Team JAJO claims Gotland Runt monohull Line Honours

by Bart Salemans 30 Jun 03:53 PDT

Team JAJO claims Gotland Runt monohull Line Honours © Brend Schuil

Team JAJO has claimed Monohull Line Honours in the prestigious Gotland Runt offshore race, once again demonstrating the enduring speed and competitiveness of the Volvo Ocean 65 class.

Skippered by Tony Rey (USA), the VO65 JAJO crossed the finish line first among the monohull fleet in 33 hours, 36 minutes and 49 seconds, delivering an outstanding performance around Sweden's iconic offshore course.

The victory marks the second time this Volvo Ocean 65 has secured Line Honours in the legendary Swedish race. The yacht first achieved the feat in 2019, when she competed as HiQ IV under the leadership of Bouwe Bekking. Seven years later, the former Team Brunel race yacht has once again proven why the Volvo Ocean 65 remains one of the fastest and most capable offshore racing yachts ever built.

Team JAJO claims Gotland Runt monohull Line Honours - photo © Daniel Stenholm

This year's campaign initiated by Alex Laing (CAY) featured a unique combination of professional sailors. Despite predominantly light wind conditions, far from the powerful breeze the VO65 was designed for, the team delivered a near-flawless race. After an extended tactical battle with the Ocean Fifty trimaran Kraken the trimaran eventually sailed away in stronger reaching conditions, while Team JAJO continued to dominate the monohull fleet. "The race was exceptionally light, which is not where a Volvo Ocean 65 is normally at its strongest," said boatcaptain Guus van der Vis (NED). "But once we reached the longer reaching leg from Visby to Sandhamn, the boat really came alive. We were consistently sailing at around 20 knots, with peak speeds of 22 to 23 knots. That's when you really feel what this yacht is built for."

The international crew combined experienced offshore professionals with professional sailors who had previously raced aboard the Volvo Ocean 65 during this year's Caribbean 600, creating a skilled team with knowledge of the boat. "We had a fantastic mix of sailors from different countries, all brought together by Alex Laing, with the experienced Tony Rey guiding us as skipper." Van der Vis added. "This result honors that the Volvo Ocean 65 is still an absolute racing machine. To win Line Honours in one of Northern Europe's most prestigious offshore races for a second time, years after the boat's Ocean Race career, is an exceptional achievement. It reflects the quality of the yacht and the enduring performance of the Volvo Ocean 65 design."

Team JAJO claims Gotland Runt monohull Line Honours - photo © Daniel Stenholm

Originally built for The Ocean Race, the Volvo Ocean 65 continues to compete successfully in Europe's leading offshore classics. Team JAJO's victory at Gotland Runt underlines the class's ability to remain competitive against modern racing yachts while continuing to deliver one of the world's most exciting offshore sailing experiences.

In addition to its international racing programme, VO65 JAJO is available for charter, offering companies, sailing enthusiasts and guest crews the opportunity to participate in some of the world's most iconic offshore races aboard one of the most successful ocean-racing yachts ever built.

Crew Team JAJO - Gotland Runt 2026: