Image © Martinez/McKay
Offshore racing
Rhum race and Trophée Jules Verne for Ellen MacArthur
Kingfisher plc announces five-year title sponsorship deal
jeudi 3 janvier 2002 –
Kingfisher plc, a leading international retailer for the home, announced today at the London Boat Show that it would be continuing it’s sponsorship of Ellen MacArthur MBE with a new five-year title sponsorship deal.
Andrew Mills, Director of Corporate Affairs, explained the compelling reasons for continuing this relationship : “Ellen’s remarkable achievements over the last three years have exceeded all our expectations. We strongly believe that Ellen represents the qualities we value highly as a company - determination, skill and professionalism, combined with the ambition and ability to succeed. She is a constant inspiration to our 90,000+ employees around the globe, and we see parallels between her international ambition and our own. We are delighted to continue to support Ellen through the highs-and-lows of racing across the oceans.”
Ellen believes that she still has much to learn and is looking forward to the challenges ahead : “I intend to use the next few years to expand my knowledge and experience, both technically, personally and as part of the team. As my objectives remain focused on the multihull circuit, I do not plan to compete in the 2004 Vendée Globe, it’s a tough race to do twice in a row. However that does not mean that I have ruled it out for the future !”
Before her shift to multihulls, Ellen will race her beloved monohull Kingfisher in possibly the boat’s last serious solo race with Ellen at the helm – the 2002 Route du Rhum. This is a 3,000-mile transatlantic race against the world’s best sailors and is France’s biggest sailing event outside of the Vendée Globe, the solo round-the-word race that put Ellen and Kingfisher on the map.
The Southern Ocean will follow next Winter – this time as part of a team - with Ellen and a 12-strong crew bidding for the Jules Verne Trophy for the fastest boat around the globe, in any sailing vessel with an unspecified number of crew members. The current record is 71 days, 14 hours, 22 mins and 8 seconds.
The programme will then build towards the ultimate trophy of success in the trimaran division of the 2006 Route du Rhum with a new 3-hulled ’Kingfisher’ launched during 2005.
– Information Kingfisher Challenge / www.kingfisherchallenges.com
PROGRAMME FOR ELLEN MACARTHUR
2002 in detail
Feb - April : Ellen completes her book, "Taking on the World" for publication in the Autumn.
Nick Moloney, key part of the sailing team, will compete with Bruno Peyron on his Jules Verne attempt.
April 25 - 28 : Ellen crews for Alain Gautier on the new ’Foncia’ in first ORMA multihull Grand Prix, Atlantic coast.
May 1 -4 : ’Kingfisher’ monohull races IMOCA Grand Prix Larmor Plage.
May 12 : ’Kingfisher’ monohull races La Regatta de Rubicon, 3000 mile IMOCA race France-Canaries-Italy.
May 20 : Ellen returns to France to race with Alain on Foncia in the ’Course des Phares’ (Lighthouse race) from Calais-Calais.
June / July : Solo training on ’Kingfisher’ monohull.
Aug - Dec : Work-up Jules Verne boat, possible record attempts in the Atlantic.
Nov 10 : Route du Rhum solo transatlantic race on ’Kingfisher’ monohull.
2003
Jan - April : Possible Jules Verne round world record attempt [currently 71 days, 14 hours, 22 mins, 8 seconds] on existing maxi catamaran, ’Kingfisher2’.
May - Oct : Open 60 trimaran ORMA season with Alain Gautier culminating in the Transat Jacques Vabre, once again Le Havre (France) - Salvador (Brazil) in November.
Plus racing on ’Kingfisher’ monohull, on the IMOCA circuit with the Offshore Challenges Sailing Team.
2004-2006
Building towards 2005 launch of new 60 foot trimaran ’Kingfisher3’, and full entry of the ORMA circuit, culminating with the Route du Rhum in November 2006.
Portfolio
Dans la même rubrique
-
en : Offshore racing | Cowes - Cherbourg
Rolex Fastnet Race 2025 : Loison and Kelbert’s JPK 1050 crowned overall winner
Alexis Loison and Jean-Pierre Kelbert’s JPK 1050 Léon has been crowned overall winner of the Rolex Fastnet Race. No other boat still racing on the 695 nautical mile course can catch the French doublehanded duo for overall honours in this, the 51st edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s offshore classic. -
en : Cowes • Team racing
The Admiral’s Cup : Yacht Club de Monaco wins the 2025 edition
The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) is delighted to announce the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) as the winner of the 2025 Admiral’s Cup. After an intense battle during the RORC Channel Race, six inshore races in the Solent and the prestigious finale, the Rolex Fastnet Race, the Yacht Club de Monaco team is victorious. Runner-up for the Admiral’s Cup (…) -
en : Trimaran SVR-Lazartigue
Tom Laperche, winner of the Rolex Fastnet Race : "This is my first victory as skipper"
Aboard Trimaran SVR-Lazartigue, skipper Tom Laperche and his crew claimed victory this Monday, July 28, in the 51st edition of the legendary Rolex Fastnet Race, from Cowes (UK) to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin (France). Already winners of the previous edition and current course record holders, the crew delivered a strong performance just months ahead (…) -
en : New York Yacht Club & Royal Ocean Racing Club
Transatlantic Race 2025 : Line Honours for Christian Zugel’s Volvo 70 Tschüss 2
