SPEEDBOAT gets ready for Newport to Bermuda Race 2008

Speedboat in Newport for the 2008 Newport to Bermuda race, starts 20th June.... Mike Sanderson and the SPEEDBOAT crew have been busy preparing the 100ft maxi boat for its first big offshore race from Newport to Bermuda. With the start just days away shore crew are busy putting on the finishing touches while the sailing crew are spending as much time as possible getting to know the boat and its capabilities. Last weekend SPEEDBOAT participated in the 154th New York Yacht Club regatta. The regatta consisted of a TWO-Day series last Saturday and Sunday, held 2 miles out from Newport RI, infamous harbour. Although conditions were light and not ideal for SPEEDBOAT, TEAMORIGIN took the opportunity to get a part of its core sailing crew sailing together for the first time as a team. The sailing team was joined on the water by SPEEDBOAT designer and TEAMORIGIN principal designer, Juan Kouyoumdjian. Mike Sanderon said   "We have now sailed the boat all of five days, and in those five days we have managed to do four races already!! This just highlights the amazing job that the guys designing, building and preparing the boat have done. For the New York Yacht Club annual regatta this weekend it was just about trying to get to know the boat and what better way then to put a supermaxi through a 2 mile windward leeward race series!! There is no doubt by us battling through this we will be better off for our ultimate goal this week the Newport Bermuda race. Tonight we are off on an Overnight trip to further test the boat and then the rest of the days between now and friday's start day will be used to get her ready for this what can be a very tough Ocean race" Last night SPEEDBOAT spent its first night offshore as a traning excercise in the lead up to the race, giving the crew a good opportunity to put the new boat through its paces. New photo's are available for viewing in the gallery. Track the race live online on the Newport to Bermuda race website www.bermudarace.com