Spanish Under-30 sailor Willy Altadill will return for his second edition of the Volvo Ocean Race after joining MAPFRE’s squad for 2017-18 DownloadFrancisco Vignale / MAPFRE / Volvo Ocean Race DownloadFrancisco Vignale / MAPFRE / Volvo Ocean Race DownloadFrancisco Vignale / MAPFRE / Volvo Ocean RaceWilly Altadill, the 24-year-old from Barcelona, who made his debut with MAPFRE last race, is the son of round-the-world veteran Guillermo Altadill.The 24-year-old from Barcelona, who made his debut with MAPFRE last race, is the son of round-the-world veteran Guillermo Altadill.Willy is the first sailor to be named for the 2017-18 race as one of the two Under-30s sailors each team must sail with.“My job will be to help the watch captains ensure the boat is sailing as fast as possible,” explained Willy, who is already training with the team in Sanxenxo, northern Spain, and will take the role of trimmer. “The aim right now leading up to the race is to push the boat as hard as possible and try to break things, so that we don’t break them in the race. We can also fine tune the electronics so that all the numbers for the boat are correct, and squeeze the very best out of it.”The youngster joins skipper Xabi Fernández, watch captains Pablo Arrarte and Rob Greenhalgh, and boat captain Ñeti Cuervas-Mons in the MAPFRE ranks. Seven-time Volvo Ocean Racer Neal McDonald will be sports and performance director, and will also sail some legs in 2017-18.In 2014-15, Willy Altadill joined MAPFRE for Leg 4 from Sanya to Auckland, helping the Spanish team to victory in the 6,000-mile plus stage. Xabi was MAPFRE’s stand-in skipper then, and Altadill is grateful not only to the trust his fellow Spaniard put in him, but also the Under-30s rule that is designed to bring on the next generation of Volvo Ocean Race sailor. “For me personally it’s a rule which has enabled me to sail with people with a lot of experience, and learn a great deal from them, as I did in the last race,’ said Altadill. “Now it means I’m joining the boat knowing exactly how everything works, and I can keep evolving.”Skipper Xabi Fernández is delighted with his new recruit. “Willy is young and strong, and good at everything. He sails well, and is a really hard worker as well as a very good trimmer.“I’m sure that he will give his all as he did in the last edition, once again with MAPFRE. Since he was very little he has experienced offshore racing and the Volvo Ocean Race alongside his dad, Guillermo, and you can tell. Since the last race, he has been continuously sailing big boats, and will undoubtedly keep growing in this race.”Guillermo Altadill is a Volvo Ocean Race legend, having sailed in five editions, starting in 1989-90 with Fortuna Extra Lights.

via Spanish Under-30 sailor Willy Altadill will return for his second edition of the Volvo Ocean Race after joining MAPFRE’s squad for 2017-18| Volvo Ocean Race.

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Sutton Timber supplies oak for Havengore

27 Mar 2017

Sutton Timber has been chosen to supply oak for the annual refit of Havengore

Sutton Timber has supplied Fox’s Marina & Boatyard with English Oak for the annual maintenance and refit of the historic Havengore.

Specially commissioned by the London Port Authority in 1954 to act as a flagship and supply vessel, Havengore was constructed in teak over a framework of oak.

In 1965 watched by a worldwide audience of 350 million, Havengore took centre stage during the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill as she was used to carry the former Prime Minister on his final journey along the River Thames.

She fell into disrepair during the 1990s but was rescued and restored in a 15-year multimillion-pound project.

The vessel was selected for Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977, took part in the 200th anniversary of The Battle of Trafalgar, carried members of the royal family as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee celebrations and also led the flotilla for the Queen’s 90th birthday river pageant.

The oak from Sutton timber will be used in the structural replacement of Havengore’s deck beams.

via Boating Business | Sutton Timber supplies oak for Havengore.

