| VASTERVIK, SWEDEN-(2-8-2005) It is, in one word, ‘spectacular’. The first Volvo Extreme 40 sailed its first mile and spectators opened their mouths - “what a boat!”
 Today, around 2 pm, it all happened. After months of hard work the 40 foot long catamaran, the Volvo Extreme 40 sailed her first mile. The boat was launched on the windy waters of Vastervik in Sweden (about 100 miles south of Stockholm). Today there were only 12-14 knots of wind, but that was enough for the monster catamaran to easily reach 22 knots under gennaker.
Rinus Reefman, Managing Director of Holmatro, the world leaders in hydraulic rescue equipment, was delighted: “It is nice to see this cat sailing and we’re so proud to have the first one afloat.”
A team of top sailors have been involved in the project; Englishman Derek Clark, Team GBR America’s Cup Project Manager, was (again) the Project Manager; Creator Mitch Booth (two times Olympic medallist); Designer Yves Loday (gold medallist from Barcelona 1992) and World Champion and the man behind the whole idea Herbert Dercksen.
Dercksen said: “The Volvo Extreme 40 is designed for Grand Prix Harbour racing. After boat shows in Holland (IJmuiden, at the end of August) and Southampton (end of September), five of these catamarans will be prepared for their first race in November. During the stopovers in the participating cities, people can see these catamarans sailing inside the ports themselves.”
The Volvo Extreme 40 weighs 1250 kilo’s and the mast length is 62 feet with a sail area of 125m² upwind and 220m² downwind. Today six men made up the crew and even though there was only a light breeze it was easy to fly on one hull, which was very impressive. Skipper Mitch Booth said: “This cat [amaran] is like a sports car. She sails so fast, so easily and reacted quickly too. Really impressive.”
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