Cowes Week - Esimit Europa 2 set to compete in IRC Big Boats class
by Nick Hadjinikos on 17 Jul 2013
Esimit Europa 2 Guido Trombetta
The world's fastest and most technologically advanced monohull racing yacht, Esimit Europa 2, will take part in the IRC Big Boats Class at the UK's oldest established sporting event, Cowes Week, from August 3 to 10.
The yacht measures 100 feet, has a mast height of 144 feet and a maximum speed of over 38 knots (>43 mph). It is manufactured by McConaghy Boats and has a canting keel with a bulb made of tungsten and is made out of carbon fibre to make it as light as possible (app. 26 tons) - half of the weight goes to the canting keel.
Comprising a championship crew of 18 sailors from 10 European countries, Esimit Europa 2 is skippered by one of the most outstanding sailors of all times, Jochen Schümann; two times America’s Cup winner, three times Olympic champion and holder of several world and European titles in different sailing classes.
Esimit Europa is an expression of European competitiveness, dynamism and diplomacy with a unique, all European personality. It is the only European sports team, the only boat in the world officially allowed to sail under the European flag, and under the patronage of the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, supported by the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz.
The unique message 'For Europe' can be seen on the impressive 820m2 spinnaker, promoting the idea of close cooperation among Europeans at Europe’s most renowned races.
Esimit Europa 2 comes to Cowes with an unbroken track record of 22 consecutive line honours and six course records, this year setting monohull course record at Germany's largest regatta, Kiel Week, and first place in the largest Scandinavian regatta ÅF Offshore Race.
With the elapsed time of 2 hours and 8 minutes at Kieler Woche’s Welcome Race, Esimit Europa 2 proved once again to be the fastest sailing yacht in Europe.
Commenting on the victory at Kieler Woche, Jochen Schümann said: 'Those were two very exciting races for me and I am happy to see that all the modifications we have made since the end of the last season and new sails were very well put in the practice. From the racing point of view we haven’t made any mistakes. We set our minds into setting a new monohull record and I am glad we have made it.'
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