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Virgin Money Atlantic Ocean Record Attempt

The Publisher
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Oct 22, 2008, 11:04 AM

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Pitch PR
Tel: 0207 494 1616
Justine Ozoux, 07824 310 035, justine@pitchpr.com
Annabel Merrison 07721 518 411, annabel@pitchpr.com
For immediate release: Wednesday 22 October

TEAMORIGIN AND SIR RICHARD BRANSON BEGIN TRANSATLANTIC RECORD ATTEMPT

Virgin Money sets sail on Cross-Atlantic Challenge

The 99ft monohull maxi-yacht Virgin Money (ex-Speedboat owned by Alex Jackson, USA) set sail this morning on its Cross-Atlantic Challenge. Richard Branson, his children Holly (26) and Sam (23) and the TEAMORIGIN crew, which includes Mike Sanderson as co-skipper and triple Olympic Gold medallist Ben Ainslie, aim to break the world record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean, currently set at 6 days 17 hours, 39 minutes and 52 seconds.

Virgin Money set sail from New York and passed the official start line at Ambrose Lighthouse at 04:00 EST (09:00 BST) on 22 October 2008. The yacht will have to make the target of Lizard Point, the most South Westerly point of the UK, no later than 21:39.52 EST on 28 October 2008 to break the record.

Announcing the start of the challenge, Sir Richard Branson said: “I can't quite believe we've decided to leave four hours earlier than planned to ensure we jump in front of a huge storm. The first 24 hours we'll endeavour to out-run a storm and navigate another that could cause major damage to the boat and destroy our chances of breaking the record. We need to navigate these two storm systems perfectly to have any chance of succeeding. It’s going to be a very challenging six days."

Mike Sanderson, co-skipper of Virgin Money and TEAMORIGIN Team Director commented: “As always it has been difficult finding a suitable weather window in which to begin the record attempt. Forecasters are predicting the mother of all storm systems, with two storms converging and winds of up to 50 knots. Virgin Money is a very innovative, fast, state-of-the-art yacht and given the right conditions we are confident we could beat the current record we set on Mari Cha IV in 2003 and have a great time with Sir Richard and his family.”

The yacht Virgin Money, which can reach speeds of up to 45 knots, contains a crew of 25. The crew members will work in four hour shifts during the challenge in an attempt to break the record. Richard, Holly, Sam and the crew members will be posting regular blogs charting their progress during the challenge as they attempt to sail into the record books.

As well as containing two generations of the Branson family, the crew of Virgin Money includes a number of America’s Cup sailors. Ben Ainslie, TEAMORIGIN helmsman and quadruple Olympic medallist said: “I am very excited to be taking part in such an amazing challenge with my TEAMORIGIN crewmates and Sir Richard Branson. We have a fantastic boat and a world-class team of America’s Cup sailors onboard. Although I have competed in the Sydney-Hobart and the Middle Sea Race before, this will be my first Atlantic crossing. I have seen the weather forecast and it looks like it will be a pretty wild ride but I am confident we are up to the challenge.”

Although the boat is power assisted, the crew aim to break the faster non-power assisted record of 6 days, 17 hours, 52 minutes and 39 seconds, set by the Mari Cha IV in 2003, to take the title as undisputed king of the Atlantic waves. ICAP Leopard currently holds the power assisted Cross-Atlantic record, with a time of 7 days, 19 hours, 20 minutes and 49 seconds.

The yacht includes the latest in nautical design and technology and its manufacture included input from race skipper Mike Sanderson, and Juan Kouyoumdjian, principal designer at TEAMORIGIN, a team that includes Olympic winners Ben Ainslie, Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson.

With the race skipper of Mari Cha IV, Mike Sanderson at the helm, and the Virgin Money yacht the pinnacle of nautical design, the race is on to beat the record for the 2925 nautical mile voyage.

Sir Keith Mills, TEAMORIGIN Team Principal commented: “I am thrilled that Virgin Money has set off on the transatlantic record attempt. We have various TEAMORIGIN members onboard and this is a great challenge for them to get their teeth into ahead of the next America’s Cup. We are particularly pleased to welcome onboard Olympic Gold medallist Ben Ainslie, TEAMORIGIN’s Skipper and Helmsman, for the record attempt. I will be eagerly following the team’s progress.”

