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Syndikate Vendee Globe 2008/09 - BT OPEN 60//SEB JOSSE
www.btsebjosse.com - www.vendeeglobe.org - Übersicht
20 January 2009
SEB JOSSE BACK IN EUROPE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE IMOCA SEASON Ahead
In Brief:
- The 'BT' IMOCA 60 will be refitted in Auckland and will ship back to France in April, race-ready for the season ahead
- A closer look at the 2009 programme
- Come and meet Sébastien Josse in Paris at the Vendée Globe race HQ on Thursday, 22nd of January
In detail:
ImageIt's now just over two weeks since Sébastion Josse sailed the BT IMOCA 60 into Auckland harbour bringing to a close the final chapter of his valiant attempt to win the 2008/09 Vendée Globe race. The ending was nothing short of devastating but some consolation can be had from the fact that Sébastien spent 50 days racing with the leading pack proving that both himself and the boat were hugely competitive. |
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The massive capsize in 60-knot winds and furious seas on Boxing Day caused terminal damage to the rudder system that could not be repaired at sea. Sébastien's tactical and competitive race that saw him take the lead no less than seven times, also caught the attention of the watching media and garnered a huge swell of support from his sponsors employees who enthusiastically tracked his every move and shared equally in his disappointment.
Sébastien and BT now safely moored in Viaduct Basin, home of the 2003 America's Cup, have had to watch as the frontrunners escaped Cape Horn and began their race back up the South Atlantic. "It's hard to step back ashore when the guys are going back up the Atlantic and it's not easy to be watching the game from the side of the pitch," said Seb.
ImageMeanwhile, his shore team immediately got to work removing the mast and keel and getting the BT IMOCA 60 inside. The decision has been taken refit BT in Auckland and shipped back in early March to her base in Lorient, France. Not a problem for the BT international shore team comprising Rhys Mellor (a Kiwi, incidentally) and Pierre-Emmanuel Herisse (boat captain) who welcomed Seb at his arrival in Auckland and who now have three additional boat builders working alongside them, led by Paul Quinn who originally supervised the build team of the BT IMOCA 60 in Cowes, UK. Paul-Ed Henry (logistics) and Charlie Carter (engineering) are flying to Auckland tomorrow to complete the shore team. The refit of the boat should last 6-8 weeks under the summer sun of New Zealand.
Sébastien will begin training in earnest for the 2009 IMOCA programme during the first week of May in Brittany. Both skipper and BT, back in fighting mode, will complete a full month of training before heading to Calais for the start of the Calais Round Britain and Ireland Race, starting on Sunday the 21st of June. This crewed race will be followed by a summer in England to compete in The Artemis Challenge during Cowes Week 1-7 August, the classic Fastnet Race that will see 300 boats on the start line off Cowes on Sunday the 9th of August. The key IMOCA race of the 2009 season will be the double-handed Transat Jacques Vabre leaving on 7th of November from Le Havre to Costa Rica.
In addition to the BT IMOCA 60 programme, Nick Moloney will be skippering the BT Extreme 40 in the 2009 Extreme 40 Sailing Series and Ellen will continue working with BT on their CSR programme of events throughout the year as the BT Team Ellen project enters its third year of activity following the launch of the project in September 2007.
Back in France last week, Sébastien Josse will be at the Vendée Globe race HQ in Paris this Thursday, 22nd of January. From 1000-1200GMT, Sébastien will attend the official radio vacation and answer questions from public and journalists. Don't miss the opportunity to meet him!
High-resolution images of the BT Open 60 are now available for download via the media website http://www.btsebjosse.com.
Follow all the action and find out more about the team at the new website http://www.btsebjosse.com
For further information on the BT Team Ellen contact:
Julie Royer
BT Team Ellen Communications Manager
Email: julie.royer@ocgroup.com
Tel: +44 7501 723 121
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