Extreme 40 at pace

Mark Lloyd's images of Conrad Humphreys Be Cool Be Blue

Conrad Humphreys Be Cool Be Blue Extreme 40 catamaran will not be competing in the first iShares Cup event in Munich today as the round the world turned cat sailor is due to compete in next week's Calais Round Britain Race with Bernard Stamm aboard his new Team Poujoulat (formerly Jean-Pierre Dick's Virbac Paprec ).

This week Humphreys has been with Stamm training in Brest aboard the new boat and Stamm's old one. Conrad writes: "Yesterday we sailed both boats together and I think all of us where surprised at the speed difference between the old generation and the new generation Open 60s. The new Cheminee Poujoulat II is a proven fast boat and I think Bernard has chosen wisely to buy this boat for the next Vendee Globe. This week we have been examining the differences between the new boats and for me, it's been a chance to brush up on my French!



"It's been a busy couple of months for Conrad Humphreys Racing. Since we launched the BLUE Project we have been designing the new website which will go live on World Oceans Day, 8 June. The interest in the Blue Project continues to sore and we have been filming for News 24, ITV and will be doing a piece with the BBC1 later in June. Last week we pulled off a fantastic photo shoot with the newly branded Extreme 40 (see these here). The weather cleared at the 11th hour and with 25 knots and a good swell running offshore we headed outside the breakwater to "send" the boat. Mark Lloyd strapped in the chopper worked his magic and the rest is in this gallery. The sailing was just amazing - I enjoyed looking at the guys faces as we made the first bear away and launched Be Cool Be Blue down a nice Blue wave."

Next week in Calais Conrad has two days of inshore racing prior to the start of the Calais Round Britain Race. "This will be my fourth time racing around the UK, but my first time in the Calais Round Britain. Its going to be a great race to see how the new Cheminees Poujoulat II competes with the new Farr designs. I can't wait."

Be Cool Be Blue will be competing in the Round the Island Race and then will join the iShare Cup in Marseille.