Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing recruits world-class sailing quartet

[Source: Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing] The 2008/2009 Volvo Ocean Race winning navigator, Jules Salter from the United Kingdom, heads a quartet of world-class sailing stalwarts signed up to the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team, which will contest the 2011/2012 round-the-world race.

In a major coup for the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA)-backed outfit, Salter is joined by New Zealand’s Craig Satterthwaite as watchleader, Ireland’s Justin Slattery as bowman and the UK’s Simon Fisher.

And with skipper Ian Walker at the helm, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing will likely boast one of the most experienced and decorated sailing teams on the Volvo Ocean Race’s Alicante start line next October.

“The impressive pedigree of these crew members is a clear signal of our intent to be a competitive force in the race,” said His Excellency Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, ADTA - which lead-manages the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team. ‘Further than challenging for competition honours, we hope the team’s knowledge and experience may be fully harnessed to leave a compelling legacy for Abu Dhabi in terms of reigniting a love of the sport among our own youth.”

Having been part of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008/09 winning Ericsson 4 team and a runner up in the 2005/6 campaign aboard Pirates of the Caribbean, Salter, from the Isle of Wight, is one of the most revered navigators in top-level yacht racing. The 42-year-old father of two has also notched up victories in the 2010 Medcup Circuit and the 2010 Louis Vuitton regattas.

From left, Craig Satterthwaite from New Zealand, Simon Fisher from United Kingdom, Ian Walker from United Kingdom, Jules Salter from United Kingdom, Justin Slattery from Ireland, recruited for the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing campaign for the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. Abu Dhabi, 19 November 2010. Photo copyright Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing

Volvo Ocean Race 2005/06 winner, Slattery - the bowman on American businessman Steve Fossett’s record-breaking 2004 world circumnavigation - joins on the back of an impressive run of form. Slattery finished runner-up in the 2010 Louis Vuitton series and won the Maxi One Design Worlds last year.

As part of the 2007 America’s Cup winning Alinghi team, as well as watchleader for 2009 Sydney-Hobart race victors Alfa Romeo, Auckland-born Satterthwaite also brings to the table a wealth of top-tier competitive experience.

And 32-year-old Fisher’s impressive Volvo Ocean Race and America’s Cup expertise over the last decade rounds off a world-class line-up of sailing talent for the emirate’s debut pursuit in the 39,000 nautical mile, round-the-world challenge - widely regarded as the ‘Everest of Sailing’.

"The confirmation of Jules, Craig, Si Fi and Justin as our first sailing team members shows just how serious ADTA is about being successful in this race. This is exactly the calibre of sailor you would like to have beside you in what will be probably the closest fought round-the-world race ever,” said Walker, who will guide the outfit through nine-months of intense, head-to-head sailing across four of the world’s most treacherous oceans and around six continents.

“In these four, we have a very strong foundation of race winning experience upon which to build the rest of the team."

ADTA is in the final stages of appointing the remaining members of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s 11-strong crew, which will include at least one UAE national. The Emirati selection programme is in its latter stages with 20 candidates shortlisted.

The hopefuls are currently preparing to undergo a demanding fitness and endurance programme to assess their mental and physical strength, before sea trials on the Arabian Gulf waters begin next month.

Abu Dhabi’s on-water ambitions are being equally matched by its on-shore preparations as the United Arab Emirates’ capital readies for its New Year 2012 hosting of the Volvo Ocean Race prior to the yachting fleet embarking on its third leg to Sanya, China. The emirate will be the first Middle East stopover in the event’s 37-year history.

ADTA, which was behind the emirate's successful bid to become a 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race home port and the event’s first Official Destination Partner, believes the Abu Dhabi stop-over will be a race highlight and will give visitors a unique opportunity to connect with its centuries-old maritime heritage.

“Race followers can realistically anticipate a welcome like no other,” added Al Muhairi. “The UAE capital will be alive with a packed programme of activity and entertainment that will culminate in a memorable maritime experience and impress upon the attending and watching world Abu Dhabi’s mounting credentials as an international winter yachting destination.”

Video: Ian Walker updates on Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team

Ian Walker, Skipper of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing gives an update on the team and shows us some footage from the region. Abu Dhabi, 2 November 2010. Video copyright Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority

Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority appoints Persico to build VOR yacht

[Source: Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority] Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) has appointed leading global manufacturing firm, PERSICO S.p.A., to build its state-of-the-art racing yacht for Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team to participate in the 2011/12 Volvo Ocean Race, widely considered the ‘Everest of Sailing’.

PERSICO of Bergamo, Italy was appointed following a competitive tender exercise involving local and international suppliers from the UAE, Europe and the Far East.

The yacht build has already commenced in PERSICO’s dedicated manufacturing facility in Northern Italy, in tandem with works in progress by Farr Yacht Design (USA) - one of the world’s foremost racing-yacht design teams - which is responsible for final design geometry.

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing expects to take delivery of its cutting-edge Volvo Open 70 yacht in June 2011, for the final training push before the Volvo Ocean Race 2011/12 sets sail on its nine-month, 39,000 mile journey in October from Alicante, Spain.

“This is becoming a truly international project,” said HE Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, ADTA, which lead-manages the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team. “We are intent in tapping on the best minds and resources the yachting industry can offer to press forward our Volvo Ocean Race ambitions.”

PERSICO has close to two decades experience in the manufacturing of competitive racing yachts, having been behind a number of America’s Cup entrants from Moro di Venezia in 1992 up to Luna Rossa in 2007, which qualified for the event’s semi-finals. The company has also developed RC44 yachts for world-renowned sailor, Russell Coutts.

“We believe PERSICO has the right credentials in terms of manufacturing experience, product innovation and its ability to deliver a highly competitive integrated build solution, so as to be a key enabler of our Volvo Ocean Race ambitions,” explained Al Muhairi.

Being led by PERSICO’s Operations Manager, Mark Somerville, who has been involved with the manufacture of five Volvo Ocean Race yachts and 10 America’s Cup entries, the build will take approximately 45,000 man hours.

“Over the next eight months, under ADTA’s supervision, the team will be involved in every step of the manufacturing process as we continually refine and enhance our Volvo Open 70. Getting it right can mean the difference between first and last,” said Ian Walker, team skipper of the 11-strong Abu Dhabi crew hoping to stake its claim in one of the world’s toughest, most extreme sporting challenges.

Meanwhile, plans are also being progressed with Abu Dhabi stakeholders for the UAE capital’s New Year 2012 hosting of the Volvo Ocean Race prior to the yachting fleet embarking on to its third leg to Sanya, China. The emirate will be the first Middle East stopover in the event’s 37-year history.

“We are determined to make our port stopover the best in race history and the race highlight as befits our three-pronged involvement. We are making Volvo Ocean Race history on three levels - we are the event’s first destination partner, the only Middle East organisation to enter the race and the first Middle East host port,” said Al Muhairi.