Steve Ravussin in Geneva for the Teamwork 6.50 christening

10:44 AM Thu 1 Apr 2010 GMT

'Steve Ravussin christening Etienne David’s Teamwork Mini 6.50 - Steve Ravussin in Geneva for the Teamwork 6.50 christening' Jean Philippe Job? Click Here to view large photo

Steve Ravussin, the well-known Swiss navigator who was on Groupama 3 for their round-the-world Jules Verne record, was at the SNG to christen the mini 6.50 Teamwork. Teamwork will participate, skippered by local navigator Etienne David, in the next edition of the Mini Transat, now called the Transat 6.50 Charente Maritime/Bahia.

Teamwork is a local company that specializes in IT services and particularly in the installation of SAP systems. Its founder's passion for sailing and mountains motivated him to sponsor activities that promote the name of the company. But these activities also motivate the personnel either following the participants or in fact participating themselves. This foments a real team spirit, hallmark of the group.

As far as sailing is concerned, Teamwork has acquired a Mini 6.50, which actually did quite well in past events and is sponsoring a local navigator to participate in several races culminating with the next Mini Transat. Etienne David will be the skipper of the mini. He is a well-known local sailor who for example sailed with Pierre Fehlmann in the Whitbread in 1993-94. He also worked with Ernesto Bertarelli when they sailed their Alinghi yellow trimaran. He lead the Centre d'Entrainement ? la R?gate for 5 years, won a second place in the Tour de France ? la Voile 2002 and also the local Bol d'Or 2004 with the Decision 35 Zebra 5. He was also second in category M2 in last year's Bol d'Or helming the M2 Ventilo Teamwork.

For the Mini 6.50 campaign the company will dedicate a budget that will hover around 300,000 US$. This includes the cost of the boat, the skipper's salary and the operation's costs. The founder and actual president of Teamwork, Philippe Rey-Gorrez, mentioned that they will spend what is necessary to be competitive and Steve Ravussin applauded this attitude.

The Teamwork Ventilo M2 will participate in the local championship skippered by the young local sailor Antoine Thorens who was sailing on the boat last season with Etienne David. The objectif of the young team is to be on the podium and again the necessary financial effort will be available.

All the details of these activities, including the mountaineering aspect, can be found on the specific website, see below.

Chatting with Steve Ravussin who is also the technical director of the Multi One Design program, I was able to confirm that Alinghi did enquire about the MOD program. Until now there is one confirmed participant who is Michel Dejoyaux backed by Foncia. The MOD 70's are trimarans designed by VPLP who was also involved in the design of AC's USA 17. After the christening of the Teamwork Mini, Steve was going to drive to Lorient, France to supervise the ongoing construction of the first MOD 70 in Lorient. He also mentioned that two other participants will be shortly announced.

www.teamwork.net/home.asp?l=fr
voile.teamworkvoileetmontagne.com/fr/
multionedesign.com/
www.teamfoncia.com/index.php?m=d6

Etienne David, skipper of the 6.50 Teamwork - Steve Ravussin in Geneva for the Teamwork 6.50 christening - Jean Philippe Job? Click Here to view large photo

Steve Ravussin at the press conference - Steve Ravussin in Geneva for the Teamwork 6.50 christening - Jean Philippe Job? Click Here to view large photo

Steve Ravussin and Etienne David onboard Teamwork - Steve Ravussin in Geneva for the Teamwork 6.50 christening - Jean Philippe Job? Click Here to view large photo

And the bottle goes bang.... - Steve Ravussin in Geneva for the Teamwork 6.50 christening - Jean Philippe Job? Click Here to view large photo

The Ventilo M2 catamaran Teamwork - Steve Ravussin in Geneva for the Teamwork 6.50 christening - Jean Philippe Job? Click Here to view large photo

Antoine Thorens, skipper of the Ventilo M2 Teamwork - Steve Ravussin in Geneva for the Teamwork 6.50 christening - Jean Philippe Job? Click Here to view large photo

The Mini 6.50 Teamwork after the christening - Steve Ravussin in Geneva for the Teamwork 6.50 christening - Jean Philippe Job? Click Here to view large photo