Raymarine ensures skippers head into Southern Ocean
07. Feb 2003
Raymarine ensures skippers head into Southern Ocean with added confidence.
February 2003, The eleven skippers competing in the 2002/03 Around Alone race are making final preparations for the start of leg 4 from Tauranga, New Zealand to Salvador, Brazil. The race is billed as "the toughest and longest race in any individual sport" and for good reason, as this leg will take the sailors through some of the most treacherous waters known to mankind. Ahead lie the roaring 40's with gale force winds and giant seas, and the screaming 50's with the rounding of Cape Horn. Amongst all this, the skippers have to race solo while avoiding giant drifting icebergs. Preparation and a reliable boat is key to success for these solo sailors.
Raymarine has supplied Class II leader Brad Van Liew with fully integrated equipment on board his boat Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America, the fastest Open 50 in the world. Brad describes how his success has been helped by Raymarine; "It is really important for me to work closely with Raymarine during this leg of the race. It is the Southern Ocean and the wind and waves have nothing to stop them. They just build and build with great momentum. I can't always be at the helm. It is cold, wet and brutal at times. I have to spend time interpreting the weather and making key navigational decisions. Raymarine autopilots allow me the flexibility to do my job - on deck and down below at the nav station onboard Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America. Raymarine's equipment is reliable. I am testing the equipment for Raymarine, making sure that it is bullet proof in a very rugged environment. If it can survive a Southern Ocean storm at 60 South, it is ready for anything!"
As Brad prepares for leg 4 of the Around Alone race, he is confident that his boat is in the best condition. Raymarine's Senior Product Support Engineer, Bob Sims has been at the stopover and has worked with Brad to fine-tune the boat, "I have spent time servicing drive units, which in general show very little wear considering the distance the yachts have covered and hours of work".
Page 2. Raymarine ensures skippers head into Southern Ocean with added confidence
that the drive units have undertaken. The autopilots in general have required minor adjustments and the linear drives have been serviced and re-greased. I have re-conditioned the autopilots on Brad's boat after sea trials in order for it to be ready to face the Southern Ocean's extreme sailing conditions."
Canadian skipper Derek Hatfield, current leader in the Open 40's and 3rd placed in Class II on Spirit of Canada is also confident in his Raymarine autopilot, which has proved to be invaluable during the Around Alone race. In fact, Derek has even nicknamed his autopilot "Joshua". He said "The pilot seems to steer the boat better than I do. The new internal gyrocompass works the waves just like an experienced helmsman. I have complete confidence in the pilot to keep the boat on a fast and accurate course. It is the most important piece of electronics that I have on board".
If you would like to follow the progress of the skippers in the Around Alone leg using RayTech 4.1, Raymarine's customised software you can log on to www.aroundalone.com
Sabina Mollart-Rogerson
Public Relations, Raymarine partner sponsors
Around Alone Race 2002/03
Tel: 00 44 (0) 1935 826451 Fax: 00 44 (0)1935 826551
Mobile: 00 44 (0)7817 030129
ADPR Ltd, 2 North Farm Street, Stoke Sub Hamdon TA14 6QR, England
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