Audi Chivas racing to defend Audi HK-Vietnam Race title

by AUDI media on 18 Oct 2013 Audi Chivas, a Simonis-Voogd 90 Maxi, is defending its 2011 Line Honours title (racing as Audi Ultra) for the Audi Hong Kong to Vietnam Race starting on 17 October.

Ludde Ingvall the skipper and Vietnamese Duke Ha Ton are seasoned sailors with a fair chance to defend the title. Other Vietnamese celebrity onboard includes actress Ngo Thanh Van known for her sporty skills in action movies.The racing team will consists of top sailing talent combined with experienced international yachtsmen and women.

The three owners of the boat – Ludde Ingvall, the skipper and builder of Audi Ultra, Thomas Zilliacus and Ron Creevey, co-Founders of Singapore based YuuZoo Corporation, one of the world’s leading mobile media and mobile payment companies - believe that the race to Vietnam will break records.

Known for the last two years as YuuZoo and the holder of various world records in sailing, the boat was branded as Audi Ultra at the last edition of the race in 2011 and this year is sponsored by Audi Vietnam and Chivas. Audi Ultra is racing against another 'maxi', Ragamuffin 90, while competing to break Grant Wharington’s 2004 monohull record of 42h 45m 41s.

Vietnamese team member Duke Ha declared 'By defending the title, we want to help further initiate a strong interest in big boat sailing in the future in Vietnam and help young Vietnamese sailors become world-class yachtsmen and women.'

'For Audi, Vietnam is the land of Quattro. Now with the Audi Hong Kong-Vietnam Race, Vietnam is even becoming the land of Quattro offshore!' declares Laurent Genet Audi Vietnam General Director who sponsored the Chivas Audi Super Maxi.

Luxury German automobile brand Audi is the Title Sponsor of the 2013 Hong Kong to Vietnam Race organised by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. The 656 nautical mile Category One offshore race will start in Victoria Harbour on Thursday, October 17, with post-race celebrations planned in Nha Trang, Vietnam on Sunday October 20.

Audi coming to this event gives the race a world-class identity to match one of the most prolific race fleets in the history of the event! Competitors include prominent boats and renowned sailors whose accomplishments include honours and awards at some of the greatest sailing events around the world. The Audi Hong Kong to Vietnam Race 2013 is now set to join this world-class stage.

Laurent Genet adds, 'The Audi Hong-Kong to Vietnam race will witness the cutting edge engineering and design of the boats, and the sailors’ incredible passion and tactical expertise to conquer all possible circumstances facing them in their journey. This group of elite racers, combined with the speed, team spirit, progressiveness and determination to overcome challenges in this exciting event, are perfect reflections of Audi’s brand image and values – 'progressive, sophisticated, sporty' – as well as Audi users’ lifestyles.'

'The Audi Hong Kong to Vietnam Race is a fast, down-hill passage to Vietnam with the boats racing under spinnaker virtually all the way. Over several years now the race has been building with more and more boats adding it to their ‘must do’ list. Several of the entries having competed in the Transpacific Race mean that this year’s entry list will give every boat serious competition and very exciting racing all the way. It is sure to be one of the most exciting offshore yacht races ever in the Asian region!' said Mark Bovaird, General Manager, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club.