Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo 2023 S600 LEADERBOARD

Australian sailors compete at Daimler Chrysler North Atlantic Challenge

by Courtesy ISAF on 21 Jun 2003
Newport, Rhode Island, USA

The second group of entries in the DaimlerChrysler North Atlantic Challenge are set to depart Newport this coming Saturday, 21 June on the 3,600 nautical mile race to Cuxhaven, Germany

The first group started on June 14. The larger, faster boats will join them in this first-ever race across the North Atlantic, around Fair Isles and into the river Elbe for the finish. The five boats are Zephyrus V, a maxZ86; HSH Nordbank (formerly Morning Glory); Team888 (formerly Kingfisher); UCA, a maxiracer; and Windrose, the 152-foot schooner. The race commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Hamburgischer Verein Seefahrt, a long-standing sailing club based in Hamburg.

As in the first start, the New York Yacht Club race committee will set the starting line off historic Fort Adams.

Zephyrus V, owned and skippered by Robert MCNEIL of San Francisco, California, is potentially the fastest boat overall in the race. With a rating of 1.693m the 87-foot (26.50 meters), high-tech maxZ86 yacht is stocked with veteran ocean racers. The crew, led by McNeil and John BERTRAND, an Olympic silver medallist and America’s Cup veteran, includes Guillermo Altadill, Ola ASTRADSSON, Glen ATTRILL, Neil COX, Peter DORIEAN, Sidney GAVIGNET, Brian MACINNES, Gordon MAGUIRE, Anthony NOSSITER, Andrew SCOTT, Fred SERAFIN, Mark SIMS, Justin SLATTERY, Matt WACHOWISZ and Ian MOORE, who served as a navigator aboard Volvo Ocean Race Winner Illbruck.

The brand new 85-foot (26 meter) UCA, owned by Klaus MURMANN(former president of the Employers Association), will sail with the experience of six circumnavigations. Tim Kröger, who was part of the French America’s Cup team Le Défi, brings experience from two around the world races. Four times around the globe sailor and navigator on UCA will be the well-known Juan Vila from Spain. ‘Juan was our first choice,’ said Murmann. ‘He read the Gulf Stream very well in the transat-leg so that illbruck could set the 24-hour record. That experience will count in the DaimlerChrysler North Atlantic Challenge.’

The closest match might develop between UCA and the 80-foot (24 meters) Morning Glory, now named HSH Nordbank. It was chartered from SAP boss Hasso Plattner, who broke records in the Cape-to-Rio and in the Sydney-Hobart races.

Skippered by Admiral’s Cup sailor Walter Meier-Kothe of Germany, the fast yacht is a maxi racer like UCA, but without water ballast or a canting keel. The yachting journalist and Admiral’s Cup sailor Erik von Krause will do the navigation onboard.

Perhaps one of the most striking yachts to compete is Windrose. Built in 2001 for offshore passages, it is a combination of old-world elegance and high-tech performance.

All yachts are equipped with InmarSat D+ tracking devices and regularly updated positions will be broadcast on the event website at the address below.

www.sailing.org/Article_content.asp?ArticleID=4714
North Sails Loft 57 PodcastZhik 2024 DecemberRooster 2025

Related Articles

Class40 top guns enter Rolex Fastnet Race
One of the most successful genre of offshore race boat ever Now 20+ years old, the Class40 has proved itself one of the most successful genre of offshore race boat ever.
Posted today at 6:45 am
Finn World Masters in Medemblik Day 2
Pieter-Jan Postma leads after the second day of racing in The Netherlands Pieter-Jan Postma, from The Netherlands, is leading the fleet of 307 Finns from 27 countries after everyone sailed two more races at the 2025 Finn World Masters in Medemblik. France's Laurent Hay is second with Germany's Fabian Lemmel in third.
Posted on 17 Jun
World Sailing launches the World Sailing Academy
A new online learning platform for the global sailing community World Sailing officially launched the World Sailing Academy, an innovative new online learning platform designed to provide comprehensive educational resources and training to sailors, coaches, officials, administrators, and the global sailing community.
Posted on 17 Jun
Sailing and the summer solstice
Celebrating sailing and the longest day of the year If you love long evenings and early mornings, this is one of the best times of the whole year, as the summer solstice (Friday, June 20) and the entire rich expanse of summer are about to burst into bloom.
Posted on 17 Jun
New Caledonia Groupama Race update
Rushour crew safely back in Noumea after capsize The boat was located and it was identified as capsized. All crew members were accounted for. Crew were transferred in the larger aircraft at Koumac and arrived back at Noumea at about 4pm local time.
Posted on 17 Jun
Video Review: The Amazing Cure 55
Composite Construction meets Cruising Convenience It was two years ago at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show that I talked to Dave Biggar about his ideas and plans for the Cure 55. At the 2025 show I got to step on board the yacht and see how his ideas became reality.
Posted on 17 Jun
ASBA launches Touring Trophy Series
The new leadership team brings experience, enthusiasm, and strong focus on inclusivity and planning The Australian Sports Boat Association (ASBA) has announced a dynamic new initiative to enhance participation and connectivity within the sports boat community - the ASBA Touring Trophy series.
Posted on 16 Jun
Finn World Masters in Medemblik Day 1
Eight races over two course areas in four groups with four different winners Racing at the 2025 Finn World Masters began in Medemblik, The Netherlands, on Monday with eight races over two course areas in four groups.
Posted on 16 Jun
The Ocean Race will return to Itajaí, Brazil
During the 2027 and 2031 around the world races The Ocean Race confirms Itajaí, in Santa Catarina state, in Brazil will once again host the world's most iconic around-the-world yacht race in April, 2027 and again in 2031, in a two-edition hosting partnership.
Posted on 16 Jun
IRC UK National Championships overall
Adam Gosling's JPK 1080 Yes! crowned overall champion The final day of the 2025 IRC National Championships, part of the Royal Thames Yacht Club's 250th Anniversary Regatta, began on schedule, with a steady south-westerly breeze bringing yet another twist to the range of conditions experienced.
Posted on 16 Jun