In 2011, Joe Harris began the second distinct phase of his international short-handed offshore sailing career by buying a new, third-generation Class 40 called the Akilaria RC-2, from the design office of Marc Lombard and built by MC-Tec. Although this boat is 10 feet shorter than his prior Open 50, with the evolution in yacht design, the boat is nearly as fast on most points of sail. Joe's plan in buying the new boat was to campaign the boat in a number of challenging offshore events that would lead up to an around the world solo non-stop attempt.
2011 brought the Normandy Channel Race and then the Fastnet. In 2012, Joe competed in the Atlantic Cup and then the Newport-Bermuda race. Then Joe again competed in the all-Class 40 Atlantic Cup, and then in the Bermuda 1-2. Having sailed the boat for three seasons now in both Europe and North America in the highly competitive arena of Class 40, Joe feels that he and the boat are ready to take it to the next level.
Current Campaign Schedule:
2015
June 22 - Block Island Race Week
July 6 - Marblehead to Halifax Race
August 1 - Eggamoggin Reach Regatta
August 14 - Ida Lewis Race
September - Solo record attempt to Bermuda
November - Non-stop Solo Around the World Record Breaking Attempt
PAST CAMPAIGN RESULTS
2004 - 2nd Place: Transat >
3,500 miles, Plymouth, England to Boston, MA, 16 days - single-handed
2005 - 1st in Division: Transat Jacques Vabre >
4,700 miles, LeHavre, France to Salvadore, Brazil, 17 days - double-handed
2006 - 1st in Class: Newport-Bermuda Race >
2007 - 1st Overall and Single-leg Record Setter: Bermuda 1-2 >
2012 - 3rd Place: Atlantic Cup >
2012 - 2nd in Class: Newport-Bermuda >
2013 - Class 40 Winner: Charleston Race Week >
2014 - Atlantic Cup Winner
