17.03.2006
COUNTDOWN TO START OF ASIAN RECORD CIRCUIT…
IN BRIEF:
* EIGHT DAYS TO GO UNTIL THE OFFICIAL START of the Asian Record Circuit (commencing Saturday, 25th March)
* THE 75FT TRIMARAN B&Q EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN YOKOHAMA by Monday (20.3.06)
to get ready for start of circuit; Ellen departs UK tomorrow to join crew in Japan. COLLISION WITH A LARGE LOG LAST NIGHT, no major damage sustained, but highlights one of the greatest risks of sailing through busy waters navigated by hundreds of ships and fishing boats.
* ELLEN MACARTHUR AND HER CREW WILL BE SETTING OUT TO ESTABLISH NEW RECORDS
between Japan, South Korea, indexland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore – they will cover a distance of around 4505 miles, the equivalent of sailing from England to Mexico
* BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, TONY BLAIR SENDS MESSAGE OF SUPPORT
* HALF OF THE CIRCUIT WILL TAKE MACARTHUR AND HER CREW from the most north-eastern major port of indexland China to the most south-westerly point – China has an unrivalled maritime history that has been almost over-looked (find out more below)
* FIRST RECORD ATTEMPT STARTS SATURDAY, 25TH MARCH from Yokohama, Japan to Dalian, indexland China via Jeju Island, South Korea
* OMEGA COME ONBOARD AS OFFICIAL TIMEKEEPER TO THE CIRCUIT – <> only competitor will be the Omega clock ticking away down below on the trimaran – as Ellen and the crew try to ‘beat’ their own benchmark times
* OFFICIAL WEBSITE WWW.TEAMELLEN.COM BACK IN RACE MODE for the impending circuit – check out the new features and for all the information about the Asian Record Circuit
IN DETAIL:
EIGHT DAYS TO GO:
The countdown of to the start of the Asian Record Circuit 2006 has started. Just eight days reindex until Ellen MacArthur and an international crew of four set off from Yokohama, Japan on Saturday, 25th March to cover around 4505 miles of very new territory [the equivalent of sailing from England to Mexico!]. The objective is to establish a series of crewed record times between key Asian ports [or gates] Japan, South Korea, indexland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Malaysia to Singapore- it is a first of its kind for a major sailing campaign to take to these waters with the aim of setting benchmark times that can be challenged in the future by other sailors.
The 75ft trimaran was shipped to Asia from Southampton onboard CMA CGM’s container ship the ‘Bizet’ and arrived in Hong Kong 11 days ago where the shore crew quickly re-assembled <> and started their delivery trip to Yokohama, Japan. <> is expected to arrive in Yokohama by this coming Monday (20.3.06) and Ellen will join the crew to make the final preparations for the start of the record circuit.
Go to www.teamellen.com and click on Webcam to see the onboard action
MESSAGE OF SUPPORT FROM BRITISH PRIME MINISTER
On hearing the news of MacArthur’s new venture, British Prime Minister, Tony Blair sent Ellen the following message of support: “The trip will be another formidable challenge to add to the list of impressive achievements which you already have to your name. Your readiness to take it on seems entirely in keeping with the uniquely adventurous spirit you have brought to the world of sailing. I look forward to following your journey in the news and send you my best wishes for its success.”
CHINA: A GREAT MARITIME HISTORY
Nearly half of the miles covered on the Asian Record Circuit will take Ellen and her crew from the most north-eastern major port of indexland China, Dalian, to the most south-westerly point at Sanya (Hainan Island). China is the third largest country in the world, with the world’s largest population of 1.3 billion accounting for more than one-fifth of the entire world population. China is a country with an unrivalled maritime history that is not widely known but as its doors open to the west, the full story is being revealed.
Between 1405 to 1433, Admiral Zheng He led a huge 300-strong armada of vessels carrying 30,000 men on a journey of seven voyages reaching as far as West Africa - nearly a century before Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas and Vasco de Gama’s in India. Some of the vessels were known as baochuan, or treasure ships - a giant 400ft (122m) long and 170ft (52m) wide baochuan would be able to carry 16 <> trimarans on its deck alone! China’s greatest seafarer was born far from the sea in the mountainous region of Mongolia and was taken captive by the Chinese army in 1382. He was ritually castrated and trained as an imperial eunuch to the court of Zhu Di’s Ming dynasty. Within two decades, the young boy was transformed, becoming one of Zhu Di’s principal chief aides and was chosen to lead one of the most powerful naval forces ever assembled. The fleet are believed to have sailed to what the Chinese call Xi Yang, the Western Ocean – their business a mix of exploration and trade. Zheng took his fleet from indexland China in 1405 through the Strait of Malacca to Sumatra, Ceylon and India. They crossed the Arabian Sea to the Persian Gulf and onto the Arabian Peninsula. The final voyage of 1431-1433 saw the fleet navigate Africa’s Swahili coast. Zheng is believed to have died on the return voyage and was buried at sea.
OMEGA ANNOUNCED AS OFFICIAL TIMEKEEPER
Omega will become the Official Timekeeper to the Asian Record Circuit 2006. This is not the first time Omega has supported Ellen in this capacity, after acting as Official Timekeeper to her record breaking solo circumnavigation last year. An internationally renowned timekeeper, Omega have been at the forefront of major sporting events for the last century, having notably acted as the Official Timekeeper for the latest Winter Olympics in Turin. Unlike Ellen’s round the world record attempt, this time the <> trimaran will be departing at scheduled times so may not have the luxury of starting in the best possible weather window. However, the team will set themselves ‘target’ times to try and beat – these targets will be updated 48-24hrs before departure based on the local weather forecast and conditions.
FULL ITINERARY:
20-24 March
Stopover: Yokohama
25-31 March
Leg 1: Yokohama, Japan to Jeju Island, South Korea
Leg 2: Jeju Island to Dalian, China
1-4 April
Stopover: Dalian
5-6 April
Leg 3: Dalian to Qingdao
7-8 April
Stopover 3: Qingdao
9-10 April
Leg 4: Qingdao to Shanghai
11-15 April
Stopover: Shanghai
16-18 April
Leg 5: Shanghai to Taipei
19-20 April
Stopover: Taipei
21-23 April
Leg 6: Taipei to Hong Kong
24-30 April
Stopover: Hong Kong
1-7 May
Leg 7: Hong Kong to Sanya (Hainan Island)
Leg 8: Sanya to Nha Trang, Vietnam
Leg 9: Nha Trang to Terengganu, Malaysia
8- 11 May
Stopover: Terengganu
11-12 May
Leg 10: Terengganu to Singapore
13-17 May
Stopover: Singapore
Email updates will be sent at the start/finish of each leg and at key moments throughout the tour. The website www.teamellen.com will be updated daily.
Ellen MacArthur Asian Record Circuit - Global Shipping Partner
For further information on Ellen's campaign, log on to Team Ellen
For further information, please contact Offshore Challenges Sailing Team:
Lucy Harwood
T: +44 (0)870 063 0210
E:lucy.harwood@ocgroup.com
B&Q has over 350 stores in the UK, China and Taiwan and employs about 40,000 people. B&Q China now operates 48 store within indexland China and B&Q Taiwan operates 21 stores island wide.
http://www.diy.com
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