Vestas 11th Hour Racing launch Volvo Ocean Race campaign with sustainability message

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Ainhoa Sanchez/Volvo Ocean Race

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Ro Fernandez

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Amory Ross/Volvo Ocean Race

Vestas are returning to the Volvo Ocean Race for a second consecutive edition, after launching their 2017-18 campaign in partnership with 11th Hour Racing at simultaneous events in Newport, Rhode Island and Aarhus – where it was also announced that the fleet will make a ‘fly by’ of the Danish city on the final leg

Vestas are returning to the Volvo Ocean Race for a second consecutive edition, after launching their 2017-18 campaign in partnership with 11th Hour Racing at simultaneous events in Newport, Rhode Island and Aarhus – where it was also announced that the fleet will make a ‘fly by’ of the Danish city on the final leg.

Vestas 11th Hour Racing will be led by the American duo of Charlie Enright and Mark Towill. The team are the fourth to announce for the upcoming edition, which begins on 22 October, and they will use the race to promote a sustainability message around the world.

Enright and Towill had their first Volvo Ocean Race experience as skipper and Team Director of Team Alvimedica in 2014-15.

“It’s an exciting time,” said Enright. “We’ve achieved a strong collective of sponsors, and the boat has now been refitted and branded in Lisbon, waiting for us to get over there and get it out on the water.

“We’re working hard on building a competitive team ahead of the race, and have a couple of transatlantic sailings lined up for April and May.”

The Vestas 11th Hour Racing campaign is a unique platform for Vestas to promote its vision, which is to be the global leader in sustainable energy solutions.

“The Volvo Ocean Race is a proven platform for Vestas and a unique strategic fit to promote our new vision and market-leading energy solutions in our key markets and engage with customers,” said Vestas President and CEO Anders Runevad.

It’s also an ideal fit for 11th Hour Racing, a programme of The Schmidt Family Foundation which establishes strategic partnerships within the sailing and marine communities to promote systemic change for the health of our marine environment.

“Our partnership with 11th Hour Racing sends a very strong signal with two leading players within sustainability combining forces to promote sustainable solutions within wind and water,” added Runevad.

Wendy Schmidt, 11th Hour Racing Co-Founder and President of The Schmidt Family Foundation, said: “Mark and Charlie have been serving as ambassadors for 11th Hour Racing for the past two years, having witnessed first hand during the last Volvo Ocean Race the many ways pollution and plastic debris are destroying ocean life and threatening all of us. Our partnership with Vestas is about inspiring positive change in the way we think about energy and the natural resources of the planet.”

Vestas competed in 2014-15 as Team Vestas Wind – running aground on Leg 2 and rebuilding the boat against all odds to make a landmark return in Lisbon at the start of Leg 8.

This is only the second time in the Race’s history, and the first since 1993-94, that three major team sponsors have returned for a second consecutive Race – with Vestas, Dongfeng and MAPFRE all back on the start line. Team AkzoNobel take the total number of confirmed teams to four with seven months still to go to the start of the race.

The Volvo Ocean Race also revealed that a mark of the course will ensure the fleet will sail close to Dokk1 in Aarhus on the final leg of the 2017-18 race between Gothenburg and The Hague – giving the people of the city a great view of the competing teams on their One Design Volvo Ocean 65s.

“The teams will be on their final leg after racing 45,000 miles and to round the mark off Aarhus will be a great challenge for the fleet, who I’m sure will receive a welcome boost from the Danish public,” said Mark Turner, Volvo Ocean Race CEO. “Denmark has a great history with this race already and today another chapter is written as Aarhus is added to the course.”

Twenty-five Danish sailors have competed in the race to date and two teams have raced under the Danish flag – SAS Baia Viking in 1985-86 and Team Vestas Wind in 2014-15. Vestas 11th Hour Racing will sail under Danish and American flags.

“This will be a great experience for visitors and citizens alike – and will bring wide international attention to Aarhus that will benefit the city’s growth and development,” said Aarhus Mayor Jacob Bundsgaard.

