02.05.2005
Trimaran title sponsor B&Q is the biggest DIY retailer in Europe and third biggest in the world. http://www.diy.com
TEAM ELLEN: B&Q STARTS RECORD SNSM
IN BRIEF:
* ELLEN AND CREW START RECORD SNSM AT 15:08:47 GMT TODAY
* THE RECORD SNSM IS A 284 MILE RECORD FROM ST NAZAIRE TO ST MALO
* B&Q TO ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH A NEW MAXI CLASS RECORD
Regular updates posted on http://www.teamellen.com
IN DETAIL:
Ellen MacArthur and her 4-man crew on board the trimaran <> started the Record SNSM at 15:08:47 GMT (16:08:47 BST) today (Monday, 2.5.05) off St Nazaire, France. They are setting out to establish a new record for the Maxi class category so, in effect, there is no time to beat but they are hoping to complete this short record in around 24 hours.
B&Q left Lorient, France early this morning and motored upwind to the start line off St Nazaire. For the start there was only a light 7 knot wind from the south: "We are still hoping the breeze will fill in to 15-20kts from the south-west later on for the passage up to Ushant. The breeze should turn more south as we turn the corner at Ushant and we should be able to reach across the north coast of France to St Malo. We are still aiming for just under 24 hours although but unless this breeze fills in, that will be pushing it," said Ellen. "It's great to be out sailing again on <> and to be doing this record with some of the team. It's a great idea which supports the SNSM and makes it doubly worthwhile for us."
The Record SNSM is a 284 miles passage, passing the coasts of Loire Atlantique in Pays de Loire then the coasts of Brittany. This course highlights the 56 SNSM stations between Saint-Nazaire and Saint-Malo. The Socient Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer (SNSM) is the equivalent of the RNLI in the UK, and just like the RNLI is funded solely by public donations.
Already an ORMA 60 trimaran class record was set by Thomas Coville on Sodebo on the 20 April in a time of 1 day, 1 hour, 37 minutes and 17 seconds at an average speed of 11.04 knots. Coville set out along with Michel Desjoyeux, Geant and Thierry Dupré, Gitana X but both Gitana X and Geant were forced to abandon only a few hours into the record attempt due to gear failure.
B&Q crew:
Ellen MacArthur
Loik Gallon
Charles Darbyshire
Rudi Steiness
Cameraman from France 3 national TV network
For further information about the Record SNSM, please visit http://www.recordsnsm.com
For further information, please contact Offshore Challenges:
Lou Newlands or Lucy Harwood
T: +44 (0)870 063 0210
E: lou@offshorechallenges.com or lucy@offshorechallenges.com
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B&Q has over 350 stores in the UK, China and Taiwan and employs about 40,000 people. With its sister DIY company Castorama which has stores in France, Italy and Poland, B&Q is the biggest DIY retailer in Europe and third biggest in the world.
http://www.diy.com
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