Green Team in the groove Although Irish businessman Eamon Conneely, and skipper of the Green Team, Ian Walker, are both new to the Volvo Ocean Race, Conneely has had aspirations to be involved for some time. Walker says Eamon’s interest in the Volvo Ocean Race was sparked by competing in the Round Ireland Race on a Volvo 60 in 2004. “Ever since, he has wanted to be involved with an offshore campaign like this,” says Walker.
The driving motivation to enter the Green Team was really brought about by the announcement of Galway as a stopover for the race. According to Walker, Eamon is very proud of his Galway roots and his previous boat, Patches, was named after the town in Connemara where Conneely grew up. His home and business are also in Galway. “I am sure Eamon will do some sailing in the build-up to the race and then maybe onboard for some of the in-port races.” Walker had his first sail on a Volvo Open 70 during the Sydney-Hobart race last December when he was on board Matt Allen’s Ichi Bahn, the Australian entry in the last Volvo Ocean Race.
“I gained a huge amount from the race to Hobart,” he says. “I especially learned some specific sail design criteria which will go straight into the programme as well as deck layout information. But if I had to summarize, it was more useful to be out on the ocean in a Volvo 70 than sitting in the office, discussing how to manoeuvre one.” It is always a good formula to have a ‘home town boat’ for the public to get behind and the Irish public will be able to support their team in person when the in-port race is held in Galway. Walker is sure that the Green Team boat will be a quick one.
Although the Irish entry was a relatively late entry to the race, the build team is making up the ground at an impressive rate and Walker is delighted with the progress of their Reichel Pugh designed boat which is under construction at the McConaghy Boats facility in China. “The hull was turned at the beginning of February ready for the deck to be fitted, and the bulkheads and structure are complete. We are now assembling all the parts as well as some of the internal fittings. Reichel Pugh and McConaghy have built many boats together and that is invaluable when time is short. We are using the North Design Group for sail design with Simon Fry overseeing the development programme.
Once the hull has been completely assembled, we will ship everything to Southampton by the end of May, including the mast from New Zealand and the fin from the USA. The bulb is being manufactured in the UK.” Ericsson Racing Team lights up It was standing room only as the first of the new Ericsson boats built for the Volvo Ocean Race hit the water for the first time in Barcelona, the Catalan capital, on February 12.
Ericsson Racing Team proudly unveiled the first of their two Juan Kouyoumdjian-designed boats in Barcelona to the world’s press. Puma opts for two-pronged approach Puma Racing Team, based in Newport Rhode Island on the USA east coast, is using a somewhat different approach from the other teams in their preparation. “Really we have had a two-pronged preparation,” explains skipper Ken Read. “In Rhode Island we have been using PUMA Avanti, the old ABN AMRO Two, as our guinea pig, our test boat. It literally has wires coming out of it and we have been scrutinizing every piece of technology that went into the build.
“We didn’t want to waste design time testing people, so when George David gave us the opportunity of using his 90ft Rambler, we saw it as a great way to train. We have sailed with the right number of people and we have encountered some pretty vicious storms, especially in the Rolex Fastnet and Middle Sea Races. It was pretty good training for the race ahead. “When you are out in the ocean under race conditions and often in harm’s way, you learn a lot more about yourself and the people around you.
“We estimate to be sailing our new race boat in May, it is difficult to say exactly. It is like building a house; some days we make a great leap forward and others we have a little trauma and have a little fire to put out. April or May would be about right.” Russia looks to spring The delivery of the Team Russia boat, being built by Green Marine in Lymington, is well on course. “The deck was joined to the hull in January and throughout February the second fit was in full swing; engine, winches and associated deck gear were all put in place,” says the boat’s designer, Britain’s Rob Humphreys. “We plan to have the boat in the water by April and at the moment, we see no reason for any alteration to our plans.” Farr speaks for Spanish Details of the two-boat Spanish team are very much unknown, however principal designer, Russ Bowler, at Farr Yacht Design suggests it will be a looker.
“You will be stunned when we finally unveil the new boats some time in April or May,” he says. “The new route has made the research and design work far more complex and Farr Yacht Design has had a very new type of relationship for the next race. “In the past we have designed boats for various clients and they have had to be somewhat guarded in our relationship, to avoid the possibility of design secrets going to other teams. This time we are working exclusively for one client which means that we can have a totally open relationship.” The final countdown So, as we enter the final countdown to the 10th running of the most successful round the world race, all eyes are on the seven teams as, one by one, they launch their new boats and begin their on-the-water training. For all the latest news and views, log on to www.volvooceanrace.org
