Kingfisher Wins EDS Atlantic Challenge

by Kingfisher Challenges on 26 Aug 2001 Ellen MacArthur's KINGFISHER sailing team have won the gruelling 8000 mile 2 month EDS Atlantic Challenge race. In the first major crewed race in the Open 60s, and Ellen's first 'not alone', KINGFISHER won 3 of the 5 legs, and overall victory . This was Ellen first major project with KINGFISHER since the Vendée Globe race.

So why do we race across Oceans when the finish is decided in the final few miles! For 10 days the EDS Atlantic Challenge fleet have battled hard, fighting for every mile on leg 5 from Boston USA, but the final results have been decided in the Bay of St.Malo.

Unbelievable finish as KINGFISHER, SILL and ECOVER battled out the final miles gybing in light winds off the French coast, trying to navigate around a strong tide and all the time in view of each other.

Just after 15.10 GMT Nick and the team brought KINGFISHER across the finish line which was positioned right amongst the rocks of St.Malo harbour. 'Stressful to the end but relieved to be here' said Adrienne Cahalan navigator onboard Kingfisher.

Nick Moloney said ' I'm unbelievably stoked about the whole thing I don't know what to say, it's been an awesome ride and a real team victory thanks to everyone'

Listen to interview of Mark Rudiger (Volvo winning navigator last time around, and this time with ASSA ABLOY) with Nick and Adrienne last night discussing the differences between Open 60s and Volvo 60s... Download in mp3 at
http://64.23.31.215/cgi-bin/ftp/1/king_ac_2408_uk.mp3 or
http://64.23.31.215/cgi-bin/ftp/1/king_nm_2408_uk.mp3

An elated, but exhausted Nick Moloney had this to say -
'This last leg was truly awesome racing, we've been so close for most of the 2800 miles and so fast until the last few days. Mike [Golding, ECOVER] sailed an excellent race from start to finish, and a great performance by Bilou (SILL) considering the less than perfect start [SILL broke their mast on leg 4, and managed to repair it only just in time for the final leg]. We knew that SILL would be most concerned about covering ECOVER at the finish in order to protect their second place, but it didn't stop it being one of the most stressful race finishes of our lives!'

Ellen who had travelled last night especially to St.Malo to welcome home her boat and crew unfortunately as the ETA was put back, could wait no longer, and was devastated not to be there at the finish. She's currently out on Lake Geneva racing Mich Desj, Loick Peyron and Bernard StammŠbut made clear her sentiments by phone from the water 'Nick and the team have done a great job. I loved every minute of sailing with them on the first 3 legs, and I can't wait to see them all at the prize giving on Wednesday. Its been an awesome event for us, sailing with some very experienced and top sailors. It was a hard, but necessary decision to not stay onboard for the last two legs, but I know there are few people who I could leave her in the safe hands of, and I'm very lucky to be able to say that Nick Moloney was at the top of that very short list. I have incredible respect for Nick. It was not easy for him to join the project so soon after the Vendee. Kingfisher was almost shrine-like in appearance with all the little nik-naks in the corner of the chart table, I guess to others she still felt very much like my home. Nick took over her with such care for her past, and such enthusiasm for her future. Not only is Nick one incredibly talented racing skipper, but he is a wonderfully sensitive man, who sails not only with his head, but with his heart...'

Winning co-skipper Nick could not hide his pleasure, at both the race and of course the overall victory - 'This first major crewed race on the Open 60s has been a great success,

We're stoked about the whole thing, we've learnt a lot about the boat and ourselves and we've had great fun along the way despite some pretty uncomfortable sailing at times. The team onboard and on shore has been awesome, and to race with Ellen on Kingfisher has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my sailing career to date. I am very grateful to her, Offshore Challenges and the sponsors Kingfisher plc for giving me this opportunity...its certainly reinforced my passion for doing the Vendée Globe in 2004!'

Crew for leg 5 onboard KINGFISHER :
Nick Moloney, Adrienne Cahalan, Herve Jan, Brian Thompson, Anthony Merrington

Position updated at :
http://www.edsatlanticchallenge.com/en/default.asp?pg=/en/viewer/raceviewer.htm
For further information on the race visit http://www.edsatlanticchallenge.com

Official race site http://www.edsatlanticchallenge.com

KINGFISHER are represented in France by :
Darty : http://www.darty.fr
Castorama : http://www.castorama.fr
BUT : http://www.but.fr