JESSE ROWSE, CAPTAIN OF HUGO BOSS IMOCA 60
Hugo Boss visits the shipyard in Arenys de Mar for the second time in three years to undergo maintenance and revision work
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“At Varador 2000 you pay a reasonable price and receive an excellent service”. Plain and simple. These are the words of Jesse Rowse, captain of Hugo Boss IMOCA 60, an authentic “Formula 1 of the sea” that must always be at its absolute best to compete in demanding regattas, such as Barcelona World Race and Vendé Globe.
Rowse, an American who lives in England, knows that in Spain there are many prestigious and efficient companies that offer great technical repair & refit services, “but most of them ask very high prices, this is why we decided to return to Varador 2000“, where the boat underwent a technical revision in 2012, in preparation for the Vendé Globe regatta. The captain also explains that the fact that its facilities are so close to Barcelona, the depth of its waters (the boat has a 4.5 m keel) and the excellent quality of the technical services it offers were all reasons for choosing the shipyard in Arenys de Mar.
Hubo Boss has spent five weeks at Varador 2000, where its hull was painted and it underwent special maintenance work and rigging. During this time, Varador 2000 professional team and Hugo Boss’s crew (five people including the captain), worked side by side on the vessel. “The close and direct contact with the shipyard’s management and team of professionals is another advantage you benefit from when you choose Varador 2000; it does not make you feel as if you were just another customer, as some other large companies do”, says Jesse Rowse.
The only thing the shipyard could improve on is “the number of spare parts it keeps in store. However, I am aware that it is not easy to keep in stock certain parts, as our boat requires very sophisticated components. In any case –he adds – we got all we required within two days, so we cannot complain”.
Hugo Boss is a 19 m long competition sailing boat, with a 5.8 beam and a 28 m mast, which in ideal conditions can reach a speed of 30 knots. The vessel is equipped with the latest and most advanced technical, electronic and communication systems. Designed for ocean navigation, it is a sophisticated boat that stands out from the rest in terms of technical innovation. “There is a world of difference between sailing this boat and any other conventional boat, there is no comparison”, explains Rowse.
To keep up with such a high level of technology requires a very competent and specialised crew that can ensure a performance close to perfect. “When you sail a boat like this, you cannot afford to make mistakes, as a small error can turn into a disaster” says Rowse, who has been sailing and working on competition boats since he was 21 , “greater and more complicated every time”, he adds with a smile.
During the time the vessel spent at Varador 2000, the captain and its crew rented a house in Canet de Mar, just a few kilometres from the shipyard. From now, and until it goes back to competing in important regattas, Hugo Boss will sail around the Mediterranean with a number of VIPs, celebrities, specialised press representatives and the brand’s most important clients on board. A luxury not many can afford.
