Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team have successfully completed sea trials on their new boat Azzam – the Arabic word for ‘determination’ – in the Solent, and its members are now on their way to the team’s training base in Cascais near Lisbon, Portugal.
Green Marine, a world leader in the construction of high performance composite racing yachts, built her in Britain. They have now officially handed over the fourth Volvo Ocean 65 to Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing as the team, backed by the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), begins its preparation for the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 starting in October.
Now Azzam, under the command of Captain Ian Walker, heads to training base in Portugal
“It’s great to finally get Azzam all to ourselves,” said the Skipper, a double Olympic silver medallist who also led the Abu Dhabi team in the last Volvo Ocean Race. “It has taken a great deal of effort to get to this point and I think everyone involved in her construction should be proud of what they have achieved. Green Marine has been very cooperative throughout this process and I’m pleased to say the handover has gone very smoothly.”
Meanwhile, work is underway at Green Marine’s factory near Southampton, UK on the next boats in the series.
In total, seven have been ordered by the Volvo Ocean Race organisers.
As lead contractor for the build consortium, Green Marine is responsible for the complete assembly and fit out of the Volvo Ocean 65s, as well as overseeing the quality of the consortium’s work.
In fact Azzam is the eleventh boat to be built by Green Marine for the Volvo Ocean Race, previously the Whitbread Round the World Race, over its 41 year history.