TEAMORIGIN sailors hit the Solent for RORC Easter Regatta

TEAMORIGIN are in the UK for the RORC Easter Regatta where racing is due to start on Friday 2nd until Sunday 4th April. The event marks the first inshore regatta of a very busy season in the Solent. There is a strong line-up with 7 races planned over tight courses and around 50 crews planning to take part. The forecast looks set to provide challenging conditions for the teams, especially so early in the season which should deliver exciting racing conditions.

This is actually the first time TEAMORIGIN will race in their home country, their previous racing events having been located in Auckland, Valencia, Nice and Auckland again. The team are racing onboard Charles Dunstone’s TP52 ‘Rio’, Charles is a supporter of TEAMORIGIN and has carried the team’s branding onboard his own boat for some time now.

Mike Sanderson, Team Director, commented on this week-end’s event, “2010 has been such an exciting year for TEAMORIGIN already with the 33rd America’s Cup finally being resolved, the continuation of the Louis Vuitton Trophy regattas around the world and on top of that we have our brand new Juan K designed TP 52 ready for the Audi Med Cup circuit. So what a better way to start off our training programme than to sail on our home waters in the RORC Easter Regatta.

The regatta is famous for getting a full mixture of conditions and what a huge bonus it will be to have Jim Saltonstall in the coach boat keeping an eye on us. Jim has been such a huge influence on the careers of Ben, Iain and Andrew in particular and knowing that he is watching I think will keep our boat very honest this weekend.”

TEAMORIGIN race team line-up for this event is:

Matt Cornwell, GBR, Bow
Julian Cressant, FRA, Mid-bow/Mast
Chris Brittle, GBR, Grinder
Christian Kamp, DEN, Trimmer
Andy Hemmings, GBR, Trimmer
Chris Mason, GBR, Main
Andrew Simpson, GBR, Strategist
Ian Moore, GBR, Navigator
Iain Percy, GBR, Tactician
Ben Ainslie, GBR, Skipper/Helmsman
Mike Sanderson, NZL, Team Director/Runners

Supported by:
Richie O’Farrell, Rio Boat Captain
Kelvin Harrap, Afterguard Coach
James Stagg, Crew Coach
Stevie Erickson, Sailing Team Manager
David Carr, Back-up grinder
Martin Oliver, Sail maker
Juan Garay, Sail designer
Charlotte Harmer, PA and Shore support
Leslie Greenhalgh, Media/Communications

Ben Ainslie, Skipper and Helmsman, added his thoughts, "It is great for all of the team do some racing at home, all of us have grown up competing in regattas in the Solent. TEAMORIGIN’s name came from the concept of where the Cup all started, racing around the Isle of Wight, so it is a bit special. We have just launched a new TP52 for the Audi MedCup series and, as a sailing team , we have not had much experience in the class. The RORC Easter Challenge gives us a chance to get a feel for the boat, sort out our crew manoeuvres, get the team together and have a good time racing in the UK."