Volvo 70 Tschüss 2 (USA), owned by Christian Zugel and co-skippered by Johnny Mordaunt, has taken Line Honours in the West to East Transatlantic Race 2025 in an elapsed time of 07 Day 15 Hrs 29 Mins and 10 Secs. Tschüss 2 Crew : Christian Zugel, Johnny Mordaunt, Al Fraser, Andrew McLean, Campbell Field, Christopher Welch, Edward Myers, Fredric (…) -
en : International Maxi Association
Maxi victory for local heroes in 151 Miglia-Trofeo Cetilar
It has been a long time coming after spending much of the 2024 season finishing second and even continuing this in the recent IMA Maxi European Championship, but finally Guido Paolo Gamucci’s Cippa Lippa X has won a race. On Saturday morning at 1012 off Marina di Punta Ala, the white-hulled canting keel Mylius 60 crossed the finish line of the (…) -
en : Leg 1 : Antigua - Panama
McIntyre Mini Globe : 15 boats set sail from the Caribbean Island of Antigua Barbuda
The inaugural McIntyre Mini Globe Race (MGR) has officially set sail, and what a start it’s been ! The first leg from Antigua to Panama has already delivered drama, camaraderie, and a masterclass in offshore sailing in these Mighty Mini’s. With 15 ALMA Class Globe 580s battling it out over 1,200 nautical miles, the MGR is proving to be (…)
A la une
Articles les plus récents
-
en : One design racing
44Cup Marstand 2025 : Another win for Vladimir Prosikhin Team Nika
While the penultimate day of racing at the 44Cup Marstand was cancelled due to excess wind, today conditions off the paradise Swedish island for the final three races were still boisterous, less due to the southwesterly wind being in the high teens, but from the lumpy residual sea state from Friday’s gale. -
en : New York Yacht Club & Royal Ocean Racing Club
Transatlantic Race 2025 : Line Honours for Christian Zugel’s Volvo 70 Tschüss 2
Volvo 70 Tschüss 2 (USA), owned by Christian Zugel and co-skippered by Johnny Mordaunt, has taken Line Honours in the West to East Transatlantic Race 2025 in an elapsed time of 07 Day 15 Hrs 29 Mins and 10 Secs. Tschüss 2 Crew : Christian Zugel, Johnny Mordaunt, Al Fraser, Andrew McLean, Campbell Field, Christopher Welch, Edward Myers, Fredric (…) -
fr : Records océaniques
Ferrari Hypersail : Giovanni Soldini a présenté son monocoque volant
"C’est la rencontre entre différentes cultures et des technologies avancées qui nous permet de concevoir un voilier révolutionnaire." C’est ainsi que Giovanni Soldini présente son nouveau bateau qui sera mis à l’eau en 2026. -
fr : Imoca MACIF Santé Prévoyance
Charlie Dalin renonce à 2025 • Sam Goodchild et Loïs Berrehar en duo pour la Transat Café L’OR
Pour raison de santé, Charlie Dalin est contraint de renoncer à sa saison 2025. Toutefois, en étroite concertation avec son équipe, le skipper de l’Imoca MACIF Santé Prévoyance et Macif ont décidé de maintenir le programme de courses ambitieux prévu. Sam Goodchild, qui le remplace déjà pour la Course des Caps, prendra donc la barre de MACIF (…) -
fr : Figaro-Bénéteau
Tour Bretagne Voile 2025 : Victoire finale pour Alexis Loison et Corentin Horeau
A 16 heures, 21 minutes et 14 secondes, le Groupe Réel a passé la ligne devant Port Haliguen. Alexis Loison et Corentin Horeau sont vainqueurs de la 15e édition du Tour Bretagne Voile ! -
fr : Baie du Pouliguen
12h BPGO - La Baule : l’équipage Yagga 6 l’emporte avec 24 tours effectués
Les 18 catamarans des 12H Banque Populaire Grand Ouest peuvent souffler : leur marathon nautique est terminé ! Se relayant sans relâche depuis 10h07, heure du coup d’envoi ce samedi 21 juin à La Baule, les équipages ont tout donné pour effectuer le plus de tours possibles avant 22h00, heure officielle de la fin de cette première édition. -
en : ClubSwan Racing Nations League
2025 Swan One Design Worlds : Porto Cervo brought together 35 yachts across four one-design classes
The 2025 Swan One Design Worlds, the flagship event of the ClubSwan Racing Nations League, concluded today in Porto Cervo after an unforgettable week that brought together 35 yachts across four one-design classes and over 30 nations. Organized by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda YCCS in collaboration with ClubSwan Racing, the event once again (…) -
fr : Imoca
The Ocean Race Europe 2025 : Alan Roura au départ avec le TEAM AMAALA
Le navigateur Alan Roura, 32 ans, s’est associé à AMAALA pour participer à The Ocean Race Europe 2025. À moins de trois mois du départ de la course à Kiel, en Allemagne, l’équipe entame une intensive phase de préparation alors que le bateau sera mis à l’eau à Lorient à la fin du mois. -
en : Wingfoil racing
2025 World Cup Series : New faces shine in Switzerland
After four days of adrenalin-filled racing, the event’s top riders arrived at Silvaplana lake hungry for glory in the Medal Series. The wind, however, had different ideas. All week you could have set your watch on the arrival of the Maloja wind - the local thermal breeze that kicks-in at lunchtime - but not today. -
fr : Figaro-Bénéteau
Bretagne Plaisance devient sponsor de 2 jeunes navigateurs malouins de 22 et 23 ans
La SPL Bretagne Plaisance s’engage aux côtés de deux jeunes navigateurs malouins de 22 et 23 ans, Marie-Adélaïde Le Gué et Alexandre Carlo, pour promouvoir la voile de compétition, l’innovation et l’inclusion. En devenant sponsor principal du Figaro Bénéteau 3 N°44, Bretagne Plaisance accompagnera LGC Sailing jusqu’à fin 2027, soit sur plus (…)
