whole team to sit down and look through everything and make some final decisions,” Chris Nicholson said.



CAMPER with ETNZ VO70 comes out of the water


Just three months remain until the start in Alicante, the team will have some time off over August before they re-group in Europe in early September. CAMPER will undergo further sail testing during her delivery from the UK to Spain, after which the team will sail to Camper’s headquarters in Palma for corporate activity before their arrival in Alicante at the end of September. 


CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand
Volvo Ocean Race

VOR : Abu Dhabi's Volvo Ocean Race Destination Village Hits Construction Milestone



Corniche Breakwater Site On Track For Mega New Year Celebration


Race Village, Pre Race, Abu Dhabi, Al Nuaimi, Al Reyami, Al Sheikh. Image copyright Abu Dhabi Tourist Authority

by Sam Dulka

Phase two construction work has begun on the specially-designed ‘Destination Village’ – as big as eight football pitches - taking shape on Abu Dhabi’s Corniche breakwater which will this New Year host the Volvo Ocean Race yachting fleet and its many thousands of fans.

With site clearance complete, the task has begun of laying a staggering 873,000 paving stones over almost half the site, which is adjacent to the Heritage Village and overlooks Abu Dhabi’s impressive city skyline. Stone laying is due for completion at the end of next month.

Work has also started on a month-long dredging programme of the surrounding waterways to allow entry of the 4.5 metre keeled state-of-the-art race yachts, as they arrive in the UAE capital after a gruelling 5,430 nautical mile race leg from Cape Town.

And a three-phase construction programme to build permanent yacht pontoons is also underway, with installation due to begin mid-August when off-site pre-fabrication is complete. The pontoons will be a key component of the site, which will serve as a sailing centre once the Volvo Ocean Race fleet sails out of the UAE capital in mid-January.

To mark the occasion, ADTA’s Nasser Al Reyami, Director of Tourism Standards; Mubarak Al Nuaimi, International Promotions Manager; and Faisal Al Sheikh, Events Manager; laid the first paving stone, which had been specially engraved with today’s date.

“This facility will be a major infrastructure addition to Abu Dhabi’s watersports, and therefore tourism, offering,” said Al Reyami. “It will significantly enhance our credentials as a world-class winter watersports destination.”

Full infrastructure work is due for completion this September. Temporary structure build will run until December when the final phase of installing more than 130 Volvo Ocean Race team gear, hospitality and equipment containers will take place.

Plans for the ‘Destination Village,’ are well progressed with a huge visitor activation programme planned around the fortnight.

The ‘Destination Village’ will open free-of-charge to the public daily from December 30 this year to January 14, next year. ADTA – which also has a team in the race, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing - anticipates welcoming more than 100,000 visitors through its gates.

The highly interactive village, which will leverage the maritime theme, will be packed with activities and entertainment including exhibitions, shows, simulators, hospitality, game zones, food & beverage outlets and merchandise shops. ADTA is working with international tour operators, hotels, airlines and other stakeholders to develop compelling New Year-Volvo Ocean Race packages to the emirate.

The Volvo Ocean Race 2011/12 begins in Alicante, Spain, in October 2011 and ends in Galway, Ireland in summer next year. It is a race in which professional athletes, on-board the Volvo Open 70 racing yacht, sail around the world with the prevailing winds.

ADTA is working closely with a number of governmental and commercial bodies to successfully stage the Middle East’s first hosting of the Volvo Ocean Race, including Abu Dhabi Sailing & Yacht Club, the Official Host Yacht Club and key partner in the roll-out of the stopover and the junior sailing initiatives; and the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club, the Technical Headquarters, which will be home to the team areas, media centre, photographer centre and the international television broadcast compound.

The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort – the iconic luxurious brand’s first Middle East property on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi opening on November 1st, 2011 – is the Volvo Ocean Race Official Hotel in the emirate.

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing
Volvo Ocean Race

Thursday 14 July 2011

America's Cup : Team Korea Announces Top Class Crew to Compete in America's Cup


Left to right: Top, Chris Draper, skipper; Chris Brittle, Float; Troy Tindall, Wing Trimmer; Matt Cornwell, bow; Mark Bulkeley, trim. Image copyright Team Korea

by Clifford Webb

Team Korea today announced a top class crew chosen to sail in the America’s Cup World series events, opting for a blend of experience and raw talent that includes multiple World and European Champions, and seasoned Olympic and America’s Cup campaigners.

Headlining the crew as Skipper and Helmsman as announced last week is Britain’s Chris Draper, who has guided Team Korea’s selection in order to maximise their skill and familiarity with each other, which he believes will enable the team to quickly gel and be up to speed with the powerful and lightning quick AC45 yachts.

