Wednesday, June 18, 2008

The Green Team’s Volvo Open 70 is sailing

[Source: Green Team] The boat was lifted in to the water on Monday 16th June and then went for its inaugural sail yesterday Tuesday. The Reichel Pugh designed boat, built by McConaghy Boats in China has been based in Gosport, UK since its arrival from China. The team including 15 shore crew, boat builders and the race crew have worked solidly for the last 10 days to prepare the boat for its first sail ahead of schedule.

The boat is a truly international affair; the build has been funded privately by Irish investors, and the build was in China with a US design. To complete the jigsaw a number of key components have flown in from around the world: the mast was made by Southern Spars New Zealand and flown to the UK via Alicante, the sails from North Sails UK; rudders and dagger boards from McConaghy Australia; keel bulb from Irons Brothers UK and the keel fin built in the USA. Last week the Green Team announced their crew which is also an international affair with crew from Ireland, UK, Australia and New Zealand although the Irish feature strongly including top Irish ocean sailors Damian Foxall and Justin Slattery.

After yesterday’s sail Ian walker skipper commented: “We sailed today for five hours in perfect conditions. Starting in no wind we slowly loaded the boat up and quickly got sailing with full cant on the keel in 15 knots of wind. As always with new boats there were some glitches and we already have some modifications to make but it was overwhelmingly positive. The boat feels beautifully balanced, the keel system is working well and the mast and sails set up nicely. It is a fantastic feeling to be out on the water with her after so much hard work by everyone concerned. I was particularly pleased we got out sailing for Tom Braidwood who project managed the build for us in China and who had to return to Australia immediately after sailing yesterday for the birth of his second child”

The team will be based in Endeavour Quay, Gosport until the end of June when they will head to Ireland to setup a training camp, before the final move to Alicante at the end of August.

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2 Comments:

At 12:13 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Photos or ain't happend!

 
At 11:47 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Here is a photo...
http://www.afloat.ie/afloat/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=411&Itemid=1

 

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