VIRGIN MONEY Transatlantic Challenge crew list (25):
Mike Sanderson, NZ - Co-Skipper
Richard Branson, GBR - Co-Skipper
Alex Jackson, USA - Owner, Co-skipper
Ben Ainslie, GBR - Watch captain, helmsman
Rob Greenhalgh, GBR - Helmsman
Bill Erkelens, USA - Project Manager, Runners
Holly Branson, GBR - Crew, boat medic
Sam Branson, GBR - Crew
Chris Coulson, USA - Crew
Cromwell Coulson, USA - Crew
Matthew Pritzker, USA - Crew
Erle Williams, NZ - Watch Captain
Stan Honey, USA - Navigator
Julien Cressant, FRA - Bow
Joey Allen, NZ - Bow
Andrew Henderson, AUS - Mid-bow, Systems
Nick Bice, AUS - Pit
Anthony Nossiter, AUS - Pit
Matthew Mason, NZ - Pit
Robbie Naismith, NZ - Trimmer
Bob Wylie, AUS - Trimmer
Mike Mottl, AUS - Trimmer
Philip Wehrheim, USA - Mainsheet assist
Chris Higgins, USA - Runners, assist boat captain
Adam Boome, GBR - Documentary Cameraman

For further information visit:
http://uk.virginmoney.com/challenge
http://www.teamorigin.com

The Publisher
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Oct 23, 2008, 4:24 PM

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Pitch PR
Tel: 0207 494 1616
Justine Ozoux, 07824 310 035, justine@pitchpr.com
Annabel Merrison 07721 518 411, annabel@pitchpr.com

DATE: 10/23/2008
TIME (GMT): 13:30
ELAPSED JOURNEY TIME: 27 hrs 50 mins
DISTANCE COVERED: 500 miles

VIRGIN MONEY STATUS:
Boat’s position: 38°22.04'N 062°37.63'W
Course over ground: 098T
Boat speed: 20.3 kts
Wind speed: 26.2 kts
Wind direction: 356T

“BRUTAL BUT AMAZING”

Sir Richard Branson and the TEAMORIGIN crew have been going for just over 24 hours and the first signs of fatigue are starting to show. In preparation for the rough conditions forecast, the crew onboard Virgin Money has tried to get as much rest as possible before the predicted winds of up to 50kts hit their decks.

Race skipper Mike Sanderson, said: ‘We are having a pretty rough trip out here but we need to get some sleep before it gets even more heinous tonight. Surviving on three hours sleep is not easy when you’re getting battered on all sides by the elements.’

This morning Virgin Money and crew are still riding the same storm that pushed them passed Ambrose to start their attempt at this historical record attempt. The yacht has been pushed to its limits, facing fierce Northerly winds and high seas.

Navigator Stan Honey said: ‘We have two crossings of troughs where there will be areas of light air that we need to get through. The trough passages look ok on the GFS (global forecast system), but I've always found them to be tougher than forecast.’

With challenging conditions like these the team will need to concentrate on strategic navigating that will allow the boat to maintain good speeds in order to pass through these periods of light wind as fast as possible.

Sailor: Adam Boome blog:

“At the moment we’re really motoring … Imagine living on the waltzers at the fairground during a freezing storm and you’re almost there. Even the smallest task takes intense concentration and is very physically demanding. Can’t imagine how we will feel if this goes on for another 5 days, right up to the wire.”

Sailor: Sam Branson blog:

“We have been out here now just over 24 hours but it feels like 24 days. Leaving New York we had a magnificent sight of the Statue of Liberty and it wasn’t until then that it hit home what we were embarking on. The winds have been up to gale force 8 and we’ve had sea swells up to 35 feet and seen speeds of 30 knots. It is difficult trying to get used to having only three hours sleep and as the breast of the ship crashes over every wave a loud shudder runs down through the whole boat - brutal but amazing.”

For further information visit:
http://uk.virginmoney.com/challenge
http://www.teamorigin.com

The Publisher
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Oct 24, 2008, 4:23 PM

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Pitch PR
Tel: 0207 494 1616
Justine Ozoux, 07824 310 035, justine@pitchpr.com
Annabel Merrison 07721 518 411, annabel@pitchpr.com

Time: 10.00am GMT
Date: 24 October 2008

Time elapsed: 2 days 50 mins

Time remaining: 4 days 16 hours, 39 mins

HEARTS SINK ON VIRGIN MONEY AS DREAM OF TRANSATLANTIC RECORD IS THREATENED

Speaking via satellite phone aboard Virgin Money, two days into their attempt to break the transatlantic mono-hull speed record, an exhausted Richard Branson said: “We’ve just experienced a night from hell when Virgin Money was struck by a massive wave from behind – washing one of our life rafts over board, damaging the spinnaker and devastatingly tearing a massive hole in our mainsail. Luckily all of the crew were harnessed in and no one was swept overboard, which is all that matters at the end of the day. We don’t know what the next few hours will bring. We are now frantically trying to repair the sails enough to continue.

