Sailing Magazine
Green Marine, a world leader in the construction of high performance composite racing yachts, has officially handed over the third Volvo Ocean 65 to Team Brunel, to begin preparations for the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 starting in October. Team Brunel has successfully completed its sea trials in the Solent, UK and is now heading off to its base in Lanzarote to prepare for the Race.
“The Volvo Ocean 65 is a well thought-out and executed racing boat. During the sail trials the boat felt very smooth which is important as she is going to be our home for the next 16 months,” said skipper Bouwe Bekking, who has competed in the Volvo Ocean Race six times previously.
Meanwhile, work is underway at Green Marine’s factory near Southampton, UK on the next boats in the series. In total, seven have been ordered by the Volvo Ocean Race organisers.
As lead contractor for the build consortium, Green Marine is responsible for the complete assembly and fit out of the Volvo Ocean 65s, as well as overseeing the quality of the consortium’s work. Over the course of an 18 week period for each boat, the Green Marine team assembles the primary and secondary structures, installs and fits out the interior including all electrical, hydraulic, steering and other systems, fits the keel and deck gear, and finally paints and commissions the finished yacht.
“The Volvo Ocean Race momentum is building,” says Green Marine’s CEO Richard Acland. “We have now delivered three Volvo Ocean 65 one-design racing yachts and are working to a precise time schedule to handover boats to Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing in March and Team Alvimedica in April.
