New Class 40 team announced

Well known UK sailors team up for ambitious campaign with boat build underway

Miranda Merron has today announced that she and Peter Harding are currently building an Owen Clarke Class 40 at Jaz Marine in Cape Town with the aim of campaigning the boat on a diverse race circuit. Whilst the team and boat is funded by Peter, they are also seeking team sponsorship to make the most of the promotional opportunities on offer. The campaign will also promote a charity yet to be decided.

Hamble-based Miranda will partner with Peter, who is more used to racing round-the-cans and competing in shorter offshore races with larger crews on his DK 46 Fidessafastwave .

Peter now seeks the thrill and challenges that offshore racing presents. "I'm immensely proud to be sailing alongside one of the most experienced, able and highly-regarded sailors around today. While I am extremely ambitious and determined, I am sure that racing double-handed in a growing class will boost my confidence in sailing and I will benefit from Miranda's wealth of experience. The success of our new partnership will be
substantially down to teamwork and a vision to do well shared by us both."

Miranda commented, "Peter is new to long-distance short-handed racing, but I believe he has what it takes. I still have much to learn, and I look forward to sharing what I have learnt to date. I'm sure I'll learn from Peter too. I look forward to developing this double-handed partnership - we will be sailing the boat together from the beginning, and our different sailing backgrounds reflect the spirit of the class."

The 2007 race programme will include the Rolex Fastnet Race, the 1040 St Malo Race and the Transat Jacques Vabre. The Transat Jacques Vabre will be their first double-handed transatlantic race together.

As seen in the recent Route Du Rhum, the Class 40 is a growing and dynamic Class with a mix of solo, double-handed and fully crewed races. There are over 25 boats on the water, so there is already a sizeable competitive fleet. "I know several members of the class, and am looking forward to racing against them," said Miranda. "What more could you want than being part of a class whose aim is to provide a geographically diverse offshore race programme to interesting destinations?"

Miranda's offshore career to date has included epic races such as the Jules Verne attempt on Royal SunAlliance, the Transat Jacques Vabre, the Volvo Ocean Race and the single-handed Route Du Rhum.

For further information or to discuss sponsorship opportunities, please
email Miranda on miranda@merron.net