Global Ocean Sailing Ventures (GOSV) and the Gryphon Solo Campaign today jointly announced that Boston businessman and offshore yachtsman Joe Harris will be the first official entrant in the 2007/08 Global Ocean Challenge. Harris will enter the single-handed 50-foot division in his Finot designed Open 50 Gryphon Solo, the same boat that won Class 2 of the last Around Alone race.
"We could not be happier that Joe has entered the race," said GOC Race Director Josh Hall. "He is an intense competitor with a superb boat. In the last two years Joe has finished second in The Transat and first in his division in the Transat Jacques Vabre. Both races were great stepping stone events to the ultimate race, a solo circumnavigation."
Gryphon Solo has undergone a series of optimization changes since finishing first in the Around Alone and will be one of the most competitive Open 50s in the Global Ocean Challenge. "I am thrilled to be signing up for this great new race," said Joe Harris. "The race route and format is fantastic. I have been planning my entry for many years and dreaming of doing a circumnavigation that visits some of the world's most fascinating countries as well as traversing some of the toughest sailing waters on the planet. I look forward to some intense competition and a great family adventure."
Joe Harris and Gryphon Solo will be competing in a number of offshore races this summer including the 100th anniversary of the Newport to Bermuda Race. For more information on the Gryphon Solo campaign please contact Joe Harris joe@gryphonsolo.com or visit the campaign website at www.gryphonsolo.com.
GOSV Press Contact:
Brian Hancock
617-314 4468
Gryphon Solo Press Contact:
Joe Harris
joe@gryphonsolo.com
Editors Notes
Global Ocean Sailing Ventures (GOSV) is US based LLC owned jointly by Josh Hall and Brian Hancock. The company was formed to manage and operate the Global Ocean Challenge 2007/08 and successive races, as well as other ocean races for shorthanded sailors.
The Global Ocean Challenge 2007/08 (GOC) is the first ever solo-double global ocean race. The inaugural running of the event will mark the first time an around-the-world yacht race has both a single-handed and double-handed division in the same event. The race will start from a European port and sail a traditional course around the world stopping in South Africa, New Zealand, South America and the United States.
Co-founders Josh Hall and Brian Hancock are both lifelong sailors, each having impressive sailing, communications and business credentials. Hall has circumnavigated numerous times single-handed on his series of yachts named for his sponsor Gartmore Investment Managers. Hancock has participated in three Whitbread Round the World races and is author of numerous successful books on sailing, travel and adventure.
