IN BRIEF:
- Ellen MacArthur will compete in the Cowes-St Malo race departing today, the 100th anniversary of this classic event, onboard the multihull B&Q
- Final race for MacArthur and the record-breaking 75-foot trimaran B&Q, as her team move forward in their new venture to race back in the IMOCA 60 monohull class – discussions continue with potential new title sponsors to support this next programme as B&Q sponsorship draws to a close after the summer
IN DEPTH:
Ellen MacArthur will be on the start line off the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes today (13/07/2006), lining up for the start of the Cowes–St. Malo race with her crew that includes boat captain Loik Gallon (FRA), Offshore Challenges Sailing Team shore crew Erwan le Meilleur (FRA) and Sebastian Chenier-Proteau (CAN), plus MacArthur’s business partner and OC Group CEO, Mark Turner (GBR). Turner’s presence perhaps marking the significance of this race that will be the last competitive race for MacArthur and her crew onboard the world record-breaking 75ft trimaran B&Q, as Ellen takes forward her new sailing project heading up a new two-boat Open 60 team to compete in the IMOCA World Championship circuit 2007-09. The title sponsorship with B&Q is drawing to a close and the team are actively in discussions with potential new title sponsors to back this new and exciting programme.
This edition sees the Cowes-St Malo event celebrating its 100th anniversary and over 200 boats are expected to compete from classic yachts to speed machines. The 75-foot trimaran B&Qwill start at midday with the other multihulls as they lead the 200+ strong fleet out of the Solent heading for the finish at the French port of St.Malo, 164 miles away. The race is scheduled to finish in time for the Bastille Day celebrations on Friday 14th July.
“It should be a great spectacle out on the water. Classic racing yachts will be racing alongside modern racing machines. The forecast looks set for some light to moderate conditions, starting with a northerly 6-10 knot breeze and finishing with an easterly 10-15 knots off the French coast, although there is a chance of stronger 25-knot breeze off Alderney. This will be the final race in the calendar of events for the B&Q trimaran and it seems strange and a bit sad that this will be the last race for us. She is an amazing boat that has done us all proud and we are looking forward to this one last race together before we move ahead with the new IMOCA 60 monohull project after the summer.”
The first Cowes-St.Malo race started on the 24th August 1906 with just four entries in total, of which only two finished, the race continued to grow over the years reaching a peak of 300 in the 1970’s. B&Q will line up against a range of boats including several classic yachts, with the oldest entry in the race a 1930’s Gaff Cutter called “Wanda”. The course record of 5 hours, 23 minutes and 33 seconds belongs to the crew of the Maxi catamaran Maiden 2 skippered by Brian Thompson in 2002.
Once in France B&Q will head to Dinard to finish the remaining sailing days with Ellen’s French sponsor Castorama. The trimaran will then head back to the UK in late July to sail with guests throughout Skandia Cowes Week in August.
Updates and results will be posted at http://www.teamellen.com
