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illbruck Challenge Sails Maiden Voyage with New Race Boat

by Lizzie Green on 23 May 2001
illbruck Challenge syndicate chairman Michael Illbruck and skipper John
Kostecki shared the helm of the new illbruck during the maiden voyage this
weekend of the team's race boat for the Volvo Ocean Race. The illbruck
Challenge team launched the new custom-built illbruck Volvo Ocean 60 from
their training base in Charleston, S.C.

The team took the new boat through the paces with one of the illbruck Volvo
60 training boats in the Atlantic Ocean off Charleston. Threatening rain
showers held off as the boats sailed in a fresh 15-18 knots and moderate
seas. The launch was celebrated with a brief dockside ceremony and a
family barbecue at the base in Charleston on Sunday.

'Today marks another major milestone in the program,' said Michael
Illbruck. 'For four years, we have planned for this. We watched the boat
take shape during the months of construction at our company facility in
Leverkusen, Germany. To be here with the team for the first day of sailing
has been fantastic. I'm proud of the team and all of the work they have
done to get to this point,' Illbruck said.

'We are really happy with the new boat,' Kostecki said. 'The boat feels
great and is performing well right out of the box. While there is still
work to do to make our new boat race-ready, we are exactly where we wanted
to be four months away from the start of the Volvo Ocean Race. We will
continue to optimise the new boat here in Charleston, tuning her up with
our two training boats until we realize the full potential of our next
generation Volvo 60.'

illbruck Challenge is a competitive international sailing programme that
over the past 30 years has earned success at many of the world's top
regattas. The illbruck Challenge is now pursuing the world's two pinnacle
sailing events: the Volvo Ocean Race, the world's premier ocean race, and
the America's Cup, the world's top match racing event. The illbruck
Challenge is representing the Duesseldorf Yacht Club in Germany's
first-ever Challenge for the America's Cup, the competition for the oldest
international trophy in sport.

About illbruck GmbH
illbruck GmbH is a privately held international company with autonomous
business units including Automotive, Sealant Systems, Sanitary Technology,
Architectural Surfaces, and Filtration Systems/Insulation Systems. Founded
in 1952, illbruck has 35 locations in15 countries worldwide and is
headquartered in Leverkusen, Germany. The illbruck Challenge embodies the
philosophy of the illbruck company: sucess through motivation, flexibility
and team spirit. The illbruck Challenge is the image medium and primary
vehicle for illbruck's
global and internal corporate identification.

For further information on the illbruck Challenge, please contact
Jane Eagleson, Director Marketing Communications
Tel: +49-174-978-5273
Email: JEagleson@illbruckchallenge.com

www.illbruckchallenge.com

For further information on the Volvo Ocean Race please contact:
Lizzie Green, Race Press Officer
Direct Line: +44 1489 554 832
Switchboard: +44 1489 564 555
Mobile: +44 7801 185 320
Fax: +44 1489 564 333
Email: Lizzie.Green@volvo.com
Website www.VolvoOceanRace.org

Andreas Hanakamp, Press Officer
Direct Line: +44 1489 554 833
Mobile: +44 7787 562 404
Email: andreas.hanakamp@consultant.volvo.com

For images, please contact:
Volvo Ocean Race Picture Desk - Patrick Anderson
Tel: +44 1489 554867
Fax: +44 1489 564 333
Email: patrick@vsnl.com

For broadcast enquiries please contact:
Granada Sport
Jim Raven
Tel: +44 2380 222555
Email: ravenhj@meridiantv.com
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