[UK Cat Info] [TEAM HOLMATRO] Interview with skipper Mitch Booth

Tue, 28 Mar 2006 09:49:18 -0500

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TEAM HOLMATRO - Interview with skipper Mitch Booth

"Volvo Extreme 40 will be more than a one-year project" 

Rio de Janeiro / Brazil, March 28 2006

  _____  

In Rio de Janeiro, the Volvo Open 70's and Volvo Extreme 40's were
brotherly moored next to each other. The fleets and competitions were
separated, but the passion for speed was shared. That is why many Volvo
Ocean Race sailors ended up as guest crew on the multihulls. The second
Volvo Extreme 40 Grand Prix series in the Guanabara Bay showed again
some exciting races. The Britons predominated as Team Basilica won
convincingly, followed by Motorola - CHR. Tommy Hilfiger (USA) took a
third and Team Holmatro (NED) a fourth. Holmatro skipper and class'
initiator Mitch Booth gave his retrospective view on last week's Grand
Prix.    

"We didn't perform as well as we wanted", said Booth on Monday morning
after the prize giving. "We made some bad mistakes on the first day. We
came back with consistent results, but that was not enough for a podium
place." After the first series in Spain, Team Holmatro had one crew
change before the start in Brasil. Mark van Gelderen was replaced by
Herbert Dercksen from the Netherlands. Daan Koene (NED) and Taylor Booth
were still in. 

According to Booth, the location and conditions in Rio were fantastic
for the Volvo Extreme 40 class: "The event itself was more than we can
ever expect. The geography of the bay and the wind range from light to
medium are just ideal for us. And the water is always flat. That is
where the VX40 is designed for." The Guanabara Bay is small, so the
catamarans sailed close to the shore and to the village, which is good
for the show. Booth: "It is hard to say how may people were looking, but
the support was quite good." 

Training pays off
Due to shifty and light winds, it was pretty tricky on the race course.
It did not seem to bother Team Basilica of helmsman Alistair Richardson.
Booth: "They were outstanding and miles in front of us. For the rest of
the fleet is was close racing." What makes the difference? Booth:
"Basilica has trained all winter long and that became very evident.
Especially on the first day on the short course. Their boat handeling
and teamwork are great. Their training paid off well." 

The VX40-concept has an interesting feature, as every team may bring one
guest. Booth: "We have seen the whole range of top level sailors from
all sides of the sport." James Spithill from Australia, a match racing
champion and helmsman of the America's Cup team Luna Rossa, was one of
them. But also Chris Nicholson (AUS), watch captain of Movistar,
couldn't resist the attraction of the VX40 and sailed onboard the Volvo
Ocean Race cat. 

To be announced soon
"The interest in the class is overwhelming and comes from all over the
world", said Holmatro-skipper Booth. "There is an enormous information
request, so we expect more boats by Rotterdam. There are three more
multihulls in production at the moment." The Volvo Extreme 40 class will
move to Baltimore, Portsmouth and finally to Rotterdam. Booth: "We
expect to announce the new Grand Prix series over the next two months.
It will be more that just a one-year program during the Volvo Ocean
Race." The ultimate goal is to create a World Grand Prix series with ten
to fifteen teams racing in a professional circuit. 

Mitch Booth won two olympic medals and is still running an olympic
Tornado campaign with Herbert Dercksen (NED). How different is the Volvo
Extreme 40 from a Tornado or Formula 18 catamaran? Booth: "The skills
are very similar, but on a bigger scale. The main difference is the
number of people onboard. Instead of two persons, there are four crew
members. That makes a difference in teamwork and co-ordination." In
addition to the Volvo Extreme 40 series, Booth and Dercksen will
participate in all major Tornado and F18 events this year. Booth: "In
fact, we will be in Palma next week for the Princessa Sofia Trophy." But
on April 28th, Team Holmatro will be back on its 40-foot multihull for
the third battle in Baltimore. 

