Tentacles on Mar Mostro (Photo by George Bekris)
Mar Mostro is in the water and here are some images, courtesy of George Bekris, of some of her details.
Bow view of Puma (Photo by George Bekris)
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- Tentacles on Mar Mostro (Photo by George Bekris)
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- Bow view of Puma (Photo by George Bekris)
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For More Images Of Mar Mostro Under sail by George Bekris click HERE
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Ian Walker ( Photo by Dave Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race )
Two-time Olympic medallist, Ian Walker of Great Britain, has taken the helm as skipper for Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race title pursuit, as the emirate’s newest sporting outfit readies for the ‘Everest of Sailing’.
Appointed by the team’s backer, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), Walker will lead an 11-strong crew hoping to stake its claim in one of the world’s toughest, most extreme sporting challenges.
ADTA, which was behind the emirate’s successful bid to become a Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 host city, believes Walker’s appointment is a major coup for Abu Dhabi’s inaugural title tilt.
“Ian is the lynchpin in the dream team we are determined to secure,” explained Ahmed Hussein, Deputy Director General, ADTA. “His high profile sends a signal of the seriousness of our ambitions in a sport which will help us build international awareness of our long maritime pedigree and exceptional coastline and surrounding waters.”
As design consultant on ADTA’s planned, specially designed Volvo Open 70, Walker will be out to capitalise on years of experience to guide the outfit through nine-months of intense, head-to-head sailing over 39,000 nautical miles comprising four of the world’s most treacherous oceans.
“The Volvo Ocean Race is mentally and physically exhausting. The whole project is quite daunting, but it is easier to comprehend having done the race before. I have huge respect for the yachts and the race and we will be as prepared as we possibly can be,” said Walker, one of the world’s leading helmsmen and tacticians.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to build a winning team both on and off the water. It is a huge challenge, yet we are confident we will compete for top honours. We have a unique opportunity to do something special with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing.
“The emirate’s participation is a huge step forward for sailing. Abu Dhabi is a great venue and the conditions are perfect for a sailing destination. This will certainly encourage other sailing events and championships to come to this part of the world and is already inspiring the local population to get fully behind sailing. The entire emirate, including nationals, is eager to embrace the race and get behind its team. This is going to be a fantastic journey.”
ADTA and Walker, who lives in Southampton, UK, are also currently in the final stages of appointing the team’s other crew members, and are committed to including a UAE national in the sporting team and another two on the shore team.
“I think it is crucial to have the right mix of youth and experience and I also like the idea of an internationally-represented crew. Obviously, you need the right mix of skills such as helming, trimming, bowmen, sailmaking, rigging and engineering, yet it is just as important to select people who will work well as a team. That is what we are aiming for with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing,” said the 40-year-old graduate of Cambridge University – one of the UK’s ‘Ivy League’ institutions.
Knut Frostad, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race commented, “We are very pleased to have Ian Walker back in our race and believe he will be an excellent skipper and leader for Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing. The host city is an excellent venue for sailing and hopefully this project will encourage and ignite passion for sailing within the region.”
Walker, a father of two, was the skipper and sailing manager of the 2002 British America’s Cup Team. He has accrued a wealth of sailing experience in a two-decade long career, which includes coaching the 2004 British Olympic Gold medal winning women’s keelboat sailing team, winning the TP52 Global Championship, and leading the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race outfit, Green Dragon.
Plans are being progressed with Abu Dhabi stakeholders for the UAE capital’s New Year 2012 hosting of the Volvo Ocean Race, when it sails into the sport’s record books as the first Middle East stopover in the event’s 37-year history
Galway Port During 2008-08 VOR Stopover (Phoito by Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race)
Galway, which staged a hugely successful stopover in 2008-09, is back on the map again – this time as the finish port for the 2011-12 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race.
Galway withstood strong opposition from several rival cities in the official port bidding process to earn the right to host not only the finale but also the overall prize-giving ceremony.
In 2008-09, Galway was the stopover for the end of the transatlantic leg from Boston. This time the fleet will sail from Lorient in France back to the Emerald Isle.
At today’s announcement, Volvo Ocean Race CEO Knut Frostad said that the interest in hosting the event, particularly in Europe, had been “overwhelming”. He added that he was delighted the race was returning to Irish shores.
“I am very proud to confirm Ireland’s participation and Galway will be a magnificent port to stage the finish of the event,” he said.
“We have already experienced the enthusiasm that abounds in Ireland for the race and we are looking forward to bringing the competition to its conclusion in a country that really knows how to celebrate.”
At a press conference to mark the occasion, Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) Brian Cowen, said: “The 2009 stopover in Galway made an abiding impression on the sailors, support crews, organisers and media, who were immersed in the warmth of an Irish welcome.
“Their presence, in turn, had an enormous beneficial impact on Galway, the west of Ireland and indeed the entire country. Their arrival here was spectacular and their visit helped generate a massive 55 million Euros for the regional economy, more than one third higher than the original projections
“Given its economic benefits and its importance to Irish tourism, I am more than happy to welcome the return of the Volvo Ocean Race to our shores and pledge our support for the event.”
