Buckley Systems backs Fields for two-handed Global Ocean Race

by Sail-World on 4 Aug 2011
One of New Zealand's leading round the world sailors has announced a significant sponsorship for the two handed Round the World Race.

Ross Field and Bill Buckley, one of the great contributors to New Zealand sport, will renew their partnership for the Global Ocean Race, starting at the end of September.

Buckley’s company, BSL Buckley Systems, today announced a sponsorship deal to support Ross and Campbell Field’s campaign to take on 14 other teams in the double-handed, Class40 race around the world.

Ross Field (62) and son Campbell (41) are the only father and son team, and only New Zealand team in the race. They will be sailing the boat which finished second in the previous edition of the race in 2008. Their yacht was sourced from Chile by her designer, transported to UK where she underwent a three week refit and has been trialling in UK since her relaunch.

Buckley Systems will compete in the Fastnet Race which starts in just over a week, and they will have a crew of five for the 005nm race in which they expect to compete against an entry of 40 other Class40's.

Both Ross and Campbell Field have significant yachting experience including: multiple circumnavigations, off shore and inshore race victories and a number of world and national level championships. Ross’s success has seen him twice win the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race; the first as a watch captain for the late Sir Peter Blake on Steinlager 2 and the second as skipper on Yamaha in 1994

Field and Buckley have raced together a number of times in the past on board Buckley’s Super Maxi Maximus, and the duo are looking forward to collaborating again. 'Having sailed with Ross, I have absolute faith in his ability to propel New Zealand and the BSL brand onto the world yachting stage,' says Buckley. 'BSL is an innovative company, leading the world in its field and to be part of an innovative father and son, Kiwi team is something I am proud of,' he adds.

For Ross, the benefits of having BSL on board as a sponsor are not purely financial as the company’s involvement realises his dream of being a fully-supported, equipped and competitive New Zealand team. 'The Global Ocean Race is an incredible event and to do it with my son and with Bill and BSL on board, flying the NZ flag is just magic.'

The Global Ocean Race takes in some of the roughest waters on the planet. The race starts in Mallorca, Spain on 25 September 2011 with the first stop in Cape Town, South Africa; followed by Wellington, New Zealand; Punta del Este, Uruguay and Charleston, USA before finishing back in Mallorca in June 2012, a total of approximately 30,000 nautical miles.

BSL is a privately owned New Zealand company specialising in the manufacture and supply of precision electro magnets to over 85% of the world’s silicon chip market.