Varuna

Launched in April 2012, Varuna, from Hamburg, was designed mainly for offshore racing, but also sails well around the cans. In its early outings, the yachtwon its class at Kiel Week and went on to take third in class at Les Voiles de St. Tropez - both around the cans events. Since those results, Jens Kellinghusen announced he would do what he considers to be all the great ocean races around the globe, and the German has made a great start to his program with some promising results.

In October 2012, Varuna finished sixth overall in Class 2 of n the Rolex Middle Sea Race. In February this year, she scored sixth overall and fifth in IRCZ division in the RORC Caribbean 600, then in April was second overall in the Maxi/Racing division at Les Voiles de Saint Barth 2013, her crew mainly consisting of amateur university students. In July, was fifth overall in Division 2 of the Transpac Race from Los Angeles to Hawaii. Warming to her theme, could this turn out to be our second only ever overall Hobart winner to hail from Germany since Raptor won in 1994?

Kellinghusen has a very experienced crew, including Spanish navigator, Guillermo Altadill, whose extensive experience includes the Barcelona World Race, four Whitbread/Volvo Ocean Races and 18 Atlantic crossings. He was also aboard the catamaran Cheyenne with Australian Adrienne Cahalan when it set the Jules Verne record for fastest tour around the world with crew.

Next year, Kellinghusen plans include the Transatlantic and Round Britain and Ireland Race with his near new boat out of its downwind speed.

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