Ross Hobson new yachting campaign starts with Scottish Islands Peaks Race
Friday, 04 May 2007
Ocean yachtsman Ross Hobson refloated his 2007 yachting campaign on Wednesday in partnership with his sponsors Ideal Stelrad – in grand style. Even the Gateshead Millennium Bridge saluted Ross and his crew as they passed through!
Away from the headlines since losing his yacht and almost his life in mid-Atlantic last November, international yachtsman Ross Hobson from Ponteland, near Newcastle upon Tyne is now ready for 2007.
This time sailing with a crew, consisting of experienced catamaran sailor and son Peter Hobson, together with Martin Boatman, Dermot McGonigle and Stewart Walker, the Ross Hobson Ocean Racing Team will take on a number of challenging inshore races throughout the summer, beginning at Oban, Scotland on Friday 18th May when the new Ideal Stelrad F28 Racing Team takes on the Scottish Islands Peaks Race.
As current holder of the course record in 2000 with a time of 33 hours 23 minutes, Ross and his team (Peter Hobson, Martin Boatman, Dermot McGonigle and Stewart Walker) are itching to get started.
The campaign boat for 2007 is the Seb Schmit designed Formula 28 built by Frenchman Charle Chapple, one of France’s top boat builders. Already a previous European F28 championship winner, the boat may be just 28ft long but she carries a 50ft mast and 1000 sqft of sail area. With her crew out on the side racks, her beam is a massive 37ft – and she weighs in (minus the crew) at just 560 kg!
"We are very excited about the challenges ahead,” said Ross, “and I am looking forward to sailing with a crew again. We will be honing our skills early in the season and we are confident we will put in some good performances during this season's events. We have our sponsors "Ideal Stelrad" very much on board and with their backing and confidence throughout 2007, we are all looking forward to taking the team on into the future."
Other milestones in the 2007 campaign include the JP Morgan Asset Management Round The Island Race on 23rd June and the Marine Design International Loch Ness Monster Race in August.
Liz King www.rosshobson.com 