Speed Duel debut for 60' trimarans, Nokia Oops Cup

by Lars-Ola Nordqvist on 7 Jun 2006 The Nokia Oops Cup commences in Oslo Harbour on June 7th.

In the first performance for the international match of the year, the 60 feet trimarans in the Nokia Oops Cup begins with City Race in Oslo, Wednesday. It’s also the first performance for the new race format - Speed Duel. Two boats will sail against each other in two laps on a short course. The winner is the boat that crosses the finish line first, and with the most number of duels.

'The Speed Duel will be the most exciting race we have sailed, and worth the public seeing,' says the Norwegian skipper Knut Frostad, onboard Nokia Academy.

Klabbe Nylöf on the Swedish trimaran HiQ agrees, 'It will be hard to sail, it’s going to be fast and there is very little space for manoeuvres. But it’s going to be very exciting for the public to watch. Everything can happen!'

The winds in Oslo are relatively light, but yet the speeds can be up to 20 knots for the fast and light trimarans.

'It feels like we’re going to be placed a bit after HiQ on the tacking, but we’re going to try to beat them in the hard winds out on the sea instead,' comments Knut Frostad.

The Finnish skipper and Olympic champion in the 49er class, Thomas Johanson, and his crew have never been more prepared.

'Now we know how the boat works and it feels good. For the race tomorrow we are strengthening the crew with last year’s winner in the Nokia Oops Cup, Stève Ravussin and Pierre-Yves Moreau,' says Thomas.

The races with the trimarans will begin at 11.00 and the Speed Duel will be at 18.00.

For more info and latest results visit www.nokiaoopscup.com