| Kiwi and Brit team up for Transat |
| Friday, 31 October 2003 |
Fresh from smashing the historic transatlantic world speed record by over two days, the leading Kiwi sailor, Mike Sanderson, returns to the Atlantic Ocean once more on Saturday, this time to take on the world's leading short-handed offshore sailors in the prestigious Transat Jacques Vabre.
Sanderson, who is rapidly becoming one of the biggest stars in world sailing, was the helmsman on board Mari Cha IV, the 140-foot schooner that rewrote sailing history earlier this month by crossing the Atlantic in 6 days, 17 hours and 52 minutes. Sanderson and his team beat the previous record by over two days and their amazing achievement attracted headlines all over the world.
The Transat Jacques Vabre (TJV) represents a different test for Sanderson, who will team up with the leading British yachtswoman Emma Richards, who shot to fame earlier this year by becoming the youngest competitor to complete Around Alone, the world's longest and toughest yacht race. Sanderson and Richards will compete in the Open 60 monohull class of the race from Le Havre to Brazil, which will last between three and four weeks. There are a total of 17 boats in the fleet, comprising some of the leading offshore sailors including Mike Golding, Bernard Stamm and Isabelle Autissier although Sanderson will be the only New Zealander in the race.
The duo will be sailing Pindar, an 18-month-old Owen Clark Design Open 60, that was acquired in late August. Pindar – the leading British based international print and electronic media company has been Emma’s sponsor for the last four years. The yacht has undergone a major refit by Emma and her shore crew over the summer, which has included the stripping of the inside to ensure that weight is kept to a minimum and speed is maximised.
Although the Transat Jacques Vabre is Sanderson's first competitive short-handed offshore race he has a vast experience in the world's leading sailing events. In all he has competed in three America's Cup Campaigns, including most recently as mainsheet trimmer on Oracle BMW for the AC 2003. He has also competed in two Whitbread Round The World Races including winning on New Zealand Endeavour with fellow Kiwi Grant Dalton.
Mike commented “The TJV is a very prestige race and a great challenge for me as well as it being a great honour that I am the only Kiwi competing. I am thrilled to be joining Emma and Pindar I believe that she is one of the most talented female sailors in the world, with an extremely enthusiastic and supportive sponsor behind her and I’m confident that with the effort that we have put into the yacht preparation and the level of our outstanding shore crew that we can be very competitive on the water.”
Emma commented “I am really looking forward to getting back on the water again in my first ocean race since Around Alone. I learnt a lot during my solo circumnavigation that I look forward to taking into the TJV. After spending the past nine months sailing on my own, I am really excited to be sailing as part of a team again and in particular with such an experienced sailor as Mike. Our great shore team has spent the summer working hard on the new Pindar, and I am sure that we can be real contenders in this race.”
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