“The last two days have felt like a lifetime, we knew when we set out this late in the season that we were going to be faced with some horrific weather conditions but none of us could have predicted the huge storm systems – at times between gale force 7 – 9, seeing swells up to 40ft – that we have been bombarded with. We have pushed Virgin Money to its limits – I now fear over her limits.

“We have the most amazing and experienced crew from TEAMORIGIN, including Olympic triple Gold medallist Ben Ainslie, onboard - who will work flat out for the next few hours to endeavour to resurrect our dreams of breaking this most historic of sailing records. After everything we have been through in the last two days Sam, Holly (who has already been called upon several times to use her medical training with the crew suffering a variety of injuries as a result of being thrown about the boat by the severe conditions) and I will be bitterly disappointed to give up the fight for our first world record attempt together as a family.”

For further information visit:
http://uk.virginmoney.com/challenge
http://www.teamorigin.com

The Publisher
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Oct 24, 2008, 4:25 PM

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Pitch PR
Tel: 0207 494 1616
Justine Ozoux, 07824 310 035, justine@pitchpr.com
Annabel Merrison 07721 518 411, annabel@pitchpr.com

SIR RICHARD BRANSON AND TEAMORIGIN FORCED TO ABANDON TRANSATLANTIC RECORD ATTEMPT

(Oct. 24, 2008) - Sir Richard Branson and the TEAMORIGIN crew aboard Virgin Money have been forced to abandon their transatlantic monohull speed record attempt. Just two days after setting sail from New York, USA, they experienced substantial damage to their mainsail and spinnaker caused by a large wave striking them from behind and washing one of the life rafts overboard. With the world record now out of their grasp, Virgin Money is diverting to St George, Bermuda, where it is expected to arrive at approximately 21:00 GMT this evening.

Speaking via satellite phone aboard Virgin Money at 13.00 GMT today, the crew gave details of the challenge so far and of the conditions that have led to them abandoning the record:

Sir Richard Branson: “We have had an eventful trip with waves up to 40 feet, gale force winds between force 7 and 9. We got taken by one massive monster wave, which approached us from behind and took one of our life rafts. Fortunately all the crew were harnessed in, so everybody was safe.

“The storm blew out a spinnaker and it ripped the mainsail. We have tried to repair the mainsail, and managed to mend one bit, but the bottom of the sail was too badly ripped.

“We are now heading to St George in Bermuda and should be there around about 4 or 5 o’clock this afternoon. We have got a fantastic group of sailors onboard, obviously Mike Sanderson who is skippering the British attempt at the America’s Cup – and Ben Ainslie. Everyone has done a fantastic job. We live to fight another day and we are having a magnificent sail now back towards Bermuda with enormous rolling waves. The change is that the wind is now behind us.

“The boat will be ready to sail again in the next few weeks, and it’s possible that there might be one week left this season, otherwise it will be spring before it can go again. But everybody onboard the boat is committed to get the record. The boat did well but the conditions were too bad for the boat to bear.”

Mike Sanderson, Co-Skipper Virgin Money and TEAMORIGIN Team Director:
“As Richard said, we have had a fairly exciting trip. We knew on leaving that this record was going to be tough, the forecast for this attempt was going to be tough, and the forecast was tough. There are a couple of ways of getting across the Atlantic in record time. One is in a more northerly route, which was always going to be fairly aggressive and one is a southerly route, where the waters are a lot flatter. It was getting quite late in the season for the northerly route that we chose, but the potential time was very quick, however Lady Luck was unfortunately not shining down on us.

“We suffered damage on the second day to the mainsail. Basically it is irrepairable out here. We had a good go at fixing the damage half way up the sail but the damage in the bottom of the sail isn’t repairable. With the mainsail having to be reefed down, we were going to be possibly a day outside the record, so the decision was made that it wasn’t a viable challenge.

“Obviously, the first concern is the crew’s safety and the guys are all fit and well. The boat is in good shape and ready to sail another day, so onwards and upwards.”

Ben Ainslie, TEAMORIGIN Helmsman and triple Olympic gold medallist:
“I can only echo the words of Richard and Mike. It is obviously disappointing that we had a failure in the mainsail that has really forced us to pull out and not be able to break the record. It has certainly been an amazing experience sailing on the boat, it’s an awesome bit of kit, a real beast.

“Certainly in the future with the right weather and without the gear failures, it is well capable of beating the record. It’s good that we are all safe and I am absolutely looking forward to the future and having another go at the record.”

Holly Branson: “It’s been the most amazing trip. Very, very exciting. Fortunately, I haven’t had to put my medical hat on for anything too serious. A couple of people needed some painkillers; one person smashed themself against the mast and needed some painkillers, but that’s the only thing I have really had to do.

“Other than that I am pretty disappointed that we are not going to be able to make the record, but we are happy that we are off to Bermuda for some sun and nice food.”

Sam Branson: “It was an amazing experience for us beginners. It’s taken about a day to get our sea legs and by the time we got used to it we were heading home, which was a bit of a shame. It has been an amazing trip. It’s been incredible watching these guys at the top of their game working under tough conditions. Sails ripping, spinnakers ripping, all hands on deck to keep the boat going along. I have no doubt that with a bit more luck in the future we are going to take this record.”

Alex Jackson, Co-Skipper and Owner Virgin Money:
“I’m pretty happy with the way the boat is performing. With these sea states we are always worried about our ability to maintain speed. We have to maintain at least 20 knots to break the record, which is about 24 miles an hour. That’s if we are sailing straight to the UK, however, generally on the actual route we have to maintain a higher speed. The boat has been performing pretty well against the polars, up to about 100% of theoretical speed. When we were in the bigger waves, that’s when we begin to really worry about it. At times we were down a bit, but nothing we couldn’t overcome. So we have a few adjustments to make before the next try.”

For further information visit:
http://uk.virginmoney.com/challenge
http://www.teamorigin.com

The Publisher
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Oct 24, 2008, 4:39 PM

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This record attempt reinforces my belief that if you want to promote sailing or sailing personalities, partnering with appropriate celebrities will get you unfound media riches. The number of media outlets that have been covering this Atlantic crossing record attempt is easily 100 times greater because of Richard Branson's involvement.

However, where this effort fell short, at least from a media perspective, is the lack of proper tracking and position reports that have become so commonplace in recent passage record attempts.

Additionally, the onboard updates soon took on the form of a family blog, with Richard and his two children providing their perspective. No disrespect intended, but if efforts like this are to be taken seriously, having three novices onboard does not help (plus a cameraman), and hearing from them should be saved for after the finish.

The Publisher
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Oct 24, 2008, 4:48 PM

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Friday, October 24, 2008
Holly Branson, Billionare Dad Richard, Others Quit Atlatic Sailing Record Attempt

26-year-old Holly Branson, the heiress to the multi billion Virgin empire, and her father Richard and his team have abandoned a sailing record bid in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Holly Branson and her billionaire adventurer dad have given up on their Atlantic Ocean sailing adventure after a hellish night in their mono-hull sailing yacht.
"We got taken by one massive monster wave that took us from behind and took one of our liferafts," Branson, 58, told a conference call relayed from the yacht, "Virgin Money". "The boat did great, but the conditions were a bit too bad this time," he said. Branson was sailing with his two adult children Holly and Sam.

Also among the crew were British Olympic sailing champion Ben Ainslee, New Zealand skipper Mike Sanderson and the boat's American owner Alex Jackson.

Holly Branson is the expected heir to the multi billion Branson empire that includes an airline, trains and a soda division. Holly Branson is known well to the British celeb party scene and the paparazzi, with her load and bubbly style and sassy looks. The team had hoped to break the record for a transatlantic crossing in a single-hulled sailboat. -- http://hottiesinthenews.blogspot.com/...are-dad-richard.html

The Publisher
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Nov 8, 2008, 8:00 AM

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To add to an earlier post, we have learned what a mess this program was. Branson contracted the boat for 6 months, controlled all the media, and made a mockery of our sport by thinking he could bring along himself, his two kids, another rich buddy, and a camera man (that's five passengers) on an extreme adventure.

The good news is that the weather window for record setting transatlantic crossings has about closed, and the boat will be busy getting "repaired", and not available for the billionaire for some time (if ever again).

Here was an early post, and it seems that things went downhill from here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/...rn-again-virgin.html

yachtyakka
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Nov 13, 2008, 11:11 PM

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Re: [The Publisher] Virgin Money Atlantic Ocean Record Attempt [In reply to]	Log-In to Post

If the passenger is wrighting the cheque and the boat is big enough, why can't he bring a couple of guests? strap them into the back corner and give them a ride to tell their grandchildren about. make the eyes water a bit!
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