Oceanracing 2001 - Volvo Ocean Race 2001/2002

Volvo Ocean Race 2001/2002

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3. November 2001
1000 Pfund Strafe wegen Klinge unterm Rumpf / Internet-Protest zurueckgezogen
Kapstadt - illbruck Challenge behaelt die Gesamtfuehrung nach dem Sieg in der ersten Etappe des Volvo Ocean Race. Nach zwei Protesten gegen das Leverkusener Boot verhaengte die internationale Jury in Kapstadt/Suedafrika am Freitag Abend (2. November) allerdings in einem Fall eine Geldstrafe von 1000 englischen Pfund (gut 3.000 DM). Dabei ging es um eine Veraenderungam Boot, die nicht den Klassenregeln entsprach. Die "illbruck" hatte unter dem Rumpf am Sail-Drive, der Verbindung zwischen Motor und Schraube, eine scharfe Klinge, um Seetang und Algen waehrend der Fahrt zu durchschneiden, damit diese sich nicht am Ruder verfangen und bremsen koennen. Diese Vorrichtung war vor dem Start in Southampton/England abgebracht worden und ohne Beanstandung durch die Vermessung (Hauptabnahme) vor dem Rennen gegangen.
"Wir halten das Urteil fuer fair und waren zu jeder Zeit davon ueberzeugt, dass es eine gerechte Verhandlung gibt", sagte illbruck Challenge-Projektleiter Glenn Bourke. "Wir wollten zu keiner Zeit etwas verheimlichen. Und da wir einen offiziellen Vermessungsbrief mit dem fraglichen Messer unterm Boot bekommen hatten, hielten wir es nicht fuer zwingend noetig, auf dieses nochmals extra hinzuweisen. Im Nachhinein betrachtet, haetten wir das vielleicht besser tun sollen." Vor der zweiten Etappe muss die Shore Crew diese mit Spachtelmasse eingepasste Klinge nun wieder entfernen.
Zu einer Geldstrafe statt eines Punktabzugs war es gekommen, da die Regattaleitung, die den Protest eingereicht hatte, die Jury davon ueberzeugte, dass die Veraenderung am Boot keinen positiven Einfluss auf den Ausgang der ersten Etappe gehabt habe. Im Gegenteil: Die "illbruck" duerfte durch die Klinge sogar einen etwas groesseren Widerstand im Wasser gehabt haben und dadurch entspechend etwas langsamer geworden sein. Jury-Chairman Bryan Willis: "Normalerweise haette uns das schon in England auffallen muessen. Dann haette es illbruck Challenge sicher sofort entfernt. Das war leider nicht der Fall. So blieb das Syndikat in der Verantwortung, die Klassenregeln einzuhalten, deshalb die Strafe. Aber ein Punktabzug waere nicht gerechtfertigt gewesen."
Der zweite Protest war von "Assa Abloy" (Schweden) eingereicht worden, dem Fuenftplatzierten der ersten Etappe. Dabei ging es um eine Website, die illbruck Challenge zur Nutzung von Wetterinformationen unterwegs benannt hatte. Erstmals darf beim Volvo Ocean Race das Internet genutzt werden. Jedes Boot darf zehn oeffentlich zugaengliche Websites benennen. Die von "Assa Abloy" bemaengelte spanische Seite sei angeblich nicht auf Anhieb zu finden und entsprechend auch nicht oeffentlich. Nach einer dreistuendigen Verhandlung mit Beleuchtung aller Aspekte zog der Antragsteller den Protest zurueck. illbruck Challenge-Meteorologe Chris Bedford hatte den Protestbeteiligten zweifelfrei gezeigt, wie einfach und direkt die Informationen zugaenglich waren, die vor allen in der Biskaya wertvolle Wetterdaten lieferten.
"Nun koennen wir uns voll und ganz auf die zweite schwere Etappe konzentrieren", meinte Glenn Bourke erleichtert. Der Start erfolgt am Sonntag, dem 11. November um 12 Uhr deutscher Zeit in Kapstadt. Die Etappe fuehrt ueber 6.550 Seemeilen nach Sydney/Australien und gilt wegen der schweren Stuerme im Southern Ocean als die vielleicht haerteste der gesamten Regatta.
Weitere Informationen:
Andreas Kling
0027/82/858-0016
akling@illbruck-challenge.com
http://media.illbruck-challenge.de

