Team Russia’s Volvo arrives in Alicante for the start of the Volvo Ocean Race

performance sailingTeam Russia’s Volvo 70, KOTSATKA, reached Alicante in Spain on Monday morning to join the rest of the teams preparing for the 2008 Volvo Ocean Race (formerly known as the Whitbread Round the World Race). The event begins with an in-port race on 4th October before the first leg of their 10 leg race covering nearly 37,000 nautical miles (42,600 miles) of open ocean and 7 in-port races. The gruelling race will see the 8 teams currently entered travel southwards from Spain to encompass Africa, Asia, South and North America before heading back to Europe and finishing in St Petersburg on 27th June 2009.

When asked why would someone want to endure 10 months of crampt living, with little to no sleep, freeze-dried food and the unforgiving, constant motion of the ocean, the skipper of the Chinese-Irish entry GREEN DRAGON, Ian Walker summed it up by saying:

The answer is simple “it is a chance in a lifetime to be part of an incredible sporting event and to pit ourselves against some of the best sailors in the world“ we all want to win. We have a fantastic team both ashore and afloat, and we will share life-changing experiences over the next 10 months.’

All the boats have had to endure a 2,000 nautical mile race qualification, providing many teams with their first chance to really test to the yachts and their sailing tenacity. There are now 8 teams competing after the announcement of the Dutch Team Delta Lloyd joining the line up. The entries:

DELTA LLOYD, Netherlands

ERICSSON RACING TEAM INTERNATIONAL, Sweden

ERICSSON RACING TEAM NORDIC, Sweden

GREEN DRAGON, China-Ireland

PUMA OCEAN RACING, USA

TEAM RUSSIA, Russia

TELEFONICA BLACK, Spain

TELEFONICA BLUE, Spain

The Volvo Ocean Race is this year set to be a spectacle of some of the best sailing to be seen in the oceans and seas of the world, pitting the best talent against the elements and testing the determination and grit of humans living on the edge.
Some information courtesy of Sail-World.com

2008 Cannes boat show – SuperCat charter

Sunreef Catamaran Luxury catamaran charter will be even easier now thanks to fresh new designs of some of the most luxurious catamarans in the world. A 70ft Sunreef PowerCat was unveiled and although this model is privately owned, more are under construction and will be available for charter next year! This magnificent boat contained 5 luxury custom made cabins, with the same quality and style you would expect in any top hotel, ample living space both indoors and out. The flybridge has room for a jacuzzi and bar as well as an ample eating area.

This distinctive and stylish catamaran can be yours for a week in the Mediterranean next year, so book early to avoid disappointment! All the comfort of luxury charter at less than half the price of any equivalent super yacht, with hand picked crew for your unique crewed charter experience it is a recipe for great sailing holidays and unforgettable memories!

Porsche to Design Luxury Mega Yachts

RFF135 image

Porsche Design is teaming up with the high end, Singapore based Royal Falcon Fleet to create the ultimate in billionaire boys' toys; luxury catamarans and megayachts, the first of which is to be a 135 foot luxury motor catamaran, known as the RFF135 (see image) and capable of cruising at upto 35 knots through the oceans of the world.  The result of a design collaboration between the two companies, the Swedish marine engineering firm Kockums and the Australian catamaran company Incat Crowther is expected to be a creature that oozes with luxury, opulence and haute couture whilst using the latest in technology and looking like something that has travelled here from the future.  Porsche will be designing both the exteriors and interiors whilst the other three companies will be taking on the task of creating the technology and engines to make her operate like a dream and wow those cross her path.

Branson to re-attempt breaking the transatlantic world record

Virgin Money sailing yachtSir Richard Branson is to join the British America's Cup hopefuls TEAMORIGIN on board the maxi yacht 'VIRGIN MONEY' this week in an attempt to break the current transatlantic world record for a monohull sailing yacht, currently standing at 6 days, 17 hours, 52 minutes and 39 seconds.  Joining him in the attempt will be his daughter and son Holly and Sam Branson, Holly will also be taking up the role of medic onboard.

Branson is no stranger to world recording-breaking attempts; already holding two other transatlantic world records, one of speed on board the power boat 'Virgin Atlantic Challenger II' and one of size on the hot air balloon 'Virgin Atlantic Flyer'.  This attempt will start from the Ambrose Lighthouse (just out of New York) and finish at Lizard Point, the most South Westerly point of the UK. TEAMORIGIN was set up in January 2007 and aims to win next year's America's Cup to be held in Valencia, Spain.  Their current training for the event will see them competing in other events such as the iShares Cup Extreme 40 series, which finishes in Amsterdam next week.