Chris said, "I’m delighted with the team we’ve brought together, as I feel we have just the right mix of talent, know-how, the weight we wanted, and of course a super-high level of professionalism. I couldn’t be happier in being able to help pull everyone together into what should become a very efficient, fast and successful unit."

Team Korea Crew
Skipper/Helm Chris Draper, UK
Wing Trimmer Troy Tindill, New Zealand
Float Chris Brittle, UK
Trim Mark Bulkeley, UK
Bow Matt Cornwell, UK

Leaning heavily on the skippers sailing background in selecting a mainly British crew, Team Korea CEO Kim Dong-Young commented, "we thought it was important to allow Chris to make recommendations for the crew where he felt he could achieve the fastest learning curve and translate that into performance on the water. We had an excellent group of people to choose our skipper from and we’re grateful to everyone who expressed their interest, but I am very pleased with Chris who has already shown that he is reliable, thorough and very dedicated. It was his first visit to Seoul last week, and he coped admirably with everything that came his way. Korean’s are loyal people and friendship is important in our culture, so we are pleased he has turned to his former colleagues who have an impressive track record in the sport – this shows both confidence and loyalty in making these difficult decisions."

Troy Tindill from New Zealand is presently the only member of the crew to have sailed an AC45, having worked with ACRM as a Boat Captain most recently, and has been helming the America’s Cup yacht in training sessions. At 28 years old, he’s an accomplished sailor having competed in world youth match racing regattas and the world tour proper. He’s also been the boat Captain for the successful Wild Oats X and XI for the past six-years, recording five Sydney-Hobart race wins, and is the current record holder for the race. He’s an offshore sailor too and competed in Maxi’s for many years before joining ACRM where he’s been responsible for the AC45’s since the initial launch and sea trials. Troy said, "having sailed these yachts for most of the year, I am keen to get into a competitive environment and sail them under real pressure. I think Chris and I can work well together and get the boat going pretty quickly – I like his style and approach. It’s going to be quite a first race, I can’t wait."

Joining as trimmer, Mark Bulkeley (32) sailed alongside Draper for two years in their Extreme Sailing series campaign with Oman Sail Masirah, which culminated in them winning the World Championship in 2009, so is delighted to be making his America’s Cup debut in the new style catamarans, "ever since the America’s Cup made the move to multi-hulls, I have been excited about the prospect of getting involved, and so to join Team Korea is a dream opportunity, and I’m sure my time sailing with Chris will be a huge benefit" he commented. Mark has sailed Tornado’s for Britain at the Olympics, been part of the Team GBR squad for eight years, and in the top flight of catamaran and other disciplines for the past ten years, taking Silver at the ISAF World Championships. He was also on the winning Oman Sail Masirah yacht in the Extreme Asia series last year with three first places.

The float role goes to big Chris Brittle (29) whose weight and size are perfect for the position. No stranger to top class sailing, he was the training partner to Ben Ainslie through the 2004 Olympics, then joined the +39 America’s Cup team as a grinder for the next three years, racing in the Louis Vuitton Cup in Valencia. He then became a sailing coach, starting out with Ian Percy and Andrew Simpson in the Star Class for the 2008 Olympics, while joining the AudiMed Cup circuit with the Portuguese TP52 Team, a period that may bear fruits in the waters off Cascais in the coming weeks. From there he joined Team Origin, racing in the LV events and the MedCup, finishing 4th overall last year. Chris said, "I think sailing these yachts is going to be pretty demanding as the action appears to be non-stop, but it should prove really exciting, and with a lot of new teams on a level playing ground, it gives us a great opportunity to excel."

On the Bow is Matt Cornwell (37), a veteran of three AC campaigns and with an enviable track record in the sport. He said, "I’m excited to be joining a new team for a new era in the Cup, one that I think we can be quickly competitive in. I am looking forward to analysing how the boats perform at speed and what the extra demands may be." In his career he’s competed on everything from TP52’s to the Extreme circuit, finishing 2nd overall in 2008 with Team Origin. He’s sailed Louis Vuitton events, Maxis, offshore races, the Admiral’s Cup and has many years match racing behind him, winning the Match Racing World Tour last year with Ainslie’s team. Matt is a highly respected sailor, quietly and calmly dealing with every situation on the boat, while earning a reputation as a fearsome competitor.

Kim Dong-Young said, "I believe this is a strong team with huge potential. We have chosen carefully, mixing together different talents, skills and experience from amongst the many people who were interested to join the team. We certainly want to bring in Korean sailors in as we progress onto the AC72’s, and will begin training them soon, but this selection gives us the greatest opportunity to learn fast without too many risks, yet has the possibility to be very competitive we feel. It will be very interesting to see how we evolve and grow together now with the challenges ahead as we begin training, and then move to that very first exciting race in Cascais. We’re looking forward to it. Kamsahamnida."

