Ellen does Asia

MacArthur embarks on fully crewed venture with B&Q in the Far East

Nearly a year to the day that Ellen MacArthur made history in breaking the solo round the world record onboard her 75-foot trimaran B&Q, her team have announced that B&Q is embarking on a new venture with a different set of challenges into new territories - an 'Asian Record Circuit' which will incorporate a 'Tour of China'.

Today sees that first step towards establishing a series of 12 new records. CMA-CGM Shipping, who are the official Shipping Partner for the Asia Tour, will load the trimaran B&Q on to the container ship Bizet at Southampton today and start the 10,526 mile journey to Hong Kong.

The objective of the Asian Record Circuit is to establish a series of crewed record times between key Asian ports [or gates] including Japan, South Korea, from the north-east to the south-western tips of Chinese mainland and Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore - it is a first of its kind for a major sailing campaign to take to these waters with the aim of setting benchmark times that can be challenged in the future by other sailors.

MacArthur gave some background: "On the 7th February 2005 we completed our goal to set a new solo world speed sailing record in a time of 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds non-stop around the world. It was an extraordinary voyage and perhaps we did not expect to achieve this in our first attempt, but we did, and so we have been able to accelerate the programme. It has always been in our title sponsor B&Q's objectives to develop a programme in Asia, in particular mainland China where they have 48 stores already, and so the Asian Record Circuit idea has evolved. To take the trimaran B&Q to new territories, to establish new records in a part of the world that is dominating global consciousness and where our partner B&Q already has a strong foothold, is very exciting."

For their Tour, MacArthur will not be sailing singlehanded but will have a crew onboard wil her.

David Roth, Marketing Director, B&Q UK commented on the programme: "This has been the most successful sports sponsorship ever and we now look forward to extending its reach to benefit our B&Q businesses in Asia. Our staff and customers will have the opportunity to meet Ellen, read about her amazing story and be inspired by her true 'can do' attitude."

Furthermore, Offshore Challenges Sailing Team are setting up the Asian Record Circuit and the Tour of China in such a way that other campaigns should be able to follow and make use of this pioneering project. "We certainly are paying attention to how we set up the waypoints and the legs in the Tour, in order that other teams can propose the Asian Record Circuit to their future sponsors. We aim to create a legacy in this way, but without any commercial objective of our own," commented Mark Turner CEO of OC Group, which incorporates the Offshore Challenges Sailing Team and OC Events.

On arrival in Hong Kong, the trimaran will be unloaded and the crew will deliver B&Q to Yokohama, Japan to start the record circuit. MacArthur will be attempting these records with a crew of four or five, including Chinese round the world sailor, Shaun Weng.

The Asian Record Circuit incorporates a tour of mainland China utilising major Chinese ports including Dalian, Qingdao (sailing venue for the Olympic Games 2008), Shanghai, Hong Kong SAR and Sanya. With a population of over 1.3 billion people, mainland China accounts for more than one fifth of the world's population and is the third largest country in the world, yet sailing has little profile despite a rich maritime history.

The Asian Record Circuit will also take in T'ai-pei, Taiwan, plus Malaysia and Singapore where the tour will finally come to an end. The two-month long record circuit kicks off on the 25th March, ending mid-May including stopover time in each port.

This maybe new sailing territory for MacArthur and her team but the B&Q name already has a high profile in the region. B&Q Taiwan opened in 1996 and now B&Q Te Li Wu, operates 21 stores island-wide and has become the largest home improvement retailer in Taiwan. In mainland China, B&Q opened its first store in 1999 and now operates 48 stores across the country. The flagship store in Beijing is the largest store in the world.

"Ellen MacArthur is an outstanding athlete and an inspiration to us all. She has accomplished a great deal demonstrating true B&Q spirit in her determination to achieve her goals. I'm delighted that Ellen is visiting us here in Asia, I look forward to welcoming her to our operations and wish her every success in her Asian ventures." Steve Gilman, CEO B&Q Asia.

Itinerary
Asian Record Circuit incorporating the Tour of China

25 March - 1 April 2006
Record 1: Yokohama, Japan to Jeju Island, South Korea
Target: 4 days, 18 hours
Record 2: Jeju Island, South Korea to Dalian, China
Target: 2 days 5 hours
Record 3: Total time Yokohama, Japan to Dalian, China
Target: 7 days, 1 hour

5-6 April 2006
Record 4: Dalian to Qingdao, China
Target: 1 day, 10 hours

9-11 April 2006
Record 5: Qingdao to Shanghai, China
Target: 1 day, 15 hours

16-18 April 2006
Record 6: Shanghai to T'ai-pei, Taiwan
Target: 3 days

21-23 April 2006
Record 7: T'ai-pei, Taiwan to Hong Kong SAR
Target: 2 days, 11 hours

From 1st May 2006
Record 8: Hong Kong SAR to Sanya (Hainan Island) China
Target: 1 day, 21 hours
Record 9: Sanya, China to Nah Trang, Vietnam
Target: 1 day, 21 hours
Record 10: Nah Trang, Vietnam to Terengganu, Malaysia
Target: 3 days
Record 11: Total time Hong Kong to Terengganu, Malaysia
Target: 6 days, 17 hours
Record 12: Terengganu, Malaysia to Singapore
Target: 1 day, 11 hours
B&Q will return via CMA-CGM shipping on 23rd May.

The above itinerary may be subject to change due to weather conditions in the locality and logistical requirements.