CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand. Image copyright Chris Cameron/CAMPER.
by Warren Douglas, as modified by SailRaceWin
CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand will race in the 1141-nautical mile dash from Auckland to Musket Cove, Fiji.
For skipper Chris Nicholson the Fiji race will be an acid test of more than a year’s work by designers, boat builders, shore crew and the yachtsmen themselves. The yacht will be in full race mode, although the crew will number 13 rather than the 11 permitted for the Volvo Ocean Race, but in all respects it will be a full-on few days.
CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand. Image copyright Chris Cameron/CAMPER.
The VO70 has been in the shed at the Emirates Team New Zealand base for a minor refit following sea-trials and completing a 2000-nautical mile voyage to qualify for entry to the Volvo Ocean Race.
“We are satisfied with the boat’s reliability with the hammering we got in the weeks after the launch. Now we are into tweaking systems and improving crew work so that when we get to the start line in Alicante in November we are ready to go.”
“The Fiji race is an early opportunity to bed in the watch system and work together as a crew. If there are any shortcomings we’ll find them and have time to correct them.”
Chris Nicholson’s ideal weather for the race is a start from Auckland in a moderate south-westerly and hook into the south-easterly trades as they get closer to Fiji. He’s looking for a following wind on the return voyage to Auckland. “We have some down-wind sails that we want to test and a good, long run would be welcome change to the upwind sailing we experienced during the qualifying sail.”
CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand. Image copyright Chris Cameron/CAMPER.
A fleet of 19 will line up for the 2011 edition of the race, with a mix of yachts ranging from the historic Maxi Whitbread Lion New Zealand, to TeamVodafoneSailing competing on their 60ft trimaran.
Although the first start of the race, for the Cruising Division, is on Wednesday, the race, for the Racing Division P, starts at midday on Saturday, June 4. Follow live tracking of the fleet here: http://www.rnzys.org.nz
CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand
