12-03-2004, 14:02 | |
ABN AMRO
enters two boats in Volvo Ocean Race ABN AMRO, based in the Netherlands, today announced that they will run two boats in next Volvo Ocean Race. The bank will invest approximately EUR 20 million in this campaign and their aim is clear – to win! "Having a recognized blue chip company financing two boats is great news," says Glenn Bourke, CEO of Volvo Ocean Race. The next Volvo Ocean Race will start in Galicia, Spain in November 2005 and finish in the summer of 2006. This race is the world's premier ocean race and one of the most extreme sporting events in the world. The first leg in the competition runs from Vigo, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. But actually, there are three phases to complete before the start: First is funding the entry – which now has been done by ABN AMRO and the Spanish Telefonica syndicate. Second leg is building the boat. And third is to making it fast through crew training and sailing. At the launch of the ABN AMRO campaign today, the company claimed to be in the race to win. Their strategy is to select the best team possible. They are working closely with the Dutchman Roy Heiner, who has previously been involved in two races with BrunelSunergy (1997-98) and Assa Abloy (2001-02). ABN AMRO will rely on Heiner's knowledge and expertise of the sailing world, a project plan has been written and the nautical preparations have started. To complete the second phase, a designer and builder for the boats have already been chosen. The design will be in the hands of Juan Kouyoumdjian from Argentina. Killian Bushe from Ireland will be responsible for building the boats. Bushe also built the winning boat (illbruck) in the last race. At this moment, ABN AMRO is selecting a skipper. The ABN AMRO strategy to success is to build and race two boats. Experience gained from the first boat will be used in designing and building a second boat, giving it an optimal start. Ultimately both boats will take part in the race. Since the Volvo Ocean Race (formerly The Whitbread) started in 1973 in total 60 Dutch sailors have been in the race. And the famous Dutch skipper Conny van Rietschoten has won the race twice with Flyer. "The Dutch have got a lot to defend in this race and I am sure the ABN AMRO boats will be very competitive. It is a highly respected company that will add quality to the race," says Glenn Bourke. He continues: "The people they have chosen to work with are very experienced and they understand what it takes to run a Volvo Ocean Race campaign successfully. However, I am convinced that Telefonica of Spain and other syndicates will do their utmost to be on top as well. So we can, for sure, look forward to a very exciting, challenging and fast race." An ideal candidate Following last year’s rebranding campaign of its major subsidiaries – Banco Real, LaSalle Bank, Standard Federal Bank, Delbrück Bethmann Maffei, Alfred Berg, Hoare Govett, Banque de Neuflize en Banque OBC - ABN AMRO wants to further reinforce its brand worldwide. “The Volvo Ocean Race, which visits almost all of the continents, emerged as an ideal candidate, especially considering the range of commercial opportunities offered by participating,” said Tom de Swaan, Member of the Managing Board of ABN AMRO and responsible for this project. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- bron: www.volvooceanrace.org Nog maar 603 dagen tot de start, andere teams hebben de financiering nog niet rond maar zijn al lang bezig met het team selecteren. Is dit niet wat kort? Of: JEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wordt het een Nederlands of een internationaal team? Wie denken jullie dat de schipper wordt (niet Roy Heiner)? Maken ze kans? Overigens wordt Amsterdam genoemd als mogelijke finishplaats.... Hoe wouden ze dat gaan doen? Met al die boten door het Noordzeekanaal? |
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22-03-2004, 13:29 | ||
Citaat:
Er zijn hier wel meer zeilers, maar ik weet ook niet waar die blijven.... Hoop zelf overigens op Frostad (Kvaerner Innovation, DJuice) als schipper. En denk jij dan dat ze met die boten via de sluis gaan ? |
22-03-2004, 18:23 | ||
Citaat:
maar zoals ik al zei... het kan natuurlijk ook 'velsen aan zee' worden met een trein of bustochtje naar amsterdam... btw, voeg me anders 's toe op msn, dat discusieert wat makkelijker als er verder toch niemand reageerd... |
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