The teams will depart Alicante on 22 October and race 45,000 nautical miles around the world with stops at Lisbon, Cape Town, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Auckland, Itajaí, Newport, Cardiff and Gothenburg before the finish in The Hague.

The One Design concept has reduced the need for campaigns to announce as early as in previous editions and there is no reason why a campaign getting off the ground this summer can’t go on and win the trophy.

via Vestas 11th Hour Racing launch Volvo Ocean Race campaign with sustainability message| Volvo Ocean Race.

Land Rover BAR Academy supplier

15 Mar 2017

The Land Rover BAR Academy wearing their Spinlock T2 jacket

Spinlock is the new official technical supplier of personal protective equipment for the Land Rover BAR Academy.

The academy aims to support talented young British sailors aged between 19 and 24 years old and create a pathway into the America’s Cup.

Chris Hill, CEO of Spinlock, said: “Land Rover BAR saw that we approach things very differently ­ with our level of detail design and production focus, we’re not just trying to conform to rules and regulations, and we’re trying to help people perform better. It’s a performance-led approach that carries across into all parts of sailing.”

The ten-strong team will be wearing their BAR T2 Jackets as they compete for the second year running in the Extreme Sailing Series (ESS) throughout 2017, as well as the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup in June 2017, in Bermuda.

BAR T2 Jacket claims to be one of the most technologically advanced lifejackets, following wind tunnel testing to maximise aerodynamic wind flow over the PFD and innovative safety features, designed with high-agility foiling in mind.

via Boating Business | Land Rover BAR Academy supplier.

Derry-Londonderry to host Clipper Race again

15 Mar 2017

Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland has signed to be a host port in the Clipper 2017-18 Round the World Yacht Race, the fourth consecutive time the race has visited the city.

“Over the past six years the city has welcomed our international crew, supporters and partners with open arms and is an exceptional place to visit and do business with,” said Clipper Race chairman and founder Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. “The spirit of Derry-Londonderry and its people is contagious, which has consistently positioned itself as one of the most popular destinations the race has partnered with in its 20 year history.”

The Clipper stopover has helped raise the profile of the Foyle Maritime Festival added Alderman Hilary McClintock, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council.

The race fleet will arrive in Derry-Londonderry in July 2018.

via Boating Business | Derry-Londonderry to host Clipper Race again.

Global IT services giant HCL Technologies backs Volvo Ocean Race as official IT services provider in 2017-18

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Ainhoa Sanchez/Volvo Ocean Race

HCL Technologies, the global IT services provider, is backing the Volvo Ocean Race as official IT services provider – developing and delivering IT solutions for the 2017-18 edition of the 45,000 nautical mile race around the world.

Alicante, SPAIN, 20 March 2017 – HCL Technologies, the global IT services provider, is backing the Volvo Ocean Race as official IT services provider – developing and delivering IT solutions for the 2017-18 edition of the 45,000 nautical mile race around the world.

The partnership provides a unique opportunity for HCL, which boasts extensive infrastructure and offices in 32 countries, to work in collaboration with the race to deliver a world-class IT platform, helping fans follow the boats during their eight-month ocean marathon and at Host Cities around the world.

The IT infrastructure being built in collaboration with HCL will be the backbone of Volvo Ocean Race’s streaming and TV production for key events such as arrivals, departures and the In-Port Race series.

In addition, the delivery will include vital features such as inter-site connectivity at the race’s global stopovers, digital content delivery, mobile data centres and infrastructure with full redundancy, Wi-Fi networks, and multimedia facilities for media centres and race offices. HCL will provide end-to-end IT support in setting up the Race Villages in all 12 stopovers, enabling Volvo Ocean Race to provide a great viewing experience to its fans as they follow the boats during the offshore legs, and stopovers at Host Cities around the world.

