Please select your home edition
Edition
Craftinsure 2023 LEADERBOARD

illbruck Challenge Sails Maiden Voyage with New Race Boat

by Jane Eagleson 22 May 2001 21:34 BST

illbruck Challenge syndicate chairman Michael Illbruck and skipper John Kostecki shared the helm of the new illbruck during the maiden voyage this weekend of the team's race boat for the Volvo Ocean Race. The illbruck Challenge team launched the new custom-built illbruck Volvo Ocean 60 from their training base in Charleston, S.C.

The team took the new boat through the paces with one of the illbruck Volvo 60 training boats in the Atlantic Ocean off Charleston. Threatening rain showers held off as the boats sailed in a fresh 15-18 knots and moderate seas. The launch was celebrated with a brief dockside ceremony and a family barbecue at the base in Charleston on Sunday.

"Today marks another major milestone in the program," said Michael Illbruck. "For four years, we have planned for this. We watched the boat take shape during the months of construction at our company facility in Leverkusen, Germany. To be here with the team for the first day of sailing has been fantastic. I'm proud of the team and all of the work they have done to get to this point," Illbruck said.

"We are really happy with the new boat," Kostecki said. "The boat feels great and is performing well right out of the box. While there is still work to do to make our new boat race-ready, we are exactly where we wanted to be four months away from the start of the Volvo Ocean Race. We will continue to optimise the new boat here in Charleston, tuning her up with our two training boats until we realize the full potential of our next generation Volvo 60."

illbruck Challenge is a competitive international sailing programme that over the past 30 years has earned success at many of the world's top regattas. The illbruck Challenge is now pursuing the world's two pinnacle sailing events: the Volvo Ocean Race, the world's premier ocean race, and the America's Cup, the world's top match racing event. The illbruck Challenge is representing the Duesseldorf Yacht Club in Germany's first-ever Challenge for the America's Cup, the competition for the oldest international trophy in sport.

More Information:

Related Articles

illbruck Challenge First to Finish Trans-Atlantic
The illbruck Challenge team arrived here this morning following a closely fought tune-up race across The illbruck Challenge team arrived here this morning following a closely fought tune-up race across the Atlantic with fellow competitors Team Tyco & Team News Corp. In the final hours of the 13-day crossing, the lead was exchanged several times. Posted on 3 Aug 2001
illbruck to cross Atlantic in Volvo Ocean Race Qua
The illbruck Challenge team this week packed up their base camp here, concluding a successful five-m The illbruck Challenge team this week packed up their base camp here, concluding a successful five-month training session for the Volvo Ocean Race. The team sets sail from Charleston today Posted on 20 Jul 2001
Gill confirmed as technical clothing supplier to i
The UK-based performance clothing specialist, Gill, has been signed up by the illbruck Challenge as The UK-based performance clothing specialist, Gill, has been signed up by the illbruck Challenge as Technical Clothing Supplier for the Americas Cup 2003. Posted on 27 Jun 2001
New Zealand Clothing Company Joins illbruck Challe
The New Zealand based clothing brand, Line 7, has signed an agreement with the illbruck Challenge to The New Zealand based clothing brand, Line 7, has signed an agreement with the illbruck Challenge to become its clothing supplier for the Volvo Ocean Race and Americas Cup 2003. Posted on 26 Jun 2001
illbruck Challenge Volvo Ocean 60 Race Boat Enrout
The new custom-built illbruck Volvo Ocean 60 arrived in Bremen, Germany early this morning after an The new custom-built illbruck Volvo Ocean 60 arrived in Bremen, Germany early this morning after an overnight journey from the illbruck automotive facility in Leverkusen-Neuenkamp where the boat was built. Posted on 25 Apr 2001
Glenn Bourke Joins illbruck Challenge as CEO
Glenn Bourke, two-time Americas Cup competitor and sailing venue and competition manager of the suc Glenn Bourke, two-time Americas Cup competitor and sailing venue and competition manager of the successful Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, has joined the illbruck Challenge as Chief Executive Officer, syndicate chairman Michael Illbruck announced today. Posted on 18 Apr 2001
illbruck Challenge To Race Volvo 60s to Baltimore
The illbruck Challenge Volvo Ocean Race sailing team will race their two illbruck Volvo 60 stablemat The illbruck Challenge Volvo Ocean Race sailing team will race their two illbruck Volvo 60 stablemates from Charleston, South Carolina to Baltimore, MD on April 23 as part of the teams training for the around-the-world race. Posted on 11 Apr 2001
Illbruck Challenge Christens Boat for Volvo Ocean
The Illbruck Challenge christened the teams new race boat for the 2001-2002 Volvo Ocean Race in a c The Illbruck Challenge christened the teams new race boat for the 2001-2002 Volvo Ocean Race in a ceremony March 31 at the illbruck Automotive plant where the boat was built. The race boat was christened illbruck by Christiane Illbruck. Posted on 3 Apr 2001
illbruck Challenge Begins Training in Charleston,
The illbruck Challenge team is now training for the Volvo Ocean Race from Charleston, South Carolina The illbruck Challenge team is now training for the Volvo Ocean Race from Charleston, South Carolina on the East Coast of the U.S. as the team enters its final phase of preparation. Posted on 12 Mar 2001
illbruck Challenges new crew includes Britains I
Four additional race crew have been named to the illbruck Challenge Volvo Ocean Race sailing team, f Four additional race crew have been named to the illbruck Challenge Volvo Ocean Race sailing team, following an intensive training and racing session in the Southern Ocean, illbruck Challenge announced skipper John Kostecki. Posted on 25 Jan 2001