Introducing the Orange Sailing Team

The Ravussin brothers' trimaran joins forces with Bruno Peyron's maxi-catamaran

Orange and France Telecom group have renewed their backing of endeavour on the high seas with the creation of the Orange Sailing Team.

Cornerstone of this project is Bruno Peyron and his maxi-catamaran Jules Verne Trophy record holder Orange II but joining the party is the trimaran Orange Project. Sailed by Swiss multihull sailors Stève and Yvan Ravussin, Orange Project will compete in the Transat Jacques Vabre starting on 6 November and in next year's Route du Rhum. In the Route du Rhum 2002, Stève Ravussin was leading the race by a considerable margin before his trimaran capsized a few days short of the finish.

Meanwhile Peyron's Orange II will be making an attempt on the outright fully crewed passage across the Atlantic, currently held by Steve Fossett's PlayStation. Peyron is also continuing to look at the possibility of carrying out a solo 24 hour record on his 125ft catamaran...

A third boat, Orange III, will be sailing in 2007 but as yet it is undecided whether this will be a new 60ft multihull or an Open 60.