Volvo Ocean Race CEO Mark Turner said: “The upcoming edition of the Volvo Ocean Race will be more digitally focused than ever before. Connecting the expected 3 million Race Village visitors, the 5,000 accredited journalists and our millions of fans around the world is an immense task. Building the complex IT infrastructure that we use for this around the world is a huge challenge, and we’re confident that this partnership with HCL Technologies will allow us to provide fans, media and stakeholders with a more connected experience than ever before.”

At a projected 45,000 nautical miles, and featuring three times as many Southern Ocean miles as in previous editions, the 2017-18 race promises to be one of the most extreme yet.

“We are excited to be supporting such a momentous event in the extreme sporting calendar. The Volvo Ocean Race has become the Everest of racing; representing a life-changing experience for the crews and teams that take part,” said Ashish Gupta, Corporate Vice President & Head of EMEA, HCL Technologies.

“HCL teams from around the world will come together and work tirelessly to drive a world-class, experience for the millions of race followers, who will be using the latest digital technologies to get closer than ever to the action.”

The partnership furthers HCL’s credentials in the sporting arena and follows the company’s global engagement with Manchester United where HCL was selected as the club’s official ‘digital partner’.

The next edition of the race will depart Alicante, Spain, on 22 October 2017, and visit Lisbon, Cape Town, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Auckland, Itajaí, Newport, Cardiff and Gothenburg before concluding in The Hague in June 2018.

About HCL Technologies

HCL Technologies (HCL) is a leading global IT services company that helps global enterprises re–imagine and transform their businesses through Digital technology transformation. HCL operates out of 32 countries and has consolidated revenues of US$ 6.7 billion, for 12 months ended 31st December, 2016. HCL focuses on providing an integrated portfolio of services underlined by its Mode 1–2–3 growth strategy. Mode 1 encompasses the core services in the areas of Applications, Infrastructure, BPO and Engineering & R&D services, leveraging DRYiCETM Autonomics to transform clients’ business and IT landscape, making them ‘lean’ and ‘agile’. Mode 2 focuses on experience–centric and outcome–oriented services such as Digital and Analytics Services (BEYONDigitalTM), IoT WorKSTM, Cloud and Security, utilizing DRYiCETM Orchestration to drive business outcomes and enable enterprise digitalization. Mode 3 strategy is ecosystem–driven, creating innovative IP–partnerships to build products and platforms business.

HCL leverages its global network of integrated co-innovation labs, and global delivery capabilities to provide holistic multi–service delivery in key industry verticals including Financial Services, Manufacturing, Telecommunications, Media, Publishing, Entertainment, Retail CPG, Life Sciences Healthcare, Oil & Gas, Energy & Utilities, Travel, Transportation & Logistics and Government. With 111,092 professionals from diverse nationalities, HCL focuses on creating real value for customers by taking ‘Relationships Beyond the Contract’. For more information, please visit www.hcltech.com

via Global IT services giant HCL Technologies backs Volvo Ocean Race as official IT services provider in 2017-18| Volvo Ocean Race.

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17 March 2017 Dream Start For Velsheda, Winners of the Kings Hundred Guinea Cup

Velsheda made the best start to what promises to be a landmark season for the J Class when they opened the 30th edition of the Caribbean’s St Barth’s Bucket by winning both windward-leeward races and so lifting the Kings Hundred Guinea Cup from the record fleet of six J Class yachts. It is the second time that Velsheda has won the trophy, (one of) the J Class’s most prestigious annual prizes. In 2015 in Falmouth when they last triumphed there were just three boats racing.

In the brisk 16-20kts E’ly breeze Velsheda – which won here last year – nailed two very good starts near the committee boat end of the start line and lead at every mark through the day. Hanuman, which seemed fast downwind, caught distance on the final run and the two ended up in a dead heat on corrected time. But in the second race Hanuman could not catch Velsheda enough and the famous original 1933 launched J Class yacht sits on top of the regatta leaderboard by one clear point.

