The previously scheduled re-launch for May 29th at 10:00 a.m. has been delayed due to a legal strike of Local 793 International Union of Operating Engineers. It is hope that the strike by the crane operators will be resolved quickly in order that Spirit of Canada can be re-launched as soon as possible.
Open 60 for the All-Female Crew for the Barcelona World Race Arrives In Barcelona: Fri, 25 May 2007 11:21:06 GMT

Today, the Open 60 for the all-female Spanish crew to compete in the two-handed Barcelona World Race starting on 11th November will arrive at the Royal Club of Barcelona from Southampton. The final skipper for the race will be chosen from a pre-selected crew of four including  Ana Corbellà, Pilar Pasanau and Laia Tutzó from Catalonia, and Pilar Casares from La Coruna who will race alongside French co-skipper Servanne Escoffier.
Calais Round Britain Race: 11 Crews On Start Line: Fri, 25 May 2007 11:11:03 GMT

The third edition of the Calais Round Britain Race will set off on 3rd June for a 1,850 mile sprint across the English Channel, the Irish Sea, the Atlantic, the North Sea and finally into Pas de Calais. Eleven 60 foot monohulls will take the start, including four new prototypes : Delta Dore (Jérémie Beyou), PRB (Vincent Riou), Temenos (Dominique Wavre),and Generali (Yann Elies). Doing battle against these new designs is Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux), Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat), Dee Caffari (Aviva), Samantha Davies (Roxy), Arnaud Boissière (Akena Vérandas), Alexandre Toulorge (Maisonneuve) and Jonny Malbon (Artemis).
68 boats Already Signed Up For 2007 Transat Jacques Vabre: Fri, 25 May 2007 09:44:56 GMT

The 3rd and 4th November this year will see the two starts of the eighth edition of the doublehanded Transat Jacques Vabre from Le Havre 4,634 miles across the equator to Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. With just over one month to go to the close of the entry list a record number of entries look set to take part with 68 boats already signed up.
Transat Jacques Vabre 2007: Vers Une Participation Record!: Fri, 25 May 2007 09:41:32 GMT

Les 3 et 4 novembre prochains aura lieu le départ de la Transat Jacques Vabre. Pour cette huitième édition, il est déjà acquis que l’on se dirige vers une participation record. 68 bateaux ont d’ores et déjà manifesté leur volonté de s’engager : Un plateau corsé à l’arôme du grand large! Cette année, le nombre de participants s’annonce historique. À un mois de la clôture officielle le 1er juillet, 68 bateaux ont demandé un dossier d’inscription auprès de Pen Duick, organisateur de la course.
Spirit Of Canada Prêt A Repartir : Thu, 24 May 2007 17:22:41 GMT

Après un long hivernage, une reconstruction et un lifting complet, le nouvel Open 60 Spirit of Canada sera prêt à repartir mardi 29 Mai dans le port de Toronto. L'Open 60 tout-carbone de haute technologie a été doté d'une quille basculante et et d'un système hydraulique et porte maintenant l'orange fluorescent imposé par les règles de sécurité IMOCA sur ses appendices.
Spirit Of Canada Ready For Re-Launch: Thu, 24 May 2007 14:30:02 GMT

After a long winter of construction and appearances, the new Open 60 Spirit of Canada is ready for re-launch on Tuesday May 29th in Toronto Harbour. The all carbon high tech Open 60 has been fitted with the canting keel and hydraulics and now sports the fluorescent orange keel and rudders as required by the IMOCA safety rules.
New Hugo Boss Open 60 Build Update: Tue, 22 May 2007 10:32:29 GMT

Alex Thomson's new IMOCA Open 60 HUGO BOSS is progressing nicely in Lymington led by the highly experienced Jason Carrington, built by Lymington (UK) based boat builder Neville Hutton. There have been some delays with both the mast (being made in New Zealand) and the keel (being made in France) which means that she will not now hit the water until late June. Harry McGougan, Operations Director: "We have a great team around us and the boat is looking good. We are so proud of the design and finishing of the new boat that we can't wait to launch it, hopefully in mid July."
Des Nouvelles Du Prochain Open 60 Hugo Boss: Tue, 22 May 2007 10:32:29 GMT

Le nouvel Open 60 IMOCA Hugo Boss d'Alex Thomson se construit tranquillement à Lymington (UK) sous la direction du très expérimenté Jason Carrington appuyé par Neville Hutton à la tête du chantier. Il y a eu quelques retards au niveau du mât (construit en Nouvelle-Zélande) et de la quille (construite en France). Aussi, le bateau ne sera pas mis-à-l'eau avant la fin Juin. Harry McGougan, directeur des opérations, Hugo Boss Open 60: "Nous avons une équipe formidable qui nous entoure et le bateau avance bien. Nous sommes tellement fiers du design et de la finition du nouveau bateau, nous ne pouvons pas attendre de le mettre à l'eau, a priori mi-Juillet."
Jean-Pierre Dick Arrives in Panama Onboard The New Paprec-Virbac: Mon, 21 May 2007 13:28:52 GMT

En-route back to France onboard his newly built Open 60 Paprec-Virbac, Jean-Pierre arrived in Panama on Sunday to sail from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic. Jean-Pierre Dick: «We sailed safely to Panama, and we are now moored in front of the Balboa Yacht Club, just before 'Las Americas' bridge, one of the bridges that crosses the Panama Canal. Unfortunately we experienced very light winds so this first part of our journey from New Zealand was very slow : 6500 miles sailing at an average speed of 9.7 knots!  Damian Foxall, my co-skipper for the Barcelona World Race, will arrive tonight and tomorrow we will start sorting out the customs paperwork to cross the canal. We hope to set off in the next week."