Team Korea is scheduled to begin training on July 16th in Lisbon, before moving to Cascais towards the end of the month ahead of the America’s Cup World Series regatta beginning on August 6th.

About Team Korea

Team Korea is the newest nation to enter the America’s Cup, representing the Sail Korea Yacht Club based in Seoul. Fondly known as the ‘White Tiger Challenge’, the White Tiger is a revered and ancient Guardian God of the west, the only god based on a living creature, a potent and powerful beast. The team recently hosted a visit of the America’s Cup trophy in Seoul for the first time in history, courtesy of Brooks Brothers Korea. The prestigious Louis Vuitton Cup was also presented to the press at the same time in Seoul on a very significant day in the continued development of Team Korea.

Team Korea
America's Cup

Sodeb'O entre deux tours du monde


Sodeb'O. Image copyright B. Stichelbaut.

par Sodeb'O Voile media

Alors qu'il s'implique dans la mise au point du monocoque Groupama 4 de Franck Cammas à bord duquel il courra dès novembre la Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012, Thomas Coville suit en parallèle le chantier de son Maxi Trimaran et mène une réflexion passionnante avec Sodebo, son partenaire depuis 12 ans, afin de dessiner ce qui pourrait être la voile de demain.


Sodeb'O. Image copyright B. Stichelbaut

Que ce soit dans le "tout open" comme les records océaniques ou dans la course au large, en solitaire comme le Vendée Globe ou en équipage comme la "Volvo", Sodebo et Thomas Coville se nourrissent avec le même enthousiasme de ces projets où la technique et le sportif servent à écrire des aventures humaines à partager.

Le débriefing technique "post tour du monde" a démontré, une fois de plus, la qualité de construction d’origine du trimaran Sodebo. Après 85 000 milles (157 420 kilomètres) parcourus en courses, records et convoyages dont deux tours du monde complets sans escale, le plan Nigel Irens-Benoît Cabaret construit au chantier Boat Speed en Australie et mis à l’eau en juin 2007 n’a jamais connu d’avarie majeure.


L’expérience rend plus fort

La maturité et l’expertise du skipper Thomas Coville et des as qui l’entourent permettent de ramener, après chaque navigation, un bateau dans un état qui force l’admiration. Pourtant, on ne court pas autour du monde à ces vitesses là sans solliciter rudement le matériel et Sodebo n’est pas rentré intact à La Trinité Sur Mer le 31 mars dernier. Savoir tirer les enseignements de chaque expérience pour comprendre, agir et progresser n’est pas une simple formule mais bien inscrit dans l’ADN du team Sodebo. Alors depuis trois mois, l’équipe a enclenché une démarche rigoureuse de valorisation technique de ce tour du monde afin d’optimiser encore cette machine qui, comme l’explique son skipper, "est toujours l’une des armes les mieux placées pour battre le record exceptionnel de Francis Joyon établi en solo en 57 jours et 13 heures."



La preuve par l’exemple


Repairs to Sodeb'O. Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com

La réflexion technique porte sur l’ensemble des compartiments du jeu mais prenons l’un des exemples les plus visibles : le travail réalisé sur les crash box (pare-chocs) d’étraves du trimaran. Une première a cédé dans un choc avec un OFNI au large de l’Afrique du Sud en janvier 2008. L’équipe de Tom, associée aux architectes, avait alors imaginé une crash box sur le principe de "double étrave" qui a rempli son rôle en mars 2011 quand, au large du Brésil, Sodebo a rencontré la route d’un globicéphale qui a emporté le bout du flotteur tribord du trimaran. La crash box a sauvé le flotteur. Le trimaran a pu poursuivre sa tentative de record mais l’histoire ne s’arrête pas là. La perte de l’étrave a nettement hypothéqué le passage dans l’eau provoquant jusqu’à l’arrivée une gerbe d’eau réduisant les performances hydrodynamiques et donc la vélocité de ce merveilleux engin conçu pour un passage dans l’eau exceptionnel. Tom et ses boys ont revu leur copie. Ils ont dessiné ces dernières semaines une deuxième étrave parfaitement profilée en arrière de la crash box de chaque flotteur au cas où elle saute à nouveau. Malin !


Repairs to Sodeb'O. Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com

C’est dire la complexité pour mettre au point un engin comme le trimaran Sodebo dont le skipper n’a de cesse d’améliorer les qualités. Si la recherche de performance et l’exigence sont l’une des caractéristiques de ce projet, c’est aussi l’un des points qui anime la direction de SODEBO au quotidien quand elle planche sur des innovations de produits.

