The fact is that in the local rules they are measured in the same class as 42 ft yachts, which have a crew of 12. In future Team VELUX, which comprises eight men on X-37, will sail in the IMS 670 class, which is more similar with respect to boat size. The classes are categorised according to how long it takes the boat, theoretically, to sail one nautical mile, so the 600 class is faster than the 670 class.
Now, Team VELUX is again ready to sail X-37 in Spain. This time it is the Trofea SAR Princesa race in Palma, Majorca, from 28 April to 1 May 2005. There, the VELUX boat will be sailing against boats of the same size for the first time, and according to the skipper, Flemming Fjord, the team has high hopes.
He says, "Looking at our result from the last races, when we came up against some larger and heavier yachts, we think we should have a good chance of a satisfactory place. We greatly look forward to sailing the boat again - we have got to know it well and now had some practise in sailing in the Mediterranean."
Follow Team VELUX's fortunes at www.VELUX.com/sponsoring. The result from the Princesa Sofia race will be known on Tuesday, 3 May.