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Ludde Ingvall's 90ft YuuZoo
Rolex/Daniel Forster
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Ludde Ingvall has been absent from the Rolex Sydney Hobart ever since he snuck his 90 foot maxi Nicorette first across the line amid the mayhem of the 2004 race. Now he’s back, the boat with a bigger rig and a new name – YuuZoo - and Ingvall has a bold new idea for dramatically increasing the exposure of ocean racing around the world. “This Rolex Sydney Hobart is going to be one of the biggest events ever in sailing,” he declares. “There have never been so many large supermaxis on the same start line and I didn’t think it fair that all the other guys should have the fun without me. “But mostly, this project is about all the youngsters who do this race, who are getting a chance to live this dream.” YuuZoo will be bulging with electronic gear of every sort, connected to the internet 24/7. Ingvall wants his young crew twittering and YouTubing and blogging until their typing fingers are worn out. “One of the areas I believe sailing has gone wrong is we have 20 odd youngsters racing one of these fantastic boats to Hobart, one of the big adventures of the world, and we have one spokesman, a skipper who answers all the questions. “It’s time we allowed the youngsters to tell how they are experiencing being on a big boat, being part of a professional racing team, on this amazing adventure. “I still remember my first ever sail on a big boat in a big race. The incredible adrenalin. It was a massive experience,” Ingvall says. Enabling young sailors to recount their own stories and emotions in real time will encourage other kids to take the plunge, he believes.
YuuZoo will be connected to the internet throughout the race, with 10 onboard cameras streaming constant vision of what is going on above deck, and plenty of especially robust computers below so the crew will be able to relay their personal experiences and achievements. “I want it so that if somebody scores a goal in the middle of Bass Strait everybody knows. We don’t play in a stadium where everybody who scores a goal is cheered, but our boys really do score goals. They come up with tactical options, they do sail changes in big seas, and they notice a change in the wind that wins us the race or prevents us from losing the boat.” And in return Ingvall hopes that by the time YuuZoo reaches Hobart, hundreds of thousands of digital crewmembers will be on board sharing the adventure. Send your name through Facebook and it will be inscribed on the inside of the hull. Ingvall reckons that the latest digital technology presents ocean racing with an invaluable new tool for promoting the sport. “When I was racing around the world, it would be 30 days before you get to your next port,” he says, “and then you’d have to remember what happened on day one, or sum up 30 days in one magazine article. “People need to find out what’s happening on a continual basis. It’s an adventure like climbing Mount Everest and if you can explain that story step by step, blow by blow, it is more interesting to the public and they can understand it.” Just as in 2004, Ingvall concedes that his boat is not the pre-race favourite for line honours, but he is optimistic. “We have a new rig, longer boom; we are 10 tonnes lighter than any other maxis. If you look at weight and power we are really very good. Where do we think we will finish? If we are in the top five I will not be surprised. If we are in the top three I’ll be happy, and if you’re in the top three you can finish anywhere.” “This Rolex Sydney Hobart race will be the hottest ever, and we’re in with a very good chance.” Follow the team on www.bigboatracing.com By Jim Gale/Rolex Sydney Hobart media team
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