''Alfa Romeo I'' (formerly ''Shockwave'', ''Rambler'', currently ''La Bête'') is a fixed keel
maxi yacht
A maxi yacht usually refers to a racing yacht of at least in length.
Origin
The term ''maxi'' originated with the International Offshore Rule (IOR) rating system, which in the 1970s and 1980s measured offshore racing yachts and applied a single ...
, launched 2002, which placed first in the 2002
Sydney-Hobart race and the 2003
Giraglia Rolex cup regatta.
She was designed by
Reichel/Pugh
Reichel/Pugh is a yacht design company based in San Diego, California, United States. It is led by John Reichel and Jim Pugh.
Since the late 1990s, Reichel/Pugh-designed yachts have successfully competed in many major races, including the Ame ...
, and built by McConaghy Boats, Sydney, Australia, using
carbon fibre composite
Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (American English), carbon-fibre-reinforced polymers (Commonwealth English), carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics, carbon-fiber reinforced-thermoplastic (CFRP, CRP, CFRTP), also known as carbon fiber, carbon compo ...
construction. Southern Spars of
Auckland
Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about ...
, New Zealand, built her
mast. She has a fixed bulb
keel
The keel is the bottom-most longitudinal structural element on a vessel. On some sailboats, it may have a hydrodynamic and counterbalancing purpose, as well. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in the construction of a ship, in Br ...
. Launched in July 2002, she won the 2003 Giraglia Rolex Cup regatta, one of Europe's most prestigious regattas. She was first to finish in the 2003
Fastnet race
The Fastnet Race is a biennial offshore yacht race organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club of the United Kingdom with the assistance of the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes and the City of Cherbourg in France.
The race is named after the Fast ...
, although she did not win on
handicapped
Disability is the experience of any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or have equitable access within a given society. Disabilities may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, se ...
time. In 2002, she was first to finish in the
Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
[
] She was first to finish in at least 74 races around the world.
Sponsorship
The ''Alfa Romeo'' yachts owned by
Neville Crichton
Neville Alexander Crichton is a New Zealand businessman who was also a competitor in Australasian motor and yacht racing.
Biography
Born in New Zealand in 1945, Crichton left school aged 14 and entered the automotive industry. In 1972, he open ...
were
sponsored by
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. of Turin, Italy. They own the ''Alfa Romeo'' name and other intellectual properties such as logos, emblems (used on ''Alfa Romeo III'').
See also
*''
Alfa Romeo II
''Alfa Romeo II'' (rechristened ''Black Jack IV'') is a maxi yacht designed in 2005 by Reichel/Pugh for yachtsman Neville Crichton. First-to-finish in the 2009 Transpacific Yacht Race ("the Transpac"), she also set a new elapsed-time Transpac rac ...
''
*''
Alfa Romeo III''
*''
Wild Oats XI
''Wild Oats XI'' is a maxi yacht, most famous for being the former race record holder and a nine-times line honours winner of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Launched in 2005, she was owned by Bob Oatley (Oatley's estate since his death in ...
''
References
External links
Alfa Romeo Yacht Racing Teamsite
Alfa Romeo Yacht Racing Team news releasesAlfa Romeo II build details2009 Transpac race crew listMaxi Yacht Rolex CupVictory in Sardinia
Giraglia Rolex Cuppromotional information
Alfa Romeo II demonstrating speedat Malta Rolex Middle Sea Race 2006
of Alfa Romeo II
{{Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race winning yachts (line honours)
Ships built in New South Wales
Individual sailing yachts
2000s sailing yachts
Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race yachts
Alfa Romeo
Fastnet race
Sailing yachts designed by Reichel/Pugh
Sailing yachts built in Australia
Sailing yachts of Australia
Sailing yachts of the United States
Sailing yachts of the United Kingdom
Fastnet Race yachts
Maxi yachts
Sailboat types built by McConaghy Boats