SAILING: Ellen MacArthur has named Kerry's Damian Foxall as part of her 14-strong team which aims to be the fastest round the world later this month. David O'Brien reports.
Her team to attempt to smash the 64-day, non-stop circumnavigation record was confirmed at the London Boat Show at Earls Court yesterday.
Foxall, from Caherdaniel, was picked for his helming experience on board Steve Fossett's record-breaking Playstation. He is already involved in final preparations of Kingfisher2 for the attempt at the base camp in L'Orient, France.
MacArthur's attempt on the Jules Verne record will begin from Cornwall later this month when a suitable weather window emerges, she said.
Kingfisher2's team is drawn from six nations and boasts 20 circumnavigations between them.
Speaking about her team yesterday, MacArthur said: "We have assembled a fantastic group of people with a very wide knowledge base. It's going to be very exciting and a learning experience for myself to sail with these guys, and I think a lot of fun as well!"
MacArthur (26), from Derby, needs little introduction. She was the winner of the Europe 1 New Man Star transatlantic race in 2000, was second in the Vendée Globe and then scored a record-breaking win in the 2002 Route du Rhum.
Foxall was previously a navigator on the 60-foot trimaran Sergio Tacchini in 2002. He raced on Formula 18 circuit and was fourth in the Volvo Ocean Race on board Tyco. He filled the roles of helmsman and trimmer on Playstation in The Race.
"Apart from the classy paper cv of our crew, much more importantly we are very compatible as a team," Foxall said.
Kingfisher2 already has a record-breaking history. As Orange, she set the current Jules Verne record of 64 days, eight hours and 37 minutes in May 2002. This is the record MacArthur and Foxall are out to beat.
Frenchman Bruno Peyron, the first skipper to break the 80-day barrier back in 1993, set the current record with an average speed of 18.15 knots over the distance he sailed. His crew included four of the team that will sail on Kingfisher2.
This beat Frenchman Olivier de Kersauson's 1997 record by seven days, five hours, 44 minutes and 44 seconds. Breton de Kersausan is also expected to mount a new Jules Verne challenge this winter on his 38-metre trimaran Geronimo.
MacArthur's new challenge is to shave as many days, hours, minutes and seconds as possible off the record set by the same boat less than a year ago.
But statistically even to finish the Jules Verne course is difficult - even more so at the pace now required to beat the record.
In her last British engagement before joining Foxall and the rest of her 14-man crew, MacArthur also announced the foundation of the Ellen MacArthur trust, a charity set up to enable terminally ill children enjoy the thrill of sailing.
Meanwhile, for the last time at the Earls Court venue, the London Boat Show opens its doors to the public this morning (the exhibition is moving to the Excel venue next January).
In a finale for the 49th staging of the event, organisers have included a life-size Turkish harbour as a promotion for cruising in that country.
As a central feature it is an inspiring piece of exhibition construction and an effective example to all tourist boards, including Bord Fáilte, of how waterborne tourism can be promoted.
Irish sailing interests are represented by a number of key Irish Marine Federation personnel, as well as the Sailing Holidays in Ireland stand in the main hall.
Show hosts, the British Marine Federation (BMF) will today reveal the winner of the Concept 2002 competition in which Howth's budding designer Brian O'Loughlin is a finalist.
The competition challenged entrants to design a transportable boat and is part of a drive by the BMF to boost its small craft industry.
O'Loughlin came up with an eco-friendly sailing boat featuring an innovative keel which acts as a ballast and a propeller in one.
KINGFISHER2 TEAM: Ellen MacArthur (Brit), Neal MacDonald (Brit), Nick Moloney (Aus), Benoit Briand (Fra), Bruno Dubois (Can), Anthony Merrington (Aus), Andrew Henderson (Aus), Damian Foxall (Ire), Andrew Preece (Brit), Ronan Le Goff (Fra), Hervé Jan (Fra), Jason Carrington (Brit), Nigel King (Brit), Guillermo Aitadill (Spa).