“Racing just does not get cooler than this. To be throwing these ‘museum pieces’ around a short race course like that in 17-19kts like we are sailing TP52s, it is pretty full on. To do one race like that is hard work, to do two back to back in these conditions is hard work. But we had a lot of fun.” Grinned Ken Read, skipper-helm of Hanuman.

Campbell Field, navigator on the victorious Velsheda reported: “We wanted to keep it clean today, to sail clean and we pretty much did and that is what made the difference. We wanted to get our noses out in front and each time we did and that really let us sail our own race. It was a really nice day. Everything went smoothly. Our boat handling was good. There are some area to improve on but we are happy. It is a great way to start the season. We could not ask for more. And hopefully it is not all downhill from here!”

Only five yachts completed the first race. If Velsheda today had something close to the perfect start to their season, Lionheart did not. They had to retire after starting late in Race 1 because of a failed jib halyard strop and at the second start they fouled Hanuman just before the gun and had to take a penalty.

Velsheda were able to tack on top of Hanuman near half way up the first beat and that was the key to their ability to step away and extend their initial lead. Topaz, with Peter Holmberg steering, showed well in the first race and rounded third ahead of Ranger and Shamrock. Topaz came back at Hanuman slightly on the first run but the black boat was well clear by the second windward turn after staying to the left on the second beat. Topaz took third on corrected time.

Tactician Tom Dodson helped position Velsheda in a strong position off the start line of Race 2, benefiting from being able to ride above Shamrock which was pretty much on the layline to the committee boat. They were able to climb away and soon established a lead. At the top mark they were 30 seconds or so ahead of Hanuman with Ranger rounding third and Topaz fourth. Lionheart fought back and did enough to beat Topaz to fourth on corrected time.

Velsheda’s winning navigator Field continued: “Hanuman are lightning fast downwind and they (other boats) are all running A sails (asymmetric spinnakers) and we like our symmetrical S sail because it gives us better options. In the second race it was a lot tighter and Hanuman still came smoking into us on the run and were within 20 seconds at the final top mark. We knew we would have to defend on the run and that is where the fleet dynamics come in where they had some traffic to deal with. We did some nice hoists and gybes and that made a difference.”

Hanuman’s Read commented: “It was full on. Racing in 18kts and the first time six boats have been on a starting line in history. A bunch of us are shaking the rust off us. The boat kind of bailed us out a few times. Velsheda are sailing very, very well. They deserved to win today. They have set the bar and it is up to us to match it.”

“One windward-leeward race on a day like that is hard. Two races like that are really full on. Packing kites again to be ready for the second race is hard, hard work. Trying to keep it all in one piece is hard. The thing is with these events is you start off with these museum pieces, full of beautiful furniture and the most gorgeous boats on the planet, and all of a sudden you are ripping around the race course like they are a TP52. We don’t know any better. We appreciate them for what they are.”

“It was a shame Lionheart broke their halyard strop before the first race because they are a benchmark boat. But it shows how one small drama can wreck your event right out of the box.” “Our lighter mode is thinking towards Newport and Bermuda. They (Velsheda) had better starts and won the boat. But downwind we have always struggled with this boat but today we kind of felt we could do things we have never done. The boat feels different. And we are learning. We tried a different modes on the beats. But, overall, honestly, it does not get any cooler than this.”

Saint Barths Bucket J Class

Race 1: 1 = Velsheda, 1= Hanuman, 3 Topaz, 4 Ranger, 5 Shamrock RET Lionheart Race 2: 1 Velsheda, 2 Hanuman, 3 Ranger, 4 Lionheart, 5 Topaz, 6 Shamrock Standings after 2 races. 1 Velsheda 2 pts, 2 Hanuman 3pts, 3 Ranger 7pts, 4 Topaz 8pts, 5 Lionheart 11pts, 6 Shamrock 11pts

via Dream Start For Velsheda, Winners of the Kings Hundred Guinea Cup :: News :: J Class Association.

