Global Ocean Sailing Ventures (GOSV) today announced that a new Rodger Martin designed Class 40 will be on the start line for the Global Ocean Challenge in September this year. The new boat, being built in Rhode Island USA by Al Fresco Composites, is for experienced sailors Stuart Williams and Jared Lazor. Williams, a former member of the US Ski Team will skipper the boat.

"It has been a dream of mine to race around the world," Williams said. "Until now I felt that I could not compete in the major offshore ocean races. They are too expensive and too technically complicated, but the Global Ocean Challenge is the perfect event for someone like me. As soon as I heard about the race the idea of being a part of it took hold. It's now about to become a reality with the boat well under construction."

Both Williams and co-skipper Lazor felt that a local Rhode Island effort would bring some of the excitement of shorthanded around-the-world racing back to its birthplace. "The first Around Alone started and finished in Newport," said Lazor. "This city has seen some of the greatest shorthanded sailors leave and arrive and we hope to become a small part of that rich history."

The boat, to be named Gwaihir, after the Lord of Wind in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, has been designed by noted yacht designer Rodger Martin. "We tested a number of hull shapes and displacements in a weather matrix for an around-the-world course," Martin said. "Even though the Class 40 is a 'box rule' we felt that there was some room for innovation and I believe that we have come up with a very fast and sea kindly boat for the Global Ocean Challenge."

The Gwaihir Racing Team expect to be sailing off Rhode Island in early spring.

For more information on the Gwaihir Racing team and Rodger Martin
Design please go to:
http://www.gochallenge.net/
http://www.rodgermartindesign.com/

Ediotr Notes

Global Ocean Sailing Ventures (GOSV) is a Channel Islands based Limited Partnership owned jointly by Josh Hall and Brian Hancock. The company was formed to manage and operate the Global Ocean Challenge 2007/08 and successive races, as well as other ocean races for shorthanded sailors.

The Global Ocean Challenge 2007/08 (GOC) is the first ever solo-double global ocean race. The inaugural running of the event will mark the first time an around-the-world yacht race has both a single-handed and double-handed division in the same event. The race will start from a European port and sail a traditional course around the world stopping in South Africa, New Zealand, South America and the United States covering a distance of 30,000 nautical miles.

Co-founders Josh Hall and Brian Hancock are both lifelong sailors, each having impressive sailing, communications and business credentials. Hall has circumnavigated numerous times single-handed on his series of yachts named for his sponsor Gartmore Investment Managers. Hancock has participated in three Whitbread Round the World races and is author of numerous successful books on sailing, travel and adventure.

Global Ocean Sailing Ventures - Media Office
33 Waterside Rd, Marblehead, MA, 01945
USA
Tel: +1 617 314 4468
Fax: +1 206-212 2486
press@globaloceanchallenge.com
Contact: Brian Hancock 617-314 4468