Cape Town, South Africa, November 3, 2001
Briton Neal McDonald to Skipper ASSA ABLOY for Leg 2 of Volvo Ocean Race
As of today, Saturday, November 3rd, British sailor Neal McDonald (38) from Hamble, UK, will be Skipper of ASSA ABLOY, replacing Roy Heiner (NED). McDonald will join Mark Rudiger (USA) as Co-Skipper at least for Leg 2 (from Cape Town to Sydney). McDonald is recognized as one of the world’s best sailors with an impressive record in ocean racing and short course tactics. He is married to Lisa McDonald (USA), the skipper of Amer Sports Too.
Project Director Richard Brisius commented: ‘Following analysis of the Assa Abloy Racing Team, looking at Leg One and at future legs we have come to the conclusion, bearing in mind that the decision of the team has always been to make a successful project, that we needed to change the leadership onboard the boat and that Roy (Heiner) would no longer be the skipper of the boat. Roy has been a key person in the crucial build up period of the campaign and has been a great ambassador for Assa Abloy and their partners and the Volvo Ocean Race and it makes it really sad that he will not be associated with the campaign.’

He added that these projects [V.O.60 racing campaigns] are now so complex that one type of leadership is needed pre-race and a different type of leadership during the race. ‘We feel certain that the approach that we need now is not the one we had onboard’ he concluded.
He confirmed that Neal McDonald will be the skipper of the boat for Leg 2, adding, ‘Neal is a world class sailor and with the support of the other world class sailors onboard the boat, we are sure we have the best possible set up for Leg 2’.
Brisius further confirmed that ‘Black Tuesday’, (the day that Assa Abloy rounded the Island of Trindade off the Brazilian coast) was only one event during leg one and was nothing to do with the decision at all.
Roy Heiner commented: ‘I am highly disappointed. It is not the dream scenario you go on with. It feels a little bit like that mountain (table Mountain) over there has just come rolling down on top of you. I guess tomorrow the sun comes up again and life goes on. I think Neal is a very good sailor. We had a lot of fun and I have a lot respect for him, and I think he will do a fantastic job. I have often been in Richard’s position and I don’t think it is the easiest of choices to make and in the end I guess it is a product of the professionalising of the sport of sailing. The stakes are higher, the pressures are higher and you have to do what you think is the best for performance and in the end it is a top sport, but life goes on.’ He added that is was a shock to the system and his first goal would be to get the team off to the best start possible. He concluded by saying: ‘I guess I will go and find a tall mountain and reflect on it all.’
Neal McDonald: ‘It is obviously difficult circumstances and as a person, I am sorry to see Roy go and I have enjoyed sailing with him. One of the things that I think our team needs to remember is how much energy and technology he has brought to the campaign and some of our thoughts in the future will be to keep those ideas going. The boat is where it is now, a lot due to Roy’s efforts and input, and it’s a difficult transition for me to make – I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about it. I certainly feel less comfortable sitting here than I’m going to be out on the ocean - that’s one thing I will admit. But from my personal point of view, clearly I am very proud and pleased to have confidence installed in me by our sponsors and our management team and I am looking forward to getting stuck in and getting the next leg organized.’
Co-skipper and Navigator, Mark Rudiger concluded: ‘I have seen more than anybody the work that Roy has done – late nights and a lot of sacrifices. I am going to miss the guy – it wasn’t my first choice but if it’s the choice of the management of the team, then it it’s the best way to win the race, then I’m all supportive of it. So we all go on from here and like Roy said, the sun will come up tomorrow and we will all live to win more races and sail more regattas and I hope I get the chance to sail with Roy again.’
The place left on the boat by the departure of Roy Heiner has yet to be filled, and details on an additional crewmember are expected to be released early next week.