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Mike Sanderson to skipper ABN Amro One |
Mike Sanderson to skipper ABN Amro One in 27th St.Maarten Heineken Regatta
 In
the upcoming 27th edition of the St.Maarten Heineken Regatta ABN Amro
One “Black Betty” will be skippered by Mike Sanderson this week named
ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year 2006. Mike Sanderson, who headed up
a two boat campaign sponsored by ABN AMRO, one of the world’s leading
banks, earlier this year won one of the worlds most renowned events in
the sailing calendar; the ‘Volvo Ocean Race’ with a crew of some of the
very best sailors in the world.
This is just one of Sanderson’s many
sailing achievements which also include numerous world records and a
mix of crewed and short handed racing, highlighting his place as one of
the world’s leading yachtsmen. Unless boats will enter of similar
calibre ABN Amro One will not encounter a lot of head to head
competition in the regatta. Their main focus however is to beat the
Around the Island record for monohulls that is currently in possession
of Brunel Sunergy and has been for the past 6 years. This is just one of Sanderson’s many
sailing achievements which also include numerous world records and a
mix of crewed and short handed racing, highlighting his place as one of
the world’s leading yachtsmen. Unless
boats will enter of similar calibre ABN Amro One will not encounter a
lot of head to head competition in the regatta. Their main focus
however is to beat the Around the Island record for monohulls that is
currently in possession of Brunel Sunergy and has been for the past 6
years.
Participants in the regatta will look
forward to seeing the vessel that achieved speeds in the Volvo Ocean
that were previously not considered attainable so the participation of
this “machine “ will be an added attraction. “It s great to see a boat
of this stature choosing the Caribbean as its winter sailing grounds”,
says Mirian Ebbers, the Regatta Director. “It proofs that some of the
best regattas/racing takes place on the turquoise waters of St.Maarten
/ Saint Martin and its surrounding islands”. The regatta will see a
4th day of racing this year on Thursday March 1st, for Spinnaker
Classes only. This day will consist of windward – leeward racing only
and, depending on the wind direction, will be a spectacular sight to
follow from the shore side between Simpson Bay and Great Bay. The ABN
AMRO 1 is expected to also participate in this extra days racing.
Other entries are pouring in and the regatta is expected to have
approx. The same number of boats as in 2005 and 2006, which was 255 in
21 different classes.
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