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PREMIER
CHALLENGE : (Australia) The Australian team, Premier
Challenge, headed by Grant Wharington, has been joined
by ING Real Estate as Construction Sponsor. This
sponsorship alleviated any financial concerns during
design and construction phase. Don Jones, has been
appointed as Chief Designer and construction of the boat
began in October 2004, with a planned launch date of
early June 2005.
July
24 marked the beginning of a more public persona, as
Hart Marine and Premier Challenge joined forces to
cajole the hull out of the shed, and on to a low loader
truck. After tens of thousands of man-hours in
design and build time, the appearance of this first ever
all-Australian effort, indicated to the outside world
that the Premier Challenge indeed means business and is
on its way to the start line in Spain in November 2005.
Mal
Hart, Chief Builder, directed proceedings to ensure the
move went off without a hitch. “This has been a great
project for us to be involved in. The Volvo Rule
stipulates all sorts of specific weight and strength
ratios, and so it has been both exciting and
challenging. I am proud that we have been able to exceed
all expectations with regard to these issues – it is a
really satisfying outcome.”
Premier
Challenge Volvo Open 70
Together
with the keel, painted bright orange in colour, the hull
is bound for Melbourne Docklands, home of the Melbourne
Stopover in January 2006. The keel will be fitted on
Wednesday and then the yacht will perform an inversion
test in front of the Waterfront City site on Thursday 7
July.
The
hull, designed by Don Jones (designer of Wharington’s
other racer “Skandia - Wild Thing”) has been painted
white, with Construction Partner ING Real Estate’s
branding towards the stern, and “Made in Melbourne
Victoria” boldly stamped on the bow, reflecting the
Victorian Government’s support of this project. The
secret of Australia’s first ever Volvo Ocean Race
entry Title Sponsor remains a mystery.
Premier
Challenge will promote Victoria’s advanced design
capabilities across the globe and the Victorian
Government will provide $500,000 towards the $15 million
project.
November
18 2004 - John Brumby, the Minister for Innovation, for
the Victorian State Government in Australia, today
welcomed plans to design and build Premier Challenge’s
Volvo Open 70 in Victoria. The construction of the race
boat began last week and it will be launched at the
beginning of June next year.
Premier Challenge’s Volvo Open 70 is being built at
Mornington and the Docklands Central Pier and it is
currently the only Australian entry in the Volvo Ocean
Race 2005-06.
John
Brumby and Premier Challenge model
“Our funding from the Science, Technology and
Innovation Initiative will be used to optimise the
design of the yacht and support the showcasing of
innovation in marine design, materials and
construction,” Mr Brumby said.
Premier Challenge’s Volvo Open 70 will build on the
success of the Victorian designed and manufactured
Skandia Wild Thing, which is Australia’s most
successful super-maxi yacht.
Facilities at Central Pier will enable the public to
follow progress of the yacht’s construction and to
learn more about the Volvo Ocean Race and the Melbourne
stopover which the Premier announced in July last year.
At a later stage, the completed yacht will be on display
with multi-media resources showing the yacht’s
progress through the race.
Mr Brumby said that the Premier Challenge project
reflects the Victorian Government’s commitment to the
marine industry, which pumps over $2 billion annually
into the State economy.
Related
stories:
Contacts:
Premier
Challenge
PO
Box 1158
Mornington
Vic 3931
Australia
Bindy
Lockhart
Sponsorship
Directo
Tel:
+61 3 5977 0096
Fax:
+61 3 5977 0066
Mob:
0405 348 438
info@premierchallenge.com.au
www.wildthingyachting.com.au
Sponsors:
Volvo Ocean Race
Ocean House
1490 Parkway
Whiteley
Fareham
Hampshire
PO15 7AF
T: +44 1489 564 555
F: +44 1489 564 333
info@volvooceanrace.org
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