Bennett on course for success with Raymarine electronics
by Raymarine Marketing / ADPR 5 May 2004 08:10 BST
Alex Bennett has selected Raymarine electronics for his 2005 Mini Transat campaign. Alex, who is currently refitting his new boat Fuji Film in Totnes, is planning to compete in a number of events in 2004 in preparation for the Mini Transat.
Fuji Film is a state-of-the-art Mini Transat racer designed by Groupe Finot and is a lighter version of the 2003 event winner Moulin Roty. Racing these small yachts single-handed across the Atlantic puts a great emphasis on the autopilot. Alex Bennett says, ”It is a key tool that allows me to leave the helm in order to sleep, make sail changes and feed myself.” With the help of Raymarine engineers, Alex has selected the Smartpilot S1G course computer to drive an ST4000 tiller pilot. The Smartpilot has Advanced Steering Technology, which allows the yacht to be driven harder in extreme conditions.
To keep costs down, the Mini Transat Class restrict the information that skippers can access while racing, banning the sophisticated weather routing systems commonly used in most other categories of offshore racing. For skippers competing in the race, interpreting the conditions around them becomes a vital part of racing these extreme boats. Alex has a Raymarine ST60 Maxi view with a remote control allowing flexible access to navigational information.
Alex explains why he selected Raymarine for this challenge “Having used Raymarine extensively over the past 5 years on both the Team Philips project and my Open 50 Transat Jacques Vabre campaign in 2001, I have grown to rely on Raymarine products. The modern day yachtsman requires state-of-the-art, innovative instruments that are both simple to operate and totally reliable no matter what the conditions. Raymarine products give me this confidence and are my electronics manufacturer of choice for any onboard application.”
Fiona Pankhurst, International Marketing Communications Manager for Raymarine, comments, “Supporting Alex’s racing campaign highlights the commitment that Raymarine has made to this level of competition and we wish Alex every success.”
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