New Zealand’s entry in one of the world’s toughest races will be unveiled at a special launch at Auckland’s Viaduct Basin tomorrow (Friday).
A tiny boat, designed to carry two rowers thousands of miles across the Atlantic Ocean, will be lifted by crane into the Waitemata Harbour.
Rowers Kevin Biggar and Scott Donaldson have spent more than 12 months designing and refining the craft, which will carry them on a grueling six-week journey across the Atlantic Ocean.
Bigger and Donaldson will endure towering seas and blistering temperatures, in a bid to regain the famous Trans-Atlantic Rowing title.
The inaugural trans-Atlantic race was won by New Zealander rower Rob Hamill in record time in 1997. Hamill is now Challenge Director for the latest kiwi campaign. Joining him at Friday’s boat launch will be Prime Minister Helen Clark and long-time campaign supporter Sir Edmund Hillary.
Hamill says the race is an unbelievable physical challenge.
“At a distance of 2800 nautical miles this is possibly the toughest event of human endurance ever devised,” he says. “It takes over 1,000 hours of effort to complete; by way of comparison the Tour de France takes less than a 100.”
“Kevin and Scott are an outstanding pairing, and I have every confidence that their intense training, planning and dedication will deliver results.”
The launch
Special guests and supporters at Friday’s launch at Float Bar on Princess Warf will include Sir Edmund Hillary. Also on hand will be members of the campaign’s official charity, Cure Kids.
As well as lifting the covers on the kiwi boat, campaign organisers will also be announcing details of a major sponsorship deal, which will guarantee New Zealand a place in the race.
Rob Hamill says securing a naming sponsor is crucial to the success of this year’s challenge, “A project this big is beyond the resources of individuals,” he says. “We are delighted that a high profile New Zealand brand has come forward to support our bid.”
Around seventy VIP guests and supporters will celebrate the event. The 2pm event will culminate in a champagne christening by Prime Minister Helen Clark.
The race
New Zealanders Bigger and Donaldson are among 30 entries in this year’s grueling ocean race. The teams will set off from the Canary Islands on October 19. Those lucky enough to finish could take up to four months to reach the end of the race in Barbados.
Along the way, the rowers will have to survive weeks of sunburn, dehydration and limited food stock. They’ll face unpredictable weather with seas as big as 8 or 9 metres, and temperatures up to 40 degrees.
The boat
· The boat is minimal in design and consists of just 24 sheets of 8mm plywood. · Boat building students from Auckland’s Unitec constructed the initial hull. · Holds 150 litres of water ballast and is designed to be self righting. · 7.1m long and 1.9m. · Includes water desalinator, life raft, lightweight communications equipment and full safety equipment eg EPIRB, flares, tracking beacon, etc. · Fosters ships chandler supplied a lot of the marine gear to fit out the boat. · Navman supplied the GPS and speed log. · Altex coats provided all the paint and advice on painting of the boat.
Cure Kids
Cure Kids charity was set up to fund New Zealand medical specialists who are carrying out ongoing research into childhood diseases affecting youngsters in this country and around the world.
Past funding has helped secure breakthroughs in dealing with ‘hole in the heart’ babies, cystic fibrosis and in the understanding of childhood diabetes and leukemia.
For further details, please contact:
Rob Hamill 07 – 856 1332 0274 936677 Email: [email protected]