Davina McCall cracks the bubbly

New Formula Farr 65 launched today

Formula 1 Sailing, the Gosport-based yacht charter and events company, today launched their fifth Farr 65 yacht at Port Hamble. Big Brother presenter Davina McCall was given the honour of launching and naming the brand new Farr 65 Hugo Boss, the designer brand sponsoring the boat for the Rolex Fastnet Race 2003.

The launch was very much a family affair as Master of Ceremonies for the day was Davina’s father Andrew McCall, Commercial Director of Portsmouth Harbour Events. Both know very well Gosport sailor, 29 year old Alex Thomson, the director and founder of Formula 1 Sailing and now skipper of the Hugo Boss sailing team: "Thanks to Hugo Boss’ sponsorship, we have been able to put together a proper campaign with this new Farr 65 for the Rolex Fastnet Race, and we aim to win on Hugo Boss."

Hans Schmitt, UK Managing Director of Hugo Boss, commented on the launch of the company's first sailing sponsorship campaign: "Sailing is a new chapter but the next logical step in Hugo Boss’ sports sponsorship programme. We have worked successfully for 22 years with McLaren Formula One Team and the qualities of this new sailing sponsorship perfectly match our brand. We hope that the Hugo Boss campaign with Formula 1 Sailing is the start of a long relationship with the sport of sailing."

Big Brother presenter Davina McCall cracked the bottle of Champagne Mumm over the bow of the new Farr 65 Hugo Boss to great applaud. The Hugo Boss sailing team lined up along the deck of the boat, all dressed smartly in BOSS Hugo Boss navy cotton summer jackets, jeans and white polo. "Alex is one of the family, and I am so proud of him," said Davina McCall. "He has such a passion and talent for sailing, which will take him a long way. Good luck to the Hugo Boss sailing team as well..."



Hugo Boss will complete first a 300 mile qualifying offshore sail, before she returns to race in Class 0 for Skandia Cowes Week from 4 August. McLaren Mercedes Formula One driver David Coulthard will be racing on the Hugo Boss yacht on Friday 8 August. Hugo Boss will then take the start of the Rolex Fastnet Race 2003 at 10am on Sunday 10 August with a 22 strong crew.

Hugo Boss has developed a range of clothing specifically for the Rolex Fastnet Race with Musto and Gore-Tex Ocean Technology, including high performance outerwear, lightweight, fair weather gear and also dry yarn jersey base layers, super micro fleeces and on-shore clothing. The distinctive sail number GBR 8055 L will become the logo for the clothing range, which will form part of the BOSS Green Label active sportswear collection for Spring/Summer 2004.