Nautor Challenge yachts christened

madforsailing reports from Puerto Cervo, Sardinia

Today in the Aga Khan's glamorous marina resort of Puerto Cervo, Grant Dalton and Lisa McDonald's two Nautor Challenge Volvo Ocean 60s were christened Amer Sport One and Amer Sport Too by Don Raimondo of the local church. Bertrice Ferragamo and HRH The Princess Zahra Aga Khan were made godmothers of the project. A lengthy ceremony outside the Costa Smeralda Yacht Club for the occasion was hosted by Nautor Group chairman Leonardo Ferragamo (above). Then the two yachts, one the brand new Farr boat launched just a week ago, set off on their 2,000 mile qualification passage for the Volvo Ocean Race.

Leonardo Ferragamo, who aside from his role at Nautor also runs the billion dollar fashion house Salvatore Ferragamo (named after his father), commented that he had dreamed of getting a campaign together for the Volvo Ocean Race ever since he bought Nautor, the Finnish builder of the Swan range of cruising boats, three years ago.

A Swan 65, Sayula II, was the winner of the first Whitbread Round the World Race and several others entered the early races. Nautor will be using their involvement with the Volvo Ocean Race to bring leading edge technology to their production ranges. "It is very important for Nautor to have a high tech division," said Ferragamo.

He acknowledged that the campaign was very late, but said he could not wait another four years for the next event. The delay was due to the time it took to get the appropriate funding in place. Fortunately the Finnish sportswear group Amer Sport, who own such companies as Wilson tennis rackets and Suunto compasses and watches, came on board as the principle sponsor. UBS, the Swiss bank came in as a secondary sponsor and made it possible for the women's team to take part in the Volvo Ocean Race.

At the press conference held after the christening ceremony Roger Talermo of Amer Sport announced that Venus and Serena Williams, the star tennis players will be visiting the Amer Sport boats when the Volvo Ocean Race visits Miami.

Neither Dalton nor McDonald would be drawn as to who will be sailing which boat in the Volvo Ocean Race, nor would they say which boat has so far proved the faster. "It's too early to tell," commented Dalton. A crewmember told madforsailing that during the passage from the boatyard in La Ciotat to Sardinia, the Farr boat had been faster initially, but then the more beamy Frers design had been once there had been a sail change.