Open 50 project updates |
| Monday, 01 April 2002 |
| Kip Stone’s new open 50 has begun construction at John McConaghy’s yard in Australia. With a timetable focused on entry in the next Vendee Globe, this earlier start on the new schedule (Stone’s original goal had been the Around Alone) has been made possible by a build slot opening up at the famous North Sydney yard. Completion of the composite structure and foils is expected towards the end of the year when there will be a delay in final launch. This delay being caused by an intentional pause to allow late research and development to be completed on keel and rigs. As part of the Vendee work up it’s intended to race the boat in the 2003 Transat Jacques Vabres and 2004 singlehanded transatlantic races. The attached photo show’s Kip undertaking a VO2 fitness test at Auckland University during his visit to New Zealand to sail on Graham Dalton’s new boat Hexagon.
Meanwhile in Italy, Victor Yazykov’s near sister ship to Stone’s boat is progressing slowly. The gritty Russian single handed has struggled with more than his fair share of financial problems in the 12 months since the yacht started construction. Some progress has been made on the split centreline built boat since the new year and the sails and rig have been ordered. In recent weeks, boat builders have arrived from Russia to help out at Freek Koppelmann’s FK Boats. Despite his problems, Yazykov is determined to be at the start of his second Around Alone from New York on September 15th.
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