The Rolex Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race is one of the all-time great races and, next to the Round-the-World races, pretty much the ultimate test of endurance and equipment. In the past 11 runnings of this race, masts have broken, boats have sunk and sailors have been tragically lost – doesn’t get much more rugged than that.
Team YuuZoo knocks the rust off
If you’re as big a fan of the annual S2H classic as we are, then here’s a bit of timely news:
Atlantis is partnering with veteran ocean racer and 2-time winner Ludde Ingvall and the team on the 90-foot super-maxi YuuZoo (ex-Nicorette) for the upcoming Rolex Sydney-Hobart and beyond. We’ve provided them with a full kit of Aegis jackets, Aegis hybrid bibs and Grand Prix softshells, and based on the current forecast, it sounds like they’re going to need every bit of it. So, this’ll be a pretty good test of our stuff on one of the toughest race tracks in the world, but what’s particularly cool is the approach these guys are taking – totally revolutionary!
The biggest problem with ocean races is that, for those of us who prefer the comfort of the couch and a dry bed to the misery of the weather rail and a damp pipe berth, it’s pretty hard to follow what’s going on. Oh sure, there are some cool web-based tracking systems, but as for experiencing what the boys and girls on the sharp end are dealing with, they don’t cut it.
Ludde and YuuZoo chief Ron Creevey have assembled a “who’s who” of technology companies to provide all of the bits required for each of the crewmembers to be able to record and share a variety of content in real time. For instance, they’ll be able to use their HTC smartphones to shoot video and then upload it to YouTube so that we’ll be able to see what’s going on aboard in near-real time. Their goal is to assemble the largest virtual “crew” in history.
The YuuZoo Sailing site
The Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race starts on Boxing Day (December 26th). To join the team, visit www.yuuzoo.com/jointhecrew and click on your preferred social media tool to get real-time updates. You can also watch live video coverage of the start on Australia’s Seven Network and online at Yahoo!7 beginning at 12:30 PM AEST (about 8:30 PM US EST on Christmas Day).
Ludde and the crew plan a full campaign over the next 3 to 5 years including great ocean races and world record attempts. Should be fun to watch!
