Seb Josse’s BT IMOCA 60 officially launched

by media on 1 May 2008 Seb Josse’s BT IMOCA 60 was officially launched on the River Thames, after an extensive race refit. And it proved to be a sweet moment of success for Seb and his teammate Ellen MacArthur as the all-girl band, the Sugababes, joined the duo onboard the BT IMOCA 60 to sing one of their latest hit records as she sailed under Tower Bridge.

The Sugababe trio of Amelle, Heidi and Keisha supported the launch of the BT-branded boat in her new colours to promote BT’s sponsorship of this year’s Isle of Wight Festival.

BT Team Ellen are also based in East Cowes at Venture Quays on the Isle of Wight so it proved a perfect opportunity to publicise one of the island’s biggest music festivals which takes place over 13th-15th June.

Ellen launched the BT Team Ellen project in Paris in September last year – a three-year partnership with BT through to 2010. The project includes the BT IMOCA 60 skippered by Sébastien Josse and Australian Nick Moloney, skipper of the BT Extreme 40.

After sailing back under Tower Bridge, the BT IMOCA 60 then berthed alongside the Royal Navy’s HMS President where she was officially christened by CEO of BT Global Services, Francois Barrault: 'I am delighted to launch the BT Open 60, a unique collaboration that captures the powerful potential of the BT Team Ellen partnership.'

A decade-long association with BT as communications partner to the sailing team has now matured into a well-matched title partner relationship. A perfect ‘Mumm moment’ for the BT IMOCA 60 team as they toasted her christening and future success with Mumm Champagne, the official champagne supplier to the team.

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BT IMOCA 60 Technical Specification

Length: 18,28m (60 feet)
Width: 5.85m
Weight: 8400k (8.4 tonnes)
Keel: 2800k
Mast height: 28.5m
Draft: 4.5m
Mainsail area upwind: 310sqm
Mainsail area downwind: 590sqm
Build material: carbon firbre nomex foam sandwich
Designer: Farr Yacht Design, Annapolis, USA
Builder: Offshore Challenges Sailing Team, Cowes, UK
Number of build hours: 22,000 hours over 8 months
Number in build team: 14, reaching 26 in final phase
Boat components: assembled around the word – mast and boom from Marstrom in Sweden; keel fin from North America; winches from Harken in Italy; sails from North Sails in France and the UK.

2008/09 programme of IMOCA events

29 April 2008 : Launch of the BT IMOCA 60
11 May 2008 : The Artemis Transat
28 June 2008 : JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race
6 August 2008 : Artemis Round the Island Race / Skandia Cowes Week
9 November 2008 to February 2009 : Vendée Globe

February 2009 : Finish of the Vendée Globe Race
May 2009 : Calais Round Britain & Ireland Race
June 2009 – JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race
August 2009 – Skandia Cowes Week
August 2009 – The Fastnet Race
September-November 2009 – Transat Jacques Vabre Race or other European event tbc by the IMOCA class