B&G®, manufacturer of sailing electronics, will be the official technical supplier for The Ocean Race, an event which also includes the upcoming inaugural edition The Ocean Race Europe which will start on May 29 in Lorient, France.
A long-lasting partnership
B&G has a long and rich tradition with The Ocean Race going back to its origins when it was still the Whitbread Round-The-World Race in 1973. Since then it has taken part in every edition of The Ocean Race and has been a participant aboard every race winner of this epic adventure around the world.
“B&G has worked alongside the organizers, teams and crews of The Ocean Race not only for the most accurate and reliable navigation, but also to help develop new technologies for the wider sailing community over the past five decades, and we are pleased to be back again for the 2022-23 edition of The Ocean Race – said Simon Conder, Global Head of Brand, B&G. – We are also excited to follow The Ocean Race Europe, which will sail around the Iberian Peninsula with arrival in Genoa, a fantastic prologue for next year that will provide us with some interesting insights into the two classes of boats competing in The Ocean Race.”
“B&G has been a key and highly valued technical partner for the VO65 class since its inception for the 2014-15 edition of the race,” said Neil Cox, Technical Director of The Ocean Race.
“This partnership offers sailors the advanced technology, technical support, confidence and reliability they need to race at the highest level. Looking at the IMOCA fleet, we know that sailors rely on B&G for technical and performance solutions for the extraordinary challenges faced on a 60-foot gliding offshore and we are grateful to have such a high level of expertise and support to our willingness to The Ocean Race through this strong bond with B&G. ”
About the Ocean Race
The next edition of The Ocean Race will begin in October 2022 in Alicante, Spain, with the arrival at the Grand Final in Genoa, Italy, in June 2023. It will be contested by two classes of boats, including the one-design Volvo Ocean 65 and the innovative planing IMOCA 60 class.
Similarly, The Ocean Race Europe will present both classes during a month-long offshore regatta, which also involves several boats that competed in the last Vendée Globe.
“The Ocean Race is one of the pillars in the sailing world and, with the addition of many fast IMOCAs, it will become an exciting edition. In addition to the Volvo Ocean 65s, many IMOCAs, including the recent Vendée winner, rely on B&G electronics to maximize their potential and safety while sailing in the toughest conditions. A further element confirming this great partnership “, added Conder.
Along with the common goals of product innovation, maximization of navigation performance and navigation safety, both partners also share a mutual commitment to sustainability. The Ocean Race has made ocean preservation and “Racing with Purpose” one of its core missions dating back nearly a decade, while B&G has made great strides in transitioning to plastic-free and fully recycled packaging for their new ranges. of products, making sustainability one of the company’s three fundamental pillars as part of its long-term five-year strategy.
“In B&G we have a partner who is facing the challenge of reinventing their business from a sustainable perspective as a fundamental pillar – continued Cox – Ultimately, we only deal with sailing and the Ocean is our track and our lifeblood. As sailors, it is only natural that our top priority is to care for and protect this resource. “
