The Laser SB3 Volkswagen Touareg Trophy at Cowes Week 2004
by Laser Centre 19 Jul 2004 21:41 BST
7-14 August 2004
As Skandia Cowes Week 2004 approaches, the class to be in is clearly the Laser SB3. This year, the Touareg, Volkswagen’s new luxury 4x4, is sponsoring the Laser SB3 Class. This sponsorship is causing much excitement within the class, and the synergy between the Touareg and Laser SB3 is obvious. Both the Laser SB3 and the Volkswagen Touareg benefit from innovative design incorporating state of the art features – a powerful engine and a powerful rig!
The Laser SB3 is a fast and exhilarating one design three-man sportsboat offering amazing stability and comfortable racing, without the aches of highly physical sailing. Designed by Tony Castro, the Laser SB3 has a low aspect keel and a very high ballast ratio, making it an extremely stable, quick and stiff sportsboat.
The Volkswagen Touareg, V10 TDI model, the most powerful diesel engine in a car, in the world, can easily cope with a towing weight of 3.5 tonnes. And its wading depth of 580mm (half a metre on all other models) means it doesn’t mind getting to the very bottom of the slipway – ideal for the Laser SB3 which is both easy to tow and to launch.
Jerry Hill, an SB3 owner, had use of the V10 model for the recent Eurocup Series event in Brest, France. Jerry commented “the round trip went very smoothly, the car so easily towing the SB3 that at times you forgot it was there. I was only once gently reminded by a gendarme to watch my speed, as the ride is so quiet and smooth that speed can build up alarmingly quickly.”
This Volkswagen Touareg sponsorship is unprecedented and has added an extra dimension to the regatta for the SB3 sailors. Sailors will be competing each day for the honour of flying the Pink Kite (the SB3 equivalent of the “Yellow Jersey” in the Tour de France) for the following day’s race, but the overall aim is to win the huge silver cup – The Touareg Trophy!
David Graham asked Mark Richards (a Laser SB3 sailor) for his view on the Volkswagen sponsorship. He said “It is different - the sailors are getting benefits such as shore wear and bespoke fenders. I like the Pink Kite idea! The day’s winners also get the chance to take the Volkswagen Touareg off-road in the mud, who wouldn’t want a piece of that?!”
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