Denmark SailGP campaigner Team Rockwool Racing – skippered by Nicolai Sehested – has announced that it will compete in the 2021 season of the GC32 Racing Tour.
Created to support Denmark’s participation in SailGP, Team Rockwool Racing delivered a range of activities in the summer of 2020, including training camps, guest sailing, record attempts and a series of #ROCKTheBoat Youth Academies across Europe.
And in 2021, the team will join the GC32 Racing Tour circuit to further develop its foiling experience in racing conditions, with action set to take place in France, Italy, Portugal, plus one, as-yet-unconfirmed venue.
Mirella Vitale, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Communications and Public Affairs at Rockwool Group, explains: “We’re delighted to confirm that Team Rockwool Racing will expand its activities in 2021, and will participate in the GC32 Racing Tour, an event that visits many of Rockwool’s key markets across Europe.”
She adds: “Team Rockwool Racing is a valuable platform for us and an important foundation for everything we do as part of our partnership with the Denmark SailGP Team in SailGP.”
“It gives the Team Rockwool Racing athletes a boost between the SailGP events, whilst providing Rockwool opportunities to activate and engage customers both in Denmark and beyond, and inspiring the next generation of Danish sailing talent.”
The 2021 GC32 Racing Tour will consist a five-event circuit and will see Team Rockwool Racing compete in Riva Del Garda, Italy; Lagos, Portugal; Villasimius, Italy; and a further grand finale venue (TBC) between May and October 2021. Up to ten international teams are due to compete on the foiling, one-design catamarans across the season.
Nicolai Sehested, helmsman of Denmark SailGP Team, adds: “We’re all delighted to be able to expand this Team Rockwool Racing initiative, and we thank Rockwool for their support in making this happen.”
He continues: “The GC32 Racing Tour is a fantastic event and an excellent platform for us to continue developing as a team alongside our racing in SailGP.”
“We’ve enjoyed sailing the GC32 this year and it has helped us to develop as a team. It’s easy to forget that we still have less than 30 hours sailing onboard the F50s in SailGP, so more time spent foiling on the water in racing conditions will be extremely beneficial to us. We’re looking forward to competing against the other teams next season.”
Christian Scherrer, GC32 Class Manager, says: “We’re delighted that Team Rockwool Racing has become the first team to officially announce its participation in the 2021 GC32 Racing Tour. The Danish sailors can look forward to outstanding racing in some iconic venues, and I am sure it will provide a stern test of their foiling skills.”
Following the rescheduling of SailGP Season 2 to 2021 due to the global pandemic, Team Rockwool Racing provided Sehested and his crew an opportunity to spend some valuable time engaging with fans and young sailors in Denmark – and Sehested explains that it has created a real sense of anticipation for 2021.
“For us, 2020 has been about developing our skills and experience in foiling boats, growing as a team, and connecting with our fans to give something back to Danish sailing. We’re all very excited to get back to racing next year,” adds Sehested.
With the team’s GC32 boat is currently in the shed for the winter and set to relaunch in early 2021 with a series of training camps in Southern Europe, Team Rockwool Racing fans have a unique opportunity to contribute to the team’s 2021 campaign as part of a new GC32 design competition launched by Rockwool .
The contest, which will run from Wednesday 16 December 2020 to Monday 4 January 2021, requires fans to design and submit their own ideas for Team Rockwool Racing’s GC32 branding – with the winning design inspiring the final look of the boat for the 2021 season.
For more information on the GC32 Design Competition, click here.
Image © Brian Carlin/Team Rockwool Racing