Oceanracing 2001 - EDS Atlantic Challenge

Oceanyachting - EDS Atlantic Challenge 2001
St.Malo-Cuxhaven-Portsmouth-Baltimore-Boston-St.Malo
vom 02.07.- 24.08.2001 - zur Übersicht

Start in St.Malo

News update from Kingfisher Challenges to Dr Krumnacker Segel.de
On Tuesday, for the first time since her epic Vendée Globe voyage, Ellen will skipper her beloved Open 60 monohull 'Kingfisher' out in to the ocean once again. She is competing in the EDS Atlantic Challenge, an 8000 mile race that touches 4 countries, starting from St.Malo, France this Tuesday at 1800 local time. St.Malo is a place of spiritual importance to Ellen and her sponsors, European retailer Kingfisher plc - in November 1998, together they crossed the start line of the Route du Rhum race - Ellen's first big transatlantic solo test, and a race in which Ellen was to outperform expectations - leading to Kingfisher confirming their support for her Vendee Globe campaign.

Unlike the Vendée Globe, this time Ellen won't be alone - the rules permit a small crew of 5, enabling her to push 'Kingfisher' harder than ever before. The fleet is bristling with talent amongst the crews, including many previous Vendée skippers. 1996 Vendée winner Christophe Auguin, celebrated solo skipper Isabelle Autissier, Brit Mike Golding and Roland Jourdain are just a few of the top names racing in this event - the first time these 'solo' boats have been raced fully crewed in an offshore event as a class. More than 8 nationalities are involved, there is an all girls boat skippered by round the world sailor Helena Darvelid, and 6 of the 7 boats have just competed in the Vendée. This race which forms part of the MMA World Championship for the IMOCA class 60 foot boats.
The testing course takes the fleet of 7 top boats from St.Malo, to Cuxhaven / Hamburg (Germany), then to Portsmouth UK with short stops in each port. July 14th, the fleet then restarts to race across the Atlantic Ocean to Baltimore, USA. This is followed by a short sprint again to Boston, and then a final leg back to St.Malo at the end of August.

Ellen, eager to get back out on the racecourse, had this to say about returning to sea to race - I'm really looking forward to racing again with Kingfisher. Whilst we've done a couple of Grand Prix inshore events since the Vendee, which have been excellent, that isn't the same as going offshore and out of sight of land - its been too long since the Vendee! We've got an excellent crew, 'Kingfisher' is well prepared thanks to Nick Moloney and the team, and we're certainly out there to win. Bilou (SILL) has got the better of us so far this year, so we certainly see them as the favourites to beat, but I suspect there is a certain Brit Mike Golding that has something to prove as well after his extremely bad luck in the Vendee. I think its going to be an awesome race.

Ellen is well supported onboard 'Kingfisher' with a host of experience and racing talent from around the world. Co-skipper and guardian of 'Kingfisher' since the Vendée, Australian Nick Moloney has been invaluable to the programme through the post Vendée refit, and workup - overseeing significant improvements to rigging and sails. He brings with him a great variety of racing experience, from the boat to boat action of the America's Cup to the tough offshore experience he has from the Volvo Ocean Race (ex-Whitbread). He's also windsurfed across the Bass Straits (the scene of the Sydney-Hobart disaster) - so lets just say he's not soft!

Fellow Aussie, Ant 'Youngster' Merrington has also been working onboard Kingfisher for a few months now - his experience includes an Olympic campaign in the Laser class, Admirals Cup and Maxi racing. Ant will race all 5 legs as part of the core crew. Mark Turner, the Project Director of Kingfisher Challenges, will also temporarily swap keyboard for rope, and wet his feet onboard Kingfisher for the first 3 legs. His last major event was against Ellen when they first started working together for the solo Mini Transatlantic race in 1997, but he has significant Open 60 and ocean racing experience including the Whitbread race in 1990.
Ellen will return to Europe in August after the leg 3 arrival in Baltimore, to commence intensive training with Alain Gautier, just two up on his trimaran 'Foncia-Kingfisher' - for the final race of the year in November. Replacing Ellen as Navigator for these legs, will be Adrienne Calahan, who brings a wide range of experience from 18 foot skiffs to Tracy Edward's navigator on the Royal, Sun Alliance Jules Verne attempt in 1997.
Yet more offshore racing experience is added to the team with two more crewmembers fresh from The Race, the non-stop fully crewed drag race held last winter - Brian Thompson (ex Playstation) and Herve Jan (ex Club Med). Both have extensive short-handed experience as well. Brian will compete as a favourite in this year's Mini Transat race, and Herve has an Open 60 victory already - with Thomas Coville on Sodebo in the last Transat Jacques Vabre, 1999. For the American leg, the team will be joined by 49er Olympic medallist Jonathan McKee - speed merchant for the sprint leg!
Ellen - Records could tumble!
I have no doubt there is potential, weather conditions permitting, for a record breaking run, either back across the Atlantic or the 24 hour distance record. These boats are easily the fastest of their size, and even single-handed are able to sailed safely at extremely high speeds for long periods of time. With 5 top crew onboard, we're sure to be able to push even harder