The Galway stopover, in May 2009, was one of the standout successes of the 2008-09 race. A crowd of 30,000 flocked to the dockside for the arrival of the first boats home in the early hours. It set the tone for what was to follow.
Over 650,000 spectators filed through the race village during the week-long event. The crowd peaked at 62,000 on the in-port race day alone – with the seaside resort of Salthill drawing a further 120,000 visitors.
Green Dragon, the Irish/Chinese entry, grabbed a podium position by finishing third into its ‘home port’ at end of an eventful leg 7, triggering wild celebrations. The reception stunned skipper Ian Walker and his crew. Walker’s entry was the second Irish boat to contest the event after NCB Ireland in the 1989-90 Whitbread.
The balance sheet looked healthy as well with the final economic impact figure put at Euros 55.8 million by Deloitte. That was 30% above initial projections.
Galway completes the list of European cities hosting the 2011-12 race. The remaining ports will be introduced during the remainder of March.
Simulation of a Future Groupama VOR
The Groupama Insurance Group is confirming its commitment to sailing by renewing its partnership with sailor Franck Cammas until 2015
Committed to sailing since 1997 alongside Franck Cammas, the Groupama Group has decided to renew its trust in its skipper. Major protagonists in oceanic sailing aboard the Groupama trimarans, Groupama 2 and Groupama 3, and as a follow-up to the Jules Verne Trophy, the French insurer and sailor will be attacking the most closely contested and most international of crewed ocean races, the Volvo Ocean Race.
On stand-by in the port of Le Château in Brest since 1st November to set off on its bid to conquer the Jules Verne Trophy aboard the 32 metre maxi trimaran, Groupama and Franck Cammas today announced their participation in the next two editions of the Volvo Ocean Race, formerly the Whitbread race, a crewed circumnavigation of the globe with stopovers.
“It’s now been over 12 years as owner that we’ve been writing pages in our shared history with Franck Cammas and the Groupama team. Today, we’ve decided to continue this commitment by participating in the Volvo Ocean Race to inspire a more international dynamic in our common project. Indeed Groupama is developing strong links overseas – where we carry out nearly 30% of our business – and the Volvo Ocean Race is clearly the most suitable sports event to reflect our Group’s new expansion” states Frédérique Granado, Director of External Communications at Groupama. “We trust in Franck to take up this new challenge as we appreciate his ability to create a team, manage a crew and also the design of the most high performance boats. These qualities will be decisive in the Volvo Ocean Race”.
Groupama 3 Crew For Jules Verne Trophy Attempt 2009 (Photo by Yvan Zedda)
The duration of this commitment has enabled Groupama to become one of the most memorised French brands in the sailing world with some very strong attributes associated with the Group’s image including audacity, openness, innovation and human commitment.
All these values further add to the cohesion and the strong sense of belonging amongst the Group’s 38,500 employees and 70,000 members.
Despite concentrating on his imminent departure on the Jules Verne Trophy, the skipper of Groupama is delighted: “Groupama is once again showing its trust in me at the very moment where we’re committing to a new challenge, whilst a lot of sponsors wait for sports events to draw to a close before announcing that they’re renewing a partnership. This is even more motivating for me within the context of the Jules Verne Trophy and makes me keen to pay Groupama back for the trust they have shown.
We’re committing to the Volvo Ocean Race thanks to the support and trust demonstrated by Groupama, our loyal partner. For our team it’s a huge responsibility that we’re tackling with enthusiasm and determination.
I am very proud to be able to benefit from such commitment and such loyalty and I’d like to make the most of this opportunity to thank all the Group’s representatives and colleagues for their unfailing support during what has been over 12 years.”
Groupama 3 Crew Preparing For The Jules Verne Trophy (Photo by Eric Loizeau)
Whilst he is sailing around the world in a bid to conquer the Jules Verne Trophy aboard his maxi trimaran, Franck Cammas will be able to count on his team to prepare for the Volvo: “We’ve already chosen the naval architect with whom our team will be working. It’s Juan Kouyumdjian who has already collaborated with teams participating in the Volvo Ocean Race and won the last two editions of the race. He will be starting work with Stéphane Guilbaud and the team”.
As regards the organisation, Knut Frostad, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race is very pleased about the return of a French boat to the crewed round the world: “The French certainly have their place in the Volvo against the cream of the Anglo-Saxon and European crews. It’s excellent news that the Groupama team is joining the race. I have known Franck Cammas and his team for a long time. They’re formidable competitors, who are remarkably well organised. I wish them a warm welcome”.
The Volvo Ocean Race
Crewed round the world with stopovers in a monohull, organised every 3 years for a 9 month race period;
First edition in 1973 under the name of Whitbread; rechristened the Volvo Ocean Race in 2002;
Race for the 70 foot monohull class
For the 2008/2009 edition, there were 8 participating teams comprising 6 different nationalities (Ericsson (2 boats), Puma, Telefonica (2 boats), Delta Lloyd …)
Groupama 3 Crew Scale Mont Blanc (Photo by Eric Loizeau)
Groupama 3 Crew On Mont Blanc (Photo by Eric Loizeau)
