Mean Machine - The first Volvo Ocean Race team on the water

The Mean Machine team begin testing and training for the Volvo Ocean Race 2008/09 © Sally Collison / Mean Machine

The Mean Machine team begin testing and training for the Volvo Ocean Race 2008/09 © Sally Collison / Mean Machine

It was full speed ahead this week as the Mean Machine team began its intense testing and training programme. The second official entry in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008/09, Mean Machine took to the Solent onboard the latest addition to the Mean Machine fleet – a Volvo Open 70.

This 70-footer is none other than The Black Pearl, the Farr designed VO70, built by Green Marine (UK) only 18 months ago. The Pirates of the Caribbean VO70 captured second place in the last edition of what many consider to be the most extreme of round the world sailing races. After a seven week refit at Endeavour Quay in Gosport (UK), Mean Machine is on the water, proudly displaying the team’s traditional colours.

Commenting on the team’s acquisition of the VO70, Dirk de Ridder, Operations Director for the Mean Machine VOR team stated: “We were looking for a VO70 to begin our programme, with a view to defining the future design of the Mean Machine VO70. The Black Pearl became available and was ideal as she has all of the right equipment. Naturally, I know the boat well as I was onboard for the last race and I think it’s a great starting point for us.”

The Mean Machine team has an impressive racing pedigree spanning more than 20 years. However, December marks the end of the team’s most successful year to date. Having won the prestigious Breitling Medcup earlier this year with the TP52 Mutua Madrileña-Mean Machine, Peter de Ridder, Founder and CEO of Mean Machine announced the team’s intention to take part in the next edition of the most prestigious round the world race with New Zealander Ray Davies as Skipper and Dirk de Ridder (NL) as Operations Director.

History suggests that the first team on the water has a strong advantage in terms of preparing for and winning this demanding race. Peter de Ridder’s vision for Mean Machine is clear and he is committed to putting the foundation and the best people in place to give the team the best chance to win.

An experienced Corinthian helmsman in the competitive Mumm 30 and TP52 one design fleets, de Ridder was looking forward to sailing on the Mean Machine VO70 this week: “I was genuinely pleasantly surprised with the speed and power of the TP 52 when I first took the helm at the beginning of the year. However today, as I took the wheel of the VO70, with 25 –30 knots of breeze and building, I reached to a entirely new level in terms of monohull sailing.”

Having recently returned from the Mumm 30 Worlds (Miami), the Mean Machine sailing team were onboard this week with Peter de Ridder, with the exception of skipper Ray Davies who is currently training in New Zealand as part of his America’s Cup commitment to Emirates-Team New Zealand.

As the Mean Machine team looks ahead to the new year, sailing and strength testing is on the horizon for the VO70, as is Key West Race Week (15-19 January) for the Mumm 30 crew.