A new generation of sport catamaran was announced today which will be showcased with an exciting grand prix series during some of the in-port stopovers for the Volvo Ocean Race 2005 06.
The class, which will appear as the Volvo Extreme 40, is a strict one-design catamaran that has been purposely designed and built to race inshore and short offshore regattas. The concept is simple, it is easy to sail, lightweight, easily transportable and like the Volvo Open 70’s that will compete in the race, it is at the forefront of sailing technology.
Created and designed by Olympic Tornado champions Mitch Booth, who has represented both Australia and the Netherlands at Olympic competition, and French Olympic gold medal winner Yves Loday, the boat has been created to fill the gap in grand prix sailboat racing. It is a new generation of mid sized catamaran sure to set the standard for exciting inshore sailing with ’action’ at the forefront of the designer’s mind.
The boats are guaranteed to catch the eye as the 40 ft catamaran is expected to reach boat speeds of 35 knots in flat water in around 25 knots of wind and to fly one hull in as little as 6 knots of wind.
The race series will be launched in the forthcoming months and will attract some of the world’s top sailors and provide audiences all around the globe with an exciting spectacle. The boats will be crewed by four sailors who will be joined by one non-participant, which is likely to be a media guest, celebrity or VIP, enabling them to enjoy the experience first-hand.
Herbert Dercksen, Chief Executive of the new class, said, "By the end of this summer we aim to have a fleet of at least five boats. Three sponsors have already signed up and the first boat will be hitting the water at the beginning of July. Within a year the class is expected to have up to ten boats and I am sure we will see some great racing during the series."
Glenn Bourke, Chief Executive Volvo Ocean Race commented, "The introduction of the Volvo Extreme 40 grand prix series is an exciting addition to our in-port race entertainment package. Can you imagine just how thrilling it will be with these boats flying a hull just feet away from the spectator gallery ? The design characteristics of the boats will ensure stiff competition - and an up close and personal experience for those fortunate enough to secure a ’guest’ spot on board."
– The boat was designed and created by the Olympic Tornado catamaran champions Yves Loday (FRA) and Mitch Booth (AUS/NED).
– The specially designed hull size and two part mast allows the boat to fit in a 40 ft shipping container on its own road trailer. The combined weight of the boat and trailer is approximately 2000 kg.
– To construct ; the hulls slide out on telescopic arms on the trailer to 7m wide ready for the beams to be bolted on. The beam is attached with 8 bolts.
– The mast is erected by using the boom and winching the mast up. After the trampoline has been hooked on, the boat can be launched on the trailer.
– There is no need for a crane for standing the mast or launching the boat. You just need a ramp 8m wide and you are on your way.
– The rigging time from container to sailing is around 5-6 hrs for a crew of 3.
– The boat is fitted with two motors to allow manoeuvring in harbours or marinas.
– The hull shape has been produced by milling at one of the best aeronautic and race car facilities in France. The moulds were produced by Heol composites, which are one of the leaders in high tech boat construction.
– The boat will be produced in an Autoclave from Carbon Fibre and Nomex core. This technology is normally reserved for aircraft construction or F1 car racing with limited use in yacht mast construction. The Autoclave is a pressurised oven that allows a much greater vacuum on the laminate and then baked at 120 degrees Celsius, which produces the ultimate high strength lightweight structure.
– The Volvo Extreme 40 will be the largest boat ever built in Autoclave and will set the new standard in mid size multihull construction.
– LOA : 40 ft
– Beam Max : 23 ft
– Mast Height (2 part mast - 100 kg) : 62 ft
– Main Area : 75m2 – Jib Area : 25m2 – Gennaker Area : 78m2 – Displacement(including safety & engine) : 1250 kg
– Top Speed : 40 kts.
– 4 crew + 1 non participant
11th Hour Racing Team has won The Ocean Race 2022-23, the world’s longest and toughest team sporting event - the first time a US team has won in the 50-year history of the Race.
The next edition of The Ocean Race, scheduled to start from Alicante, Spain in October 2021, will visit 10 international cities, including the start port and the Grand Finale finish in Genoa, Italy in the summer of 2022.
The latest edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, which started in Alicante, Spain in October 2017 and finished in The Hague in the Netherlands in June 2018, will be remembered as the closest in race history, as well as a record-breaking event on many levels.
Dongfeng Race Team has won the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 in the closest finish in race history.
Skipper Charles Caudrelier led his team to victory on the final leg of the race, a 970-mile sprint from Gothenburg, Sweden to The Hague.
Incredibly, it marked the first leg win for the team — it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Charlie Enright’s Vestas 11th Hour Racing showed great patience and sailed a clean race for a victory in the Gothenburg In-Port Race on Sunday.
But it was Xabi Fernández’s MAPFRE team who rode a third place finish on Sunday to win the overall In-Port Race Series, sailing 11 points clear of their closest pursuers, Dongfeng Race Team.
With (…)
The scientific research, using data collected by Race team ‘Turn the Tide on Plastic’, identified over three million micro plastic particles per square kilometre of ocean.
The sub-surface data on micro plastic pollution levels was collected using a state-of-the-art instrument on board their Volvo Ocean 65 racing yacht.
Dennis Conner (left) and Nautica’s David Chu greet the press in front of the New York Yacht Club in New York City, where Team Dennis Conner unveiled its 79-foot America’s Cup challenger Stars & Stripes.
David Chu, founder, chief creative officer and vice-chairman of Nautica, has announced the official apparel sponsorship of Stars & Stripes, the entry of Team Dennis Conner and the New York Yacht Club in the America’s Cup 2003 challenge. Nautica is a leading global fashion and lifestyle company, with products ranging from men’s, women’s and (…)
L’Américain Kelly Slater, six fois champion du monde de Surf, a obtenu une nouvelle wild card de l’ASP, l’Association des Surfers professionnels, pour participer aux épreuves du championnnat du monde 2002. Il fera son retour sur la côte d’Or australienne au mois de mars prochain, lors du Quiksilver Pro.
Steve Fossett, age 57, of Chicago, Ill., and Cory Sertl, age 42, of Rochester, N.Y., today were named 2001 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year, respectively. A panel of sailing journalists selected the two accomplished sailors for this year’s distinction from a short list of six nominees for the Rolex Yachtsman and five nominees for the (…)
On friday 11th, the members of Le Défi, the french team for the America’s Cup 2003 have presented their new main sponsor : the group Areva, which includes Cogema and Framatome, two big nuclear companies.
After ten weeks of polling and 422 votes, the visitors of SeaSailSurf.com have elected Yannick Bestaven as the SeaSailSurfer of the year 2001. He finishes ahead of Bernard Stamm by three votes and Yves Parlier by 111.
Après dix semaines de vote et 422 suffrages exprimés, les visiteurs de SeaSailSurf.com ont élu Yannick Bestaven comme SeaSailSurfer de l’année 2001. Il devance de trois voix Bernard Stamm et de 111 Yves Parlier.
Le Nautor Challenge qui a inscrit deux bateaux dans cette course autour du monde avec Amer Sports One (skipper : Grant Dalton) et Amer Sports Too (skipper : Lisa McDonald – équipage féminin) a annoncé ce matin à Auckland que Paul Cayard embarquait sur Amer Sports One pour la 4e étape, Auckland – Rio, dont le départ sera donné le 27 janvier (…)
Du 13 au 16 juillet, la ville de Brest va vivre au rythme de la Course Cutty Sark des Grands Voiliers. Dès aujourd’hui, plusieurs bateaux ont confirmé leur participation, à l’image du Sedov, du Mutin, de l’Etoile ou bien encore du Rara-Avis.