It may sound surprising to a Hungarian person, but sailing is indeed one of the world’s most popular sports. Aside from the huge number of active professionals who race sailboats, millions pursue this sport as a pastime activity or hobby, and many take on this water sport as a lifestyle. There are people who are captivated by sunshine, the waves, and the bulging white sails, others vie to capture the standard of living represented by this sport, and yet there are others who desire the forces of nature, the challenges, and perhaps winning the race itself as a motivating factor.
This latter goal motivates the dynamic and committed crew of Wild Joe, a sixty foot long sailboat, which crew is composed of some of Hungary’s prime sailors who have already individually demonstrated their talents and skills, however, this time would like to chart into new waters and show that they can also be successful in ocean racing events as well.
THE CHALLENGE
Sailboat racing can be a dynamic sport that grows in popularity worldwide, boat designers, builders and racers alike continually achieve more outstanding results and technological performance, which is underscored by the fact that one of the major sponsors of this renowned ocean racing event is world famous Rolex, which also sponsors 150 other major sporting events, including golf, sailing, tennis, motor sport and cultural events. Of these, prime interest is devoted to sailing events, regattas, and nowadays annually 20 high ranked events feature the famous watchmaker’s name, such as the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, Rolex Farr 40 World Championship, Rolex Fastnet Race, Rolex Big Boat Series, and Rolex Capri Sailing Week, Giraglia Rolex Cup, Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, Rolex Middle Sea Race, as well as ISAF the Year’s sailing awards ceremonies. Sailing, particularly the hitherto not too well-known offshore sailing in our neck of the woods, or as some call it, open air or open water sailing, is the very sport, where nature and the struggle with human forces constantly collide and challenge the athletes, so that they can set new goals every time, which may seem unattainable at first, yet based on their best skills and training, they can manage to accomplish those. For this reason, a decision was made that the team will acquire one of the best sixty-foot long sailboats, the Wild Joe, in order to prepare for the more serious sailing regattas and take part in the European way points of the Rolex Trophy sailing series.
