NZ Spars and Rigging instrumental to BSL's Global Ocean Race success
by Sail-World on 1 Nov 2011
Buckley Systems - winner Leg 1, Global Ocean Race 2011 Global Ocean Race
http://globaloceanrace.com
Ross and Campbell Field victory on Leg 1 of the Global Ocean Race has been attributed in part to spars and systems from New Zealand Spars and Rigging.
Ross Field wanted to work with new companies when he embarked on his campaign to race two handed around the world in a forty foot boat, and he elected to team up with New Zealand Spars and Rigging, when it came to readying BSL for the mammoth voyage.
Now BSL has taken victory in the 7,300 mile first leg from Palma, Mallorca, to Cape Town, after 32 days, 17 hours and 13 minutes at sea.
'We and Fineline wanted to support Ross. We have developed products together, and supplied the boat with new aft rigging, furling stays and custom components. We will also be sending product to the boat as it is needed during the various stopovers,' says Managing Director, Richard (Bart) Bearda.
Ross, a former Volvo Ocean Race winner, who is sailing with his son Campbell, is well known as being one of the most discerning skippers in the world, and every aspect of his campaign is well thought out.
The Global Ocean Race website reports that prior to the delivering the boat to the GOR start in Palma from Lymington on the South Coast of England, the Fields had raced BSL once in the Rolex Fastnet Race and GOR Leg 1 was an eye-opener for two highly-experienced sailors, but newcomers to Class40: 'It’s a really startling boat, quite amazing,' says Ross. 'Sometimes, it just kept going faster and faster and you had to wonder when the limit would be reached.'
There was one major crash that the duo will always remember when they feared the mast would be lost, but there is no major damage. 'The boat is immensely strong and the only breakage has been due to our errors,' confirms Campbell. 'Nothing has failed on board.'
Their Class40, BSL, was formerly known as Desafio Cabo de Hornos, and placed second in the inaugural Global Race in 2008-2009.
The race started on 25 September 2011 in Mallorca, and stops off in Cape Town, Wellington, Punta del Este and Charleston, before it finishes in Mallorca.
www.nzrigging.com
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