It's only six months until the start of the next Volvo Ocean Race, so the new third-generation boats are being launched in quick succession. The New Zealanders from Team Camper are already training on the water, Puma unveiled its new "sea monster" a few days ago, and now it's the turn of the Spaniards from Telefónica.
The day before yesterday, the hull of the boat designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian and built by King Marine was presented to the public for the first time and shipped to Alicante on a low-loader. This makes Telefónica the first Volvo 70 yacht of the latest generation to arrive at the start of the race. Like the two other new boats, Telefónica also has pronounced bows, fairly vertical hull sides and a broadly projecting stern, which ensures great stability at high space sheet speeds. A team of 28 boatbuilders is said to have spent around 40,000 hours on the construction.
"We are happy that the boat is finally on its way to Alicante," explained skipper Iker Martínez, who had just finished the Barcelona World Race in second place with his long-time 49er foresailor Xabi Fernandez. Of course, Martínez has also brought Fernandez into the Telefónica team. "Now we are looking forward to sailing and hope to get everything in shape so that the boat as a whole works well and reliably."
To the team Website.