Final results of the VX-40 Grand Prix Rio de Janeiro after 16 races:
1. Basilica (GBR), 133 points
2. Motorola-CHR (GBR), 110 points
3. Tommy Hilfiger (USA), 98 points
4. Holmatro (NED), 96 points
5. Volvo Ocean Race (BRA), 91 points

///

  _____  

Text: Team Holmatro / Diana Bogaards
Photography: Team Holmatro and Volvo Extreme 40 Class Organization

You can download high resolution images of Team Holmatro from
http://www.holmatro-marine.com/VX40. 

For more Information, please contact Diana Bogaards on number +31
6-51383762.

For more information about the VX-40 class, please surf to
www.volvoextreme40.org <http://www.volvoextreme40.org> .

  _____  

  U staat momenteel in ons bestand met het volgende mailadres:
info@catamaran.co.uk	

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bgcolor=3D"#FFFFFF"><DIV align=3D"center"><center><table border=3D"0" =
cellspacing=3D"1" celpadding=3D"1" width=3D"680" =
bgcolor=3D"#ffffff"><tr><td width=3D"100%" bgcolor=3D"#ffffff"><table =
width=3D"100%" height=3D"110" border=3D"0"><tr><td width=3D"100%" =
align=3D"center"><img =
src=3Dhttp://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/eventlogo/blanco.jpg =
border=3D0></td></tr></table><tr><td =
bgcolor=3D"#ffffff"></td></tr><tr><td width=3D"100%" =
bgcolor=3D"#FFFFFF"><DIV align=3D"center"><center><table border=3D"0" =
cellpadding=3D"2" cellspacing=3D"0" width=3D"96%"><tr><td =
width=3D"100%"><h3> <FONT size=3D2>TEAM HOLMATRO - Interview with =
skipper Mitch Booth</FONT></h3><FONT size=3D4>"Volvo Extreme 40 will be =
more than a one-year project" </FONT>

Rio de Janeiro / Brazil, March 28 2006</td></tr><tr><td =
width=3D"100%"></td></tr><tr><td width=3D"100%"></td></tr><tr><td =
width=3D"100%"><hr class=3Dhr_blue> 
</td></tr><tr><td width=3D"100%"><img =
src=3Dhttp://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/Picture_128_kl.jpg =
align=3Dright valign=3Dmiddle hspace=3D10>In Rio de Janeiro, the =
Volvo Open 70's and Volvo Extreme 40's were brotherly moored next to =
each other. The fleets and competitions were separated, but the passion =
for speed was shared. That is why many Volvo Ocean Race sailors ended up =
as guest crew on the multihulls. The second Volvo Extreme 40 Grand Prix =
series in the Guanabara Bay showed again some exciting races. The =
Britons predominated as Team Basilica won convincingly, followed by =
Motorola - CHR. Tommy Hilfiger (USA) took a third and Team Holmatro =
(NED) a fourth. Holmatro skipper and class' initiator Mitch Booth gave =
his retrospective view on last week's Grand Prix. 
"We didn't perform as well as we wanted", said Booth on Monday =
morning after the prize giving. "We made some bad mistakes on the first =
day. We came back with consistent results, but that was not enough for a =
podium place." After the first series in Spain, Team Holmatro had one =
crew change before the start in Brasil. Mark van Gelderen was replaced =
by Herbert Dercksen from the Netherlands. Daan Koene (NED) and Taylor =
Booth were still in. 
 <img src=3Dhttp://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/vx40_site2_bw.jpg =
align=3Dleft valign=3Dmiddle hspace=3D10> According to Booth, the =
location and conditions in Rio were fantastic for the Volvo Extreme 40 =
class: "The event itself was more than we can ever expect. The geography =
of the bay and the wind range from light to medium are just ideal for =
us. And the water is always flat. That is where the VX40 is designed =
for." The Guanabara Bay is small, so the catamarans sailed close to the =
shore and to the village, which is good for the show. Booth: "It is hard =
to say how may people were looking, but the support was quite good." =