Top female sailors Carolijn Brouwer and Marie Riou join Dongfeng Race Team for Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18

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Martin Keruzoré/Volvo Ocean race

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Benoit Stichelbaut / Dongfeng Race Team

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Eloi Stichelbaut/Dongfeng Race Team

Dongfeng Race Team have selected Carolijn Brouwer and Marie Riou for their Volvo Ocean Race campaign in 2017-18 – a move that confirms the impact of a rule change introduced by the race to encourage mixed male-female crews

Dongfeng Race Team have selected Carolijn Brouwer and Marie Riou for their Volvo Ocean Race campaign in 2017-18 – a move that confirms the impact of a rule change introduced by the race to encourage mixed male-female crews.

The two women bring a wealth of experience to Charles Caudrelier’s team, including a total of five Olympic Games and a host of world titles. They join Jérémie Beyou, Stu Bannatyne and Daryl Wislang, who were announced last week as the first of the campaign’s crew for 2017-18.

Brouwer, 43, is one of the Netherlands’ most respected athletes and a two-time Volvo Ocean Race veteran, having competed with Amer Sports Too in 2001-02 and Team SCA in 2014-15. She is also a former World Sailor of the Year and a three-time Olympian.

She is joined by France’s Riou, 35, who has competed twice at the Olympics, including Rio 2016, and has won four world championships in the Nacra 17 class.

The pair have been selected following an extensive programme of evaluation which included sailing and racing, both inshore and offshore, in Australia and Portugal.

Caudrelier, who will skipper Dongfeng again after securing third place in 2014-15, is delighted with the addition of what he describes as two exceptionally gifted female sailors.

“I chose Carolijn because she beat us many times during the last race when she helmed Team SCA in the In-Port Races,” he explained. “We all knew that she is a good helm and she has a big Olympic past and I really respect that. But her Olympic campaigns have turned her into a very fast driver and she knows where to put the boat.”

He added that Riou’s years of Olympic racing and training would be of great benefit to his squad.

“She is a very good Olympic sailor with tons of experience. She is also from Brittany so she has a background in offshore sailing. She is strong, she has a good spirit – which is the most important thing for me – and she is used to sailing with guys. For her, the Volvo Ocean Race is a dream and, like Carolijn, Marie wants to win.”

The selection of Brouwer and Riou is the first sign that the rule change, brought in by the Volvo Ocean Race in order to encourage female sailors who might otherwise be overlooked due to a perceived lack of physical strength or experience, will have a significant impact across the sport.

Under the new crew rules, all-male teams will be limited to just seven sailors but teams that include female sailors will be able to choose from combinations including seven men plus one or two women; five men plus five women; or 11 women.

Brouwer says that winning the Volvo Ocean Race has been a goal for many years, and she is delighted to be joining a Chinese team which she admired during the last race.

“I’m very proud to be part of the team,” Brouwer said. “One of the reasons I wanted to join Dongfeng Race Team is because of their strong team spirit. The Volvo Ocean Race is unique. It’s the ultimate challenge physically and mentally and, because you are in a team, you get the best out of each other.”

Riou will be making her debut in the race. “I’ve wanted to take part in the Volvo Ocean Race since I was 10 years old,” she said. “Although my main experience is in inshore racing, I have always wanted to race offshore and for me the Volvo Ocean Race is the pinnacle of fully-crewed offshore racing.”

The announcement of the remaining crew members of Dongfeng Race Team will be made in the coming weeks.

Dongfeng are one of three teams to have announced campaigns for the race so far, along with Team AkzoNobel (Netherlands) and MAPFRE (Spain). A fourth team is confirmed and will be announced in late March, with the others to come in the following weeks and months.

The race will start from Alicante on 22 October and visit Lisbon, Cape Town, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Auckland, Itajaí, Newport RI, Cardiff and Gothenburg, before the big finish in The Hague at the end of June.

