Enright and Touville have serious intentions

Randall G. Lucchesi

September 16, 2019

      Enright and Touville have serious intentions
      Those who followed the Volvo Ocean Race around the world (recently, just the Ocean Race) do not need to explain who Charlie Enright and Mark Touville are: Americans were co-skippers of the vessels participating in VOR – Team Alvimedica (2014-15) twice and Vestas 11th Hour Racing (2017-18). And now they want to not only participate in the race 2021/22, but to win!

Enright and Touville aboard their new yachtFrancois Gabard "width =" 643 "height =" 367 "data-caption =" Francois Gabard "> <p>The team will be called "11th Hour Racing" (in honor of the title sponsor). Enright and Touville will again become co-skippers. But the similarity ends here.</p> <p>Since the rules of the famous circumnavigation have changed, and now IMOCA 60 class yachts are allowed to participate in it, Enright and Touville chose to transfer to such a yacht. Thanks to the title sponsor, I managed to purchase the Hugo Boss boat, which was previously performed by the famous Alex Thomson.</p> <p>The first big check for the reconstructed ship will be the Transat Jacques Vabre race (from French Le Havre to Brazilian Salvador), which starts on October 27. The race, recall, is double-handed (which means that there are two people in the carriage), and on board – along with Enright – will be Pascal Bidegorri. In 2015, this French rider won the Transat Jacques Vabre along with Francois Gabard (which, hopefully, certainly shouldn't be imagined) and was the navigator aboard the Dongfeng Race Team, who won the VOR-2017-18.</p> <p>Both the purchase of a new yacht and cooperation with the most experienced Bidegorri show that Enright and Touville have the most serious intentions. In the past, they both times announced their participation in the circumnavigation at the last moment, and the preparation was crumpled. But this time – everything is different.</p> <p>And here is another proof of these very "serious intentions." At the end of last week, it was announced that the Enwright and Touville team had signed a strategic partnership agreement with MerConcept, which was founded by the same Gabar.</p> <p>Not surprisingly, some observers immediately afterwards wrote that the winner of the Ocean Race-2021/22 is already known.</p> <p>But is it worth it in a hurry?</p> <p> 112 September 16, 2019 # 9477<br />                                                     <br />       <br />     </pre> <p>Chief Editor</p> <!-- relpost-thumb-wrapper --><div class=