TEAMORIGIN record attempt

The yacht now re-named ‘Virgin Money’, 100 ft Juan K designed maxi yacht, will attempt to break the transatlantic record with a crew co-skippered by Mike Sanderson, Sir Richard Branson and Alex Jackson (the yacht owner).

The boat goes on ‘stand-by’ as of tonight awaiting a suitable weather window to break the record. The stand-by period will last for September and October and we will advise you as soon as the ‘go’ decision is made 

Sir Richard Branson, Founder of The Virgin Group will this week join America’s Cup Challenger, TEAMORIGIN, in a new attempt to break the transatlantic record, which currently stands at 6 days, 17 hrs, 52 minutes and 39 seconds, to become the undisputable fastest mono-hull sailing yacht to cross the Atlantic.

The partnership with TEAMORIGIN, the British America’s Cup sailing team, is the second major sponsorship for the Virgin Money credit card business in recent months, following the announcement that it is to take over sponsorship of the London Marathon in 2010 in a deal worth over £17 million over five years.

Veteran adventurer Branson has made a number of world record-breaking attempts since 1985. However this latest attempt will be the first time he is joined by children, 26 year old Holly and 23 year old Sam, both very competent sailors, in a voyage which will see them navigating icebergs and floating hazards such as containers, whales and sharks.  As a qualified Doctor, Holly Branson will also take on the role of medic onboard.

In 1986 Branson crossed the Atlantic in the fastest ever recorded time on board the powerboat "Virgin Atlantic Challenger II", followed a year later by the epic hot air balloon crossing of the same ocean in "Virgin Atlantic Flyer" – the largest ever balloon flown at 2.3 million cubic feet capacity. 

This latest attempt to break the record sees Virgin Money and Sir Richard joining forces with yacht owner, Alex Jackson and Sir Keith Mills, Team Principal of TEAMORIGIN.  Set up in January 2007 by Mills, the team’s aim is to win the next America’s Cup.  The team is currently in training for this event, participating in extended activities such as competing in the iShares Cup Extreme 40 series and fine-tuning the design of the 99ft Super Maxi yacht ‘Virgin Money”.