What is the future for the Volvo Extreme 40?

by Diana Bogaards on 23 Jun 2006 After a nail-biting final day in Rotterdam, the first Volvo Extreme 40 Grand Prix series has come to an end. Five brand-new 40-foot carbon multihulls competed worldwide on five locations during the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-06.

The teams managed to convince the organization and the VO 70 sailors about the beauty and strength of the new class. The integration turned out to be an advantage for both sides and the Volvo Extreme 40 concept is to be continued. Mitch Booth, skipper of Team Holmatro and creator of the Volvo Extreme 40, talked in an interview about the first experiences and the future plans.

'It has been a huge success', said Booth a week after the conclusion in Rotterdam. 'The racing and media were good and the corporate sailing was excellent. And finally we were warmly welcomed and integrated by the Volvo Ocean Race organization and the teams. First, they didn’t know what to expect from us.'

As the Grand Prix series progressed, more and more crew members of the VO 70’s got involved. Glenn Bourke, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race, said in Portsmouth: 'We had fun with the VX 40’s. I like them and I think they fit the program well. The exposure was in proportion, which eliminated the initial negative voices.'

‘Not highly focused’:

The American entry Tommy Hilfiger with Randy Smith on the helm took the overall victory, followed by the British crews Motorola-CHR and Basilica. Team Holmatro, representing the Netherlands, finished fourth.

Booth: 'We had some good racing and it was really close, but we were not highly focused on it.' As initiator of the VX 40 class, Mitch Booth and Herbert Dercksen also aimed at a smooth running of the events.

Booth: 'We changed crew members quit often for different reasons. That reflected on our results. We were not consistent enough.'

Booth mentions the assembling of the boats as most important lesson learned from this first season: 'It is a hell of a work putting together the cats and to take them apart for transport. We need to allow a little bit more time between two locations.'

Furthermore, he says it is important to balance corporate sailing and racing. 'The mornings with guests should be relaxed and entertaining. It is about the experience. In the afternoons, it will be Grand Prix racing again. We won’t change that format.'

More racing coming up:

For the five multihulls, the sailing is not over yet. The individual teams plan their own activities in the UK, Netherlands and US for the rest of the year. Team Holmatro will be back at the Hiswa in-water Boat Show in September, where free rides will be offered to winners of prize contests in magazines. Exhibitors will also receive free tickets to hand out.

Booth: 'We expect all VX 40’s to line up at Cowes Week in August. All crews also expressed their intention to go to the Centomiglia del Garda in September.' That is a long distance race of hundred nautical miles around Lake Garda.

Booth: 'And we will come together again in 2007 for a new Grand Prix series all over the world. The exact locations and number of events will be announced soon.' At the moment, representives of the VX 40 class and the Volvo Ocean Race are discussing whether they will continue the co-operation.

Booth: 'Either way, we are intending to prosecute the Grand Prix series worldwide.'