Sailor: Carolijn Brouwer

Born: 25 July 1973

Place of birth: Leiden, Netherlands

Previous Volvo Ocean Races: 2

Achievements: three-time Olympian and multiple world champion

Sailor: Marie Riou

Born: 21 August 1981

Place of birth: Plougastel-Daoulas, France

Achievements: two-time Olympian and four-time world champion

via Top female sailors Carolijn Brouwer and Marie Riou join Dongfeng Race Team for Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18| Volvo Ocean Race.

MAPFRE snap up Greenhalgh for Volvo Ocean Race bid

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Photo ©María Muiña/ MAPFRE

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Ainhoa Sanchez / Volvo Ocean Race

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Francisco Vignale / MAPFRE / Volvo Ocean Race

Spanish team MAPFRE have signed Britain’s Rob Greenhalgh, a race winner back in 2005-06, as a watch captain for their 2017-18 campaign

Spanish team MAPFRE have signed Britain’s Rob Greenhalgh as a watch captain for their 2017-18 campaign.

Greenhalgh, who returns for his fifth Volvo Ocean Race and second with MAPFRE, is the campaign’s fourth confirmed sailor, following skipper Xabi Fernández, fellow watch captain Pablo Arrarte, and Ñeti Cuervas-Mons, who will be bowman and boat captain.

The quartet boast 14 races between them – experience that will be key as they bid to win Spain’s first ever Volvo Ocean Race trophy.

Greenhalgh knows exactly what it takes to compete in sailing’s toughest team event, having won the race at his first attempt, onboard ABN AMRO ONE in 2005-06.

“I think we have a good boat and we will have a good team,” said the Briton.

The Volvo Ocean Race starts from Alicante on 22 October and the teams will race more than 45,000 nautical miles around the world in a grueling test of sailing skill and endurance. A total of 12 Host Cities will welcome the teams over the course of the race, which lasts more than eight months and finishes in The Hague.

Skipper Xabi is delighted with his new recruit: “Rob has a lot of experience. He has already won a Volvo Ocean Race, has been second in another one and has sailed with so many different people and in all types of boats.

“He is strong, determined and does not compromise. It is always good to have a sailor with the experience Rob has in an important position like watch captain.”

Greenhalgh’s association with the Volvo Ocean Race goes back all the way to 2004, when Kiwi Mike Sanderson called to offer him a position onboard ABN AMRO.

Since then, he’s competed in three more Volvo Ocean Races, and an America’s Cup – and he’s back in the toughest race of all, eager to get his hands on the trophy for a second time.

Everything you need to know about Rob Greenhalgh:

Position: Watch captain

Age: 39

Born: 17.08.1977

Place of Birth: Brighton, UK

Previous Volvo Ocean Race appearances:

2005-06: ABN AMRO ONE (1st)

2008-09: Puma Ocean Racing (2nd)

2011-12: Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (5th)

2014-15: MAPFRE (4th)

America’s Cup:

2007: Team Origin

via MAPFRE snap up Greenhalgh for Volvo Ocean Race bid| Volvo Ocean Race.

HYS unveils new hoist dock

07 Mar 2017

The new hoist dock is part of a continuing programme of major improvements at Hamble Yacht Services

Hamble Yacht Services’ (HYS) new hoist dock, which has been under construction for the past 12 weeks, is fully operational.

The new dock accommodates the yard¹s 80 tonne hoist and a second 40 tonne hoist. It replaces the previous boat lifting dock which was consigned to history after 44 years in service.

“The construction work went very smoothly,” said Robert Bicket of Hamble Yacht Services. “We are delighted with the work carried out by Walcon, which finished on time and on budget.”

The hoist dock has the capacity to lift yachts up to 33.5m length, 7.3m beam and 5.5m draft. Both the hoists have also undergone complete servicing and refurbishment.

Designed by Mayhew Callum, the hoist was built by Walcon Marine, which mobilised its full fleet of three 20m barges to assist with construction and the movement of equipment and materials to the site.

This infrastructure investment is part of a continuing programme of improvements at HYS since it was taken over by its current owners early 2015.

via Boating Business | HYS unveils new hoist dock.