Thanks to Peta for this latest update from the JP Morgan Asset Management Round The Island Race. In her own words. Ed
It has been confirmed by JP Morgan Asset Management, title sponsor of the Round the Island Race and title sponsor of triple Olympic Gold medallist Ben Ainslie CBE, that Ben’s final public racing appearance prior to his bid for a fourth Gold medal in his Finn, will be on board the Big Class yacht Eleonora, a schooner with some impressive vital statistics which has entered this year’s Round the Island Race on Saturday 30th June.
The Big Class yacht Eleonora is an exact replica of the schooner Westward which was launched on March 31, 1910 as hull number 692 at the Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. in Bristol, Rhode Island, USA. She was arguably one of the most famous and best known racing schooners in the world.
Built in Holland
Eleonora was built at the Van der Graaf shipyard in Holland and was launched in March 2000. Since then, she has successfully participated in a number of classic sailing regattas and hosted on board a number of high profile guests during her charter activities.
She was last seen in the Solent in July 2010 when she competed in the inaugural Westward Cup and she will be returning to compete in the 2012 Event just prior to the Round the Island Race.
During the Round the Island Race, Ben will co-helm with Eleonora’s owner, with the assistance of Eleonora’s captain Mike McMillan.
Sharing the 25-strong crew duties will be a number of J.P. Morgan Asset Management guests alongside guests of the owner. They will undoubtedly enjoy the experience of a lifetime.
