Trifork is a modified Volvo Ocean Racer VO70. The boat has a huge speed potential.
(Photo Søren Wiegand)
Trifork Sailing Team has pulled their sharpest weapon and sailed the VO70 L4 Trifork to Danish waters. Here it is on a record hunt over the summer and autumn. The focus is on Bouwe Bekking's record on the Garmin Round Denmark Race offshore distance this autumn.
The Danish modified VOR 70er L4 Trifork returned to Denmark last month. It had been a trip across the Atlantic when it participated in the RORC Trans Atlantic Race. After being in the lead of all keelboats, it ended up as the second fastest keelboat, only beaten by the new 100s racer Comanche.
Is ready in the GRDR port of Esbjerg
Now the boat is located in the Garmin Round Denmark Race starting venue, Esbjerg on the west coast of Denmark. But it is not to participate in the Garmin Round Denmark Race offshore, which starts June 15.
The Trifork team is in Esbjerg as they start their record campaign by participating in the German event Pantaenius Rund Skagen Race, from June 6. The start is from the island Helgoland and the finish line is at Strande close to Kiel. The distance is 510 nautical miles - almost a sprint distance compared to both the Garmin Round Denmark Race inshore (650 nautical miles) and offshore (760 nautical miles).
- We take it as the first of a series of three record attempts, where we intend to break the existing records, says skipper Jens Dolmer, who hopes for strong winds from the east or west, to avoid upwind sailing.
- If we get something that is just reminiscent of our trip home from the Caribbean last month, I can guarantee that a record will be set, he says with reference to the delivery voyage of 4200 nautical miles which took only 12 days, which gives an average of almost 15 knots from port to port.
Eyes are on Bouwe Bekking record
After the race to Strande, the boat arrives in Aarhus, which can be considered a home port, as the owner of Trifork, Jørn Larsen lives here. It will be lifted out of the water to be prepared for two more record attempts later this year. One is KDY Danmark Rundt inshore the other is Garmin Round Denmark Race offshore.
- Jørn and myself are co-holders of the record that Bouwe Bekking set in the VO60 Childhood II in 2020. Now we are betting on taking it so we have it alone. We could also have tried with a participation in the Garmin Round Denmark Race race that starts mid June, but it is too risky to reach out for the record in balmy June conditions. That is why we are in a waiting position for September / October, so we are ready for the right low-pressure passage, he says. If that is to happen, they will have to sail the 780 nautical miles as the offshore record track distance is faster than 70 hours 24 minutes and 21 seconds.
Can be seen in Aarhus during GRDR
The German Rund Skagen Race will be a kind of training for the team, where the roles on board will be tested and the boat tested in race mode in Danish waters. There is a lot of experience on board the boat's 10-man crew. Jens Dolmer says that when you count it all together, the crew has a total of 20 Volvo Ocean Race participations and three America’s Cups.
The boat can be seen on land in Aarhus during the Garmin Round Denmark Race. It will be in the DanishCity of Sails until The Ocean Race arrives in Aarhus in May 2023. Jens Dolmer and Jørn Larsen hope that with Trifork's presence in Denmark they can contribute to increasing interest in real offshore racing. Jens Dolmer says the team is considering to put more races and thus record attempts on the "to do list".
If you are considering a participation in Garmin Round Denmark Race don't hesitate too long as the registration closes at May 31.
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