Velux 5 Oceans Open 50 arrives in Auckland

by Event Media and Sail-World NZL on 10 May 2006 Graham Dalton’s new Open 50 has arrived in Auckland and is being rigged in the Viaduct Basin. She has already undergone the mandatory self-righting test.

Named 'A Southern Man – AGD', she is the first Open 50 class yacht built in New Zealand and features a canting keel and nine-metre retractable centreboard amongst other high-tech gear to aid solo ocean racing.

The letters AGD have been added to the boat’s name in memory of Graham’s 23-year-old son, Tony, who died in December last year. 'Tony had resolved to give a name to the yacht and follow the race, but it wasn’t to be,' Dalton said. 'By having his initials and photo affixed on the sides, he will be going with me in spirit and we can complete together what he wanted to do.'

Designed by Greg Elliott, the carbon fibre composite hull, was constructed by Davie Norris Boatbuilders of Bromley in Christchurch, and is being fitted out in Auckland prior to the start of the VELUX 5 OCEANS race which begins in Bilbao, Spain on 22nd October.

Elliott has an excellent track record in designing no compromise for speed, canting keel yachts and is noted for being the designer of the supermaxi, Maximus and the larger 140ft Mari Cha IV. The hull form of AGD is more slab sided, than the Open 60’s with a hard turn of the bilge amidships. 'However ultimately your speed is governed by system reliability', says Dalton.

Dalton says that he expected the 30,000 nautical mile race, which will make just two stops in Australia and the USA, to take around 140 days. 'After the frustration of being forced to retire on leg three of the 2002 Around Alone race, I am treating this one as unfinished business,' he said. 'Having completed four of the five legs in 2002 I was devastated when I was forced to pull out with a damaged mast. Although I am four years older and this is the most mentally and physically punishing event imaginable, I am determined to make the finishing line this time around.'

Dalton, 53, was one of the first sailors to commit to the VELUX 5 OCEANS after being forced to withdraw from the last edition of the race, the Around Alone, when his Open 60 yacht, Hexagon, was dismasted after rounding Cape Horn. This time Dalton will attempt the race in his purpose built, brand new Open 50 which is under construction in New Zealand.

Talking about his emotional challenge in coping with the loss of his son, Dalton continued, 'While I was with Tony in Australia, where he was having his treatment, he told me I should definitely do this race. The last thing he wanted was for me to mope around at home after he was gone. So this race will be a tribute to Tony and his own brave battle. It was Tony’s courage that inspired me to do this.'

The plan is for the rig to be stepped tomorrow, Thursday and for the first sail on Friday, weather and conditions permitting.

Her first ocean sail will be the Royal Akarana’s Auckland to Fiji race with a four man crew of Dalton, Greg Elliott, Richard Bearda and Richard McAllister.

From Fiji, A Southern Man - AGD comes back to Tauranga where she is shipped to Savannah on the 24th July.

From Savannah, AGD will do her qualifying passage which has to be between two points and transverse an ocean. Dalton is mindful of the issues which arose over his qualifying voyage in Hexagon, when organisers wouldn’t accept the Tasman Sea as an ocean and also claimed that the voyage had to be a straight line trip without corners. With just two stops in the race, Dalton expects to be at sea for up to 55 days at a stretch.

Dalton is unsure of his opposition, at this stage, believing that there are still some boats to be announced. At this stage AGD is the only Open 50 to be announced, and he will be competing against Open 60’s which are significantly faster. Even so, Dalton is expecting to reel off 365 – 380 mile days or more.