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5. Vendee Globe 2004/2005
www.vendeeglobe.org - zur Übersicht
Positionstabelle
27.01.2005
27.01-2005
NICK MOLONEY AND SKANDIA ARRIVE SAFELY IN RIO DE JANEIRO
Twenty years ago, Skandia pioneered MultiManager investment within long-term savings products - and we are now bringing the same pioneering spirit to our sponsorship of Nick Moloney.
Supporting the Skandia MultiManager campaign are three of Skandia's leading international fund management partners Invesco Perpetual, Gartmore Investment Managers and Merrill Lynch Investment Managers
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Just as dark descended on a rainy Rio de Janeiro last night, Nick Moloney brought ‘Skandia’ in to dock at the Marina da Gloria. After casting off the tow lines from the Brazilian Navy vessel that had so professionally assisted Moloney in the final part of the operation, he made his own way under engine in to the marina. On entering the port he was met by a small organised team to assist him with the final operation – which included round the world sailor Guillermo Altadil, Mini-Transat sailor Yves Niort and Brazilian based Kiwi Don ‘Jawsie’ Wright. A welcome to Rio beer and steak brought Moloney’s feet back to earth!
This concluded, albeit prematurely, Moloney's first attempt at the Vendée Globe after 80 days of racing in what is surely the toughest and most unforgiving sailing event. Moloney never questioned the boat's ability to make it round, he was only concerned that he could not make it round mentally, fighting the demons of isolation, exhaustion and fear. The keel detached itself from Skandia on Tuesday morning and the shock that Moloney's race was over reverberated through the team, sponsors, family and friends. But the priority was Moloney's safe return which was accomplished last night.
Principal title sponsor, Skandia, supported by the combined efforts of three leading international fund management companies, Gartmore Investment Managers, Merrill Lynch Investment Managers and Invesco Perpetual, were kept fully informed of the situation at all times and have indextained their support throughout. Nick's project represented a unique sponsorship effort that teamed up title sponsor Skandia, with three fund management companies to provide the necessary finance to get Nick to the start line of the Vendée Globe as the Skandia MultiManager project. The Vendée campaign effectively came to an end with the keel failure exactly a year to the day from the date that Skandia announced that they were on board to back Nick in his goal. By May 2004, the other partners had fallen into place to secure his entry into this famous race. Although for Nick, the dream began as a child and he has now pursued this particular dream as far as he can.
“This has been such an amazing team effort” commented a still quite exhausted Moloney, from a grey drizzly Rio...”from friends and family, the shore and office team, right through to the family of Offshore Challenges Partners, and of course in particular the Skandia MultiManager sponsors. There are so many people that have helped me over the past few years to get to the start line, and take on this massive challenge, the Vendée Globe. I really hope that people don’t feel that I’ve let them down. I have certainly done the best I could, and I guess it just wasn’t meant to be this time. Thank you guys for living this one with me, and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible as soon as possible!”
Andre Oszmann, Global Marketing Director for Skandia, has backed Moloney all the way; “After the initial disappointment of Nick's premature termination of the Vendée Globe 2004/05 due to the failure of Skandia's keel, we are obviously relieved that Nick is safe and well and the boat is now docked in Rio. We have been hugely impressed with Nick's commitment and professionalism, he has proven his determination over and over again in the pursuit of his dreams and also in his dedication to helping others enjoy the sport of sailing. Skandia is extremely proud to be associated with Nick and his sailing career, we are sure that he will overcome this disappointment to continue his search for new challenges."
With only 5,000 miles left to go on the solo round the world course, it was his first participation in the race and formed part of his long-held dream to complete 3 big round the world sailing goals - of crewed round the world [1997-98 Whitbread on board Toshiba], fastest non-stop round the world [2002 Jules Verne Trophy on board Orange] and, finally, his ultimate goal of solo, non-stop around the world.
Thousands of messages of support and encouragement have been received since the loss of Skandia's keel as friends and supporters around the globe share in Nick's disappointment, but also relief, of bringing both boat and skipper safely back to land.
Moloney and the Offshore Challenges Support team will now manage the careful de-masting and de-keeling (what is left of it, about 0.5metre), and prepare Skandia to be shipped back to Cowes, England where she will be prepared for the 2005 IMOCA racing season.
For more information visit http://www.nickmoloney.com or contact :
Helen King
hk@offshorechallenges.com
T : +44(0)870 063 0210
M : +44(0)7870 678360
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NOTES :
* Sail 4 Cancer is the official charity of the Skandia Set Sail programme. Through Nick’s own personal challenge on the Vendée Globe, he is hoping to raise through your efforts £1 for every 1km sailed – 42,000 in total! If you would like to help visit : http://www.sail4cancer.org/vendee
* Nick Moloney is one of an impressive group of Skandia Set Sail athletes.
* Skandia Set Sail is a global sponsorship programme that aims to offer people more opportunities to participate in the sport on a broader level. The objectives of the Skandia Set Sail Campaign are to make sailing more accessible, grow the sport's reach and enrich peoples' lives through the sport. The Skandia Set Sail portfolio is divided into three groups; events, teams and athletes.
* The portfolio includes the title sponsorships of Skandia Cowes Week, the world's oldest and largest regatta on the Isle of Wight, UK (title sponsors for 10 years in 2004) and Skandia Geelong Week in Victoria, Australia - now twinned with Skandia Cowes Week; UK sailors Iain Percy and Steve Mitchell in their Athens Star campaign; Sam Davies, the up and coming single-handed yachtswoman and her Figaro campaign; Austrian 470 sailors, Sylvia Vogl and Carolina Flatscher; the Skandia Brown Cup, the Scottish Schools Sailing Championship; Skandia Cowes Youth Week, a leading international match racing championship, the Skandia Yachting Academy (in association with Kit Hobday's Bear of Britain) and the Skandia Maxi, Australia's biggest ocean racing yacht and line-honours winner of the 2003 Sydney-Hobart Race, and the British Paralympic Association Sailing team.
* For further information contact http://www.skandiasetsail.com
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