Sharon Hayward

Embrace The Challenge is out of the water and into the shed for a six-week refit, with energy efficiency at the top of the job list. From replacing the engine to improving battery management, this work will help us prepare for a future in which every litre of fuel needs to go much further. But before any of that can begin, there is the considerable task of taking the boat apart. A carefully coordinated lift First, the foils are removed. Next comes the mast. A crane is attached near its top,...

In ocean racing, performance is often discussed in terms of boat speed, technology and tactical decisions. But before any of those things can make a difference, the people involved must be ready to perform. Health is not an added advantage. It is the foundation on which everything else depends. It is an idea that has underpinned Burgerstein Vitamine’s partnership with Oliver Heer Ocean Racing from the beginning. Burgerstein first supported Ollie when his Vendée Globe campaign existed only as...

Crossing the finish line. (C)Vincent Curutchet / The Ocean Race Atlantic At 01:36:17 UTC on Friday 11 September, Embrace The Challenge crossed the finish line of The Ocean Race Atlantic in Lorient, completing our first race of the campaign in 8 days 11 hours 36 minutes 17 seconds to take 5th place. The team arrived tired but elated after a relentless 3263 nautical mile North Atlantic crossing from New York. We wanted an opportunity to test ourselves, the boat and the wider team. And that is...