Le trimaran Sodebo en a encore sous le pied

Comme toujours, le débriefing technique croise le débriefing météorologique afin d’identifier les tronçons de parcours et les conditions de navigation où des gains sont encore possibles. Sur Sodebo, c’est au portant dans la brise de l’Indien et du Pacifique que le skipper sait que son bateau aurait pu être plus performant. Les solutions ne sont pas totalement arrêtées mais la piste principale est celle d’une avancée nécessaire des foils*, couplée à une nouvelle forme de voile d’avant et à un travail sur les barres et les safrans. L’objectif étant que Sodebo cabre plus sur l’arrière tout en optimisant l’équilibre de barre. Si pour la voile et les safrans, les bénéfices devraient se voir dès les navigations de fin aout/début septembre, pour l’avancée des foils, le skipper cogite avec ses techniciens et les architectes afin de décider de la meilleure procédure qui pourrait aller jusqu’à déplacer non pas les foils mais carrément les flotteurs. Cette importante modification sera réalisée lors du chantier de l’hiver 2011-2012. 


Un nouveau tour du monde pour se nourrir et rester en éveil


Sodeb'O. Image copyright B. Stichelbaut.

Alors repartir ou pas autour du monde en solo et en multicoque ? Bonne question à laquelle le skipper de Sodebo ne ferme pas la porte. En attendant de prendre une décision, il se donne à fond dans le projet de Franck Cammas qui l’a sollicité fin mars pour un poste de barreur et chef de quart sur la Volvo Ocean Race. "Pour repartir en solo, j’avais besoin d’aller chercher des compétences ailleurs, de me nourrir des autres, d’un équipage comme là avec 11 personnes à bord et de me confronter à des concurrents et pas seulement au temps," résume celui qui attaquera cet automne son 7e tour du monde. "Cela permet de ne pas s’endormir sur le seul exercice des records. Pour moi comme pour Sodebo, c’est une manière de progresser, de préparer l’avenir et d’être même capable d’inventer. Je tiens aussi à saluer l’attitude de SODEBO et Groupama qui, en acceptant mon entrée dans ce nouveau challenge, montrent la synergie de deux gros sponsors de la voile qui respectent avant tout la dimension sportive de leur skipper, une démarche qui prouve l’équilibre de leur projet et de leur engagement sur le long terme."

L’aventure continue


Thomas Coville. Image copyright B. Stichelbaut

Avec la direction de SODEBO, le skipper perfectionne le fameux brevet "SODEBO ON AIR", un système de vidéo embarquée on line qui intéresse déjà de nombreux teams et organisateurs de courses. "L’ambition de SODEBO a toujours été de partager et pas seulement avec des gens intéressés au départ par la voile," rappelle Tom. "Notre système permet de réaliser plus d’images, plus facilement avec plus de directs. A terme, nous aimerions toucher aussi des personnes liées au monde virtuel. Lorsque l’on voit le succès de Virtual Regatta, on imagine bien comment le jeu vidéo peut contribuer à rajeunir le public de nos aventures en les rendant plus accessibles et plus ludiques."

Si pour l’automne 2011 et le printemps 2012, le programme du trimaran n’est pas encore complètement figé, il est certain que Tom et son sponsor organisent déjà ensemble les années qui suivront ce tour du monde en équipage. Améliorer son record de traversée de l’Atlantique nord d’autant plus si Francis Joyon le fait tomber cette année pourrait être une voie, repartir en solo autour du monde aussi bien évidemment, tout comme, pourquoi pas, imaginer de nouveaux défis, en solo ou en équipages réduits, qui continueraient à faire vivre cette « voile aventure » si chère à de nombreux marins et partenaires.


Sodeb'O. Image copyright B. Stichelbaut

Dans cette même ligne, l’entreprise SODEBO est pour la troisième fois partenaire principal du Vendée Globe dont la prochaine édition aura lieu durant l’hiver 2012-2013. La marque et ses dirigeants sont bien conscients de ce que cet investissement apporte sur la durée. Les études confortent ces choix stratégiques et mettent en avant la cohérence de ces partenariats qui lie l’entreprise SODEBO et la voile, un monde épris, comme elle, de liberté, de paris, de prises de risques, d’engagements, d’innovations, de techniques et d’aventures. 



*Croissant de carbone passant au travers de chaque flotteur. Avec la vitesse, le bateau s’appuie sur le foil, décolle et accélère.

Sodeb'O Voile

Team Red Bull Cross the Aegean Sea, Thessaloniki to Chania, in their Tornado



Team Red Bull

Awesome International 49er Images from the Europeans by Fried Elliott/FriedBits


Outteridge/Jensen (AUS) win Gold in the SEIKO European International 49er Championships, Fletcher/Sign (GBR) get the silver medals and the Nielsen brothers (DEN) finish in bronze position. Image copyright Fried Elliott/www.friedbits.com


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Image copyright Fried Elliott/www.friedbits.com


Image copyright Fried Elliott/www.friedbits.com


Image copyright Fried Elliott/www.friedbits.com


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