Carbon Challenge aims for starting line
A syndicate with environmental issues at the heart of their campaign has emerged as a potential eighth entry for the 2008-09 race.
Known as Carbon Challenge, the objective of the campaign is to raise awareness of the harmful effects of global warming as the team travels the globe by significantly reducing their carbon footprint.
(…) Sailing matters will be in the hands of the former Mascalzone Latino America’s Cup project manager Tom Weaver.
“We will have already saved an incredible amount of energy compared to a team that builds a new boat. In theory at least, we don’t have to sacrifice a lot of performance versus the other teams as my research indicates that we can be reasonably competitive, investing our personal energy in making the boat fast. (…)
“Using a pre-campaigned boat, our crew will have a harder job keeping up with the rest of the field. But that is part of the challenge – to outperform expectations by being carbon conscious.”
Read the full story at volvooceanrace.com
Share this...
From the Sailing Team’s Logbook:
There’s been an impressive response to Carbon Challenge on our first day after launching the site. Thanks for all the mails of support.
We have confirmation that we have an exclusive option to buy the boat that finished second in the last Volvo Ocean Race – famously known as Pirates of the Caribbean.
It’s a cool idea for Carbon Challenge to get on board a pre-campaigned boat. On day 1, we will have already saved an incredible amount of energy compared to a team that builds a new boat Plus, in theory at least, we don’t have to sacrifice a lot of performance versus the other teams as my research indicates that we can be reasonably competitive, investing our personal energy in making the boat fast. More on that later…
In the short term we need to inspect the boat and determine a timetable for a re-fit with design engineers and boatbuilders, we will then look at a new complete sail inventory, I have an outlet to recycle the old ones! Then when we push the button we can get the sailing team on the water early so by race time they will be up for the challenge.
In the meantime we put some pictures up of her on the site for visitors to enjoy.
Tom Weaver, Carbon Challenge Campaign Director
Share this...
