BOSTON, MA - Joe Harris, American owner and skipper of the Open 50 monohull "Gryphon Solo", today announced that his co-skipper for the 4,500 mile, two-handed Transat Jacques Vabre race will be English sailor Josh Hall.
The TJV 2005 starts at 1300hrs Saturday, November 5th, 2005 and sends the double-handed crews from Le Havre, France to Salvador, Brazil.
Josh, an experienced Open Class yachtsman, has competed in a variety of offshore solo races including three Around Alone races and the Vendee Globe aboard his own Open 60 "Gartmore". He has now turned his attention to providing consulting services to open class racing projects and competitors.
"Gryphon Solo" has a superb pedigree. This Finot designed Open 50 was originally built as "Magellan Alpha" for the Around Alone 1998, and subsequently raced to Class 2 victory as "Tommy Hilfiger" in the Around Alone 2002. Since acquiring the boat, Joe Harris has finished second in The Transat 2004 and successfully competed in numerous offshore races off the American east coast.
In early September, Joe and Josh completed their qualification sail for the TJV 2005 and Josh, with the boat's shore crew, has just delivered "Gryphon Solo" from Newport, RI to Cherbourg, France where the boat will be race prepared over the coming few weeks.
Joe Harris commented, "I met Josh Hall in Plymouth, UK before the start of the Transat Race last June and began thinking it would be good to pair up with such an experienced solo sailor for a race such as the TJV. I am excited to be sailing with Josh and look forward to benefiting from his vast experience."
Josh Hall said, "This opportunity to sail with Joe and help manage his Open 50 campaign fits perfectly with my business aspirations aimed at helping skippers like Joe who are new to Open Class sailing. Joe and I got along famously during our qualification sail and we will be working closely to prepare the boat for the TJV."
For further information on this team please go to www.GryphonSolo.com
European Press Contact:
Frederique Lemonnier
+33 6 22 67 85 47
indigoagency@wanadoo.fr
US Press Contact:
Joe Harris
joe@gryphonsolo.com
