Around Alone skipper joins Owen Clarke |
| Saturday, 08 February 2003 |
| Alan joined Owen Clarke Design back in September 2002 when he flew to the USA for a planning meeting with Kip and Merfyn Owen. Since that Time, Alan has been working closely with the project’s Auckland based lead designer, Tim Sadler and McConaghy Yachts.
Alan competed in the 94/95 Around Alone race on Newcastle Australia, the open 50 he built at Jarken Yachts. After loosing his rig, he put into the Falklands where with the help of Merfyn (who was at the time project managing Thursday’s Child) a new mast was stepped. Alan completed the race and in 1998 project managed the complete refit and race preparation of the same yacht (then renamed Balance Bar) for current Around Alone Class 2 leader Brad Van Lieu.
When the new twin dagger board, swing keel yacht is completed it will be one of the most advanced open 50’s afloat. That process will have to wait until later in the year however because although the yacht’s structure is due to be completed in March, the rig will not be stepped and the boat launched until October when Kip will be ready to commit fully his time to the project.
Final choices are being made at this time regarding the keel and rig design. As this work is complete these items will be ordered. Once the yacht launches in Sydney the plan is for Alan and Kip to spend a month working the yacht up and completing builder’s trials before leaving for New Zealand and a round trip back again to Sydney or Hobart.
Early in the new year providing all is well the as yet, un-named, un-sponsored yacht will be sailed to Europe via Cape Horn in a manner reminiscent of Kingfisher. Once in the UK, Stone plans to take part in the EuropeOne single handed transatlantic race.
|
Email this page to a friend  |
|
