World’s fastest catamaran to sail under London’s tower bridge

by Maria Ryan, Club Med Media on 30 Sep 2000 From New York to London!

Having sailed past the Statue of Liberty in New York just two months ago, the 110 foot long
(33.5m) Club Med maxi-catamaran, will journey up the River Thames to visit another of the
world’s most famous landmarks, London’s Tower Bridge, on Thursday 6th October.

Club Med will sail through the specially opened London Bridge at approximately 4.30pm – with the boat’s 141ft (43m) mast clearing the cross walkway at the top of bridge by just a few feet.

The public is invited to view the boat and meet the crew at St Katherine Docks. The boat will
arrive late in the afternoon of the 5th – in time to coincide with Club Med’s 50th anniversary
party in London later that evening. This year sees the internationally renowned leisure
company celebrating 50 years of holiday experiences.

The boat, a giant catamaran, designed and built for the non-stop, unlimited round the world
event called simply The Race, has already broken the 24-hour distance record (625 nautical
miles, average speed 26.07 knots) making it the fastest boat ever to sail offshore.

Club Med also holds the record for the East-West transatlantic crossing between Cadiz
(Spain) and San Salvador (Bahamas). In late July Club Med took almost two days off the
previous record with a crossing of 10 days, 14 hours, and 54 minutes.

Capable of speeds up to 37 knots (more than fast enough to water-ski behind!) Club Med will
be at sea for close to 70 days non-stop as the crew circumnavigates the planet during The
Race.

The team represents the best that the world can offer and also reflects the Club Med
international spirit with 9 nationalities represented. Led by Whitbread Round the World Race
winning legend New Zealander Grant Dalton (42), the team includes two Britons Neal
McDonald (37) and Ed Danby (40).

Later in October the sailing team will be training off Da Balaia, the Club Med resort near
Vilamoura, Portugal. In November the boat will be based in the North Atlantic and the
Mediterranean, with final engagements in Italy and Monaco before lining-up for the starter’s
gun in Barcelona, at 11am on New Year’s Eve.



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