E-Newsletter Event The Ocean Challenge
By dthompson ~ June 7th, 2010. Filed under: Newsletter.
The Challenge: Running to Reykjavik
Marlow out to prove
he can get to Iceland
before the competition
The Ocean Challenge invitation letter from Marlow Yachts’ chairman David Marlow seems like it would have been written in the 1920s. It harkens back to a time when you competed for competition’s sake—when boat racing wasn’t a sport but an endeavor. Simply completing the journey was considered winning—for the most part. The skipper who docked first still received an extra pat on the back.
So it’s great once again to see that spirit of both competition and completion in The Ocean Challenge. This is a summer-time race, and Marlow issued an invitation to the following yacht builders, although the race is open to all qualifying yachts: Fleming, Grand Banks, Kadey-Krogen, Nordhavn, Ocean Alexander, Offshore, Outer Reef and Selene.
Marlow will pilot the Voyager 76 LR, which was introduced at the 2010 Miami International Boat Show.
Part of the invitation from Marlow reads:
“As our previous invitations have outlined, I write to extend my personal invitation to join us on an epic non-stop voyage from West Palm Beach Florida, to Reykjavik, Iceland in any model yacht your company now produces for sale to the general public with standard advertised standard fuel capacities. Dependent upon chosen route the port to port distance is approximately 3900 miles.
The rules are quite simple, with no stops permitted and no outside assistance allowed excepting weather advice or emergency, in which case the entry would be disqualified. The first to arrive in Reykjavik is the winner, though all participants could be considered winners as well.
Our intended departure is summer of 2010 and we have a bit of flexibility to allow preparation. We consider Mid July as the cut off point for the start but can consider special needs.”
Each entry puts $50,000 into a pool, and the winning boat earns the prize money. Half the prize money must be donated to charity, the other half will fund events introducing boating to America’s youth.
