New boat will boost Vanek’s 2007 title challenge
Dubai, UAE, 1st May 2006: While the Maktoum Sailing Trophy looks certain to be wrestled from their grasp at the weekend, defending champions Horizon FCB will be going all out to end the 2006 series on a winning note.
Christophe Vanek, who shares the skipper’s responsibilities with fellow-Frenchman Alain Fédensieu, is demanding maximum effort from his crew as he chases victory in the final round of the Gulf’s top fleet racing series at Dubai International Marine Club. "We must win," said Vanek, as he faced up to the fact that only a last round disaster can prevent Kristian Tzanov’s K1 Offshore Racing Team, sponsored by Pal Zileri, from clinching the Maktoum Trophy. "We’re putting together the best crew ever assembled on Horizon FCB for the past two seasons to try and win this last round."
Owned by Sheikh Khaled Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Horizon is defending a proud record, having finished on the podium in every round of the Maktoum Trophy series since it was launched in December 2004. They won five out of seven rounds in the inaugural series, finishing second and third in the other two, and have been runners-up in each of this year’s three rounds to date.
Vanek confirmed today that he will enter a brand new Beneteau First 34.7 in next year’s Maktoum Trophy, and he welcomed the move by organisers Dubai International Marine Club to switch to a ten-day format in 2007. "It will be easier for crews to take time off to compete, and the costs will come down," he said. "But the teams will have to be ready for it, because there will be a lot of sailing fitted into the ten days." Vanek and Fédensieu will be supported at the weekend by two other Frenchmen, Tanguy Fournier Leray and Gregory Loubiere, Lebanese Makram Daouk, Canadian Gavin Milne, and Australians Glenn Raphael and 14 year-old Matthew Seka, who maintains his 100% appearance record in this year’s series.
While Horizon go all out for a winning finale to the 2006 campaign, the husband and wife partnership of Karen and Glywn Rowlands will be aiming to fight off the challenge of Tissaheel 2, skippered by Rob Weight, to finish in the top six. "We have been retuning the boat through out the series, and hope to improve on our performance although it is a bit late to move up the rankings," said Karen. "We would like to hold onto sixth place to improve our end of series position from last year by three places".
"We’re doing some tuning changes to the rigging with the hope of seeing better up wind performance which has been lacking in the lighter winds. We have nine or ten crew members to chose from, and will have seven or eight on the boat, depending on work commitments and weather conditions." Enthusiasts can follow the Maktoum Sailing Trophy on the official DIMC website at www.dimc-uae.com/sailing/mst
Captions:
1. Horizon FCB aims to build on its proud record in the Maktoum Sailing Trophy
2. Karen and Glywn Rowlands hope to keep Twister in the top six.
- Tony Lewis, Narayana Marar, Total Communications Dubai -
More reports from this category all copyright automobilsport.com.