Training pays off Due to shifty and =
light winds, it was pretty tricky on the race course. It did not seem to =
bother Team Basilica of helmsman Alistair Richardson. Booth: "They were =
outstanding and miles in front of us. For the rest of the fleet is was =
close racing." What makes the difference? Booth: "Basilica has trained =
all winter long and that became very evident. Especially on the first =
day on the short course. Their boat handeling and teamwork are great. =
Their training paid off well." 
The VX40-concept has an interesting feature, as every team may bring =
one guest. Booth: "We have seen the whole range of top level sailors =
from all sides of the sport." James Spithill from Australia, a match =
racing champion and helmsman of the America's Cup team Luna Rossa, was =
one of them. But also Chris Nicholson (AUS), watch captain of Movistar, =
couldn't resist the attraction of the VX40 and sailed onboard the Volvo =
Ocean Race cat. 
<img src=3Dhttp://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/Picture_144_kl.jpg =
align=3Dright valign=3Dmiddle hspace=3D10> To be announced =
soon "The interest in the class is overwhelming and comes =
from all over the world", said Holmatro-skipper Booth. "There is an =
enormous information request, so we expect more boats by Rotterdam. =
There are three more multihulls in production at the moment." The Volvo =
Extreme 40 class will move to Baltimore, Portsmouth and finally to =
Rotterdam. Booth: "We expect to announce the new Grand Prix series over =
the next two months. It will be more that just a one-year program during =
the Volvo Ocean Race." The ultimate goal is to create a World Grand Prix =
series with ten to fifteen teams racing in a professional circuit. 
Mitch Booth won two olympic medals and is still running an olympic =
Tornado campaign with Herbert Dercksen (NED). How different is the Volvo =
Extreme 40 from a Tornado or Formula 18 catamaran? Booth: "The skills =
are very similar, but on a bigger scale. The main difference is the =
number of people onboard. Instead of two persons, there are four crew =
members. That makes a difference in teamwork and co-ordination." In =
addition to the Volvo Extreme 40 series, Booth and Dercksen will =
participate in all major Tornado and F18 events this year. Booth: "In =
fact, we will be in Palma next week for the Princessa Sofia Trophy." But =
on April 28th, Team Holmatro will be back on its 40-foot multihull for =
the third battle in Baltimore. 
Final results of the VX-40 Grand Prix Rio de Janeiro after 16 =
races: 1. Basilica (GBR), 133 points 2. Motorola-CHR (GBR), 110 =
points 3. Tommy Hilfiger (USA), 98 points 4. Holmatro (NED), 96 =
points 5. Volvo Ocean Race (BRA), 91 points
/// </td></tr><tr><td width=3D"100%"><hr class=3Dhr_blue>

</td></tr><tr><td width=3D"100%"><P>Text: Team Holmatro / Diana =
Bogaards<BR>Photography: Team Holmatro and Volvo Extreme 40 Class =
Organization</P>
<P>You can download high resolution images of Team Holmatro from <A =
href=3Dhttp://www.holmatro-marine.com/VX40>http://www.holmatro-marine.com=
/VX40</A>. </P>
<P>For more Information, please contact Diana Bogaards on number +31 =
6-51383762.</P>
<P>For more information about the VX-40 class, please surf to <A =
href=3Dhttp://www.volvoextreme40.org>www.volvoextreme40.org</A>. =
</P></td></tr><tr><td width=3D"100%"><hr class=3Dhr_blue>
</td></tr></table></center></div></td></tr><tr><td width=3D"100%" =
colspan=3D"2" bgcolor=3D"#FFFFFF" class=3D"smalltext" =
align=3D"center">&nbsp;&nbsp;U staat momenteel in ons bestand met het =
volgende mailadres: =
info@catamaran.co.uk</td></tr></table></center></div></body></html>
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