Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing Team has officially appointed US-based Farr Yacht Design (FYD), to design its Volvo Open 70 sailing yacht for the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. It has also been announced that Jason Carrington (UK) has been hired as the team’s Technical Manager.
Senior members of the ADTA join race organisers onboard of a racing yacht at the Emirates Palace - Image credit to Mhic Chambers
With more than 25 years of experience, FYD-designed racing yachts have won more than 40 world championships and have achieved a multitude of success at international grand prix events including the Volvo Ocean Race. After a five-stage research and design process, the building of the yacht will start in late September.
“Farr Yacht Design was selected because of its ability to tailor to our specific requirements and for its strong commitment to research and design which has been ongoing since the conclusion of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09,” said His Excellency Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA).
“We anticipate being able to announce the appointment of the yacht builder early next month after finalising the selection of six tender qualifiers from throughout the Middle East, Europe and the Far East,” His Excellency added.
Senior members of the ADTA join race organisers onboard a racing yacht at the Emirates Palace - credit to Mhic Chambers
Shortly after announcing Ian Walker as skipper for Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing Team, Jason Carrington from the UK joins as Technical Manager, another knowledgeable addition to the team. Carrington is a professional offshore sailor, and is known for being one of the world’s most experienced boat-builders over the last two decades, having built five Volvo Ocean Race yachts and project-managed three campaigns.
Carrington has competed in more than 30 top-level international regattas, but his first round the world experience was on the yacht Fortuna in the 1993-94 Whitbread (formerly the Volvo Ocean Race). After this taste of ocean racing, he continued his sailing career joining Silk Cut for the 1997-98 Whitbread, ASSA ABLOY in the Volvo Ocean Race 2001-02 and finally sailed with Ericsson Racing Team in the 2005-06 Volvo Ocean Race.
ADTA and Walker are also currently in the final stages of appointing the team’s other crew members, and are committed to including a UAE national on the sailing team and another two on the shore team. An open selection process will begin next month.
