The Global Ocean Race 2011-12 (GOR) is pleased to take the covers off one of its
anonymous entries. The team from New Zealand signed-up for the race in early February and will be skippered by Conrad Colman from Auckland who will be joined by co-skipper Ryan Finn from Louisiana, USA. The 26 year-old Kiwi comes to the GOR with a variety of experience ranging from business start-ups to sailmaking and shorthanded ocean racing. Conrad completed the gruelling Mini Transat race last year and will continue to compete in the class this year, racing against his American GOR co-skipper.

Ryan Finn is also an experienced Mini sailor and will compete in the singlehanded Les Sables-Azores-Les Sables Race in August this year. The 32 year-old American sailor has considerable experience as shorecrew for successful shorthanded programmes on both sides of the Atlantic and is – like Colman – one of the few ocean racers who makes his own sails. This is a team that fully appreciates fine tailoring!

Colman and Finn have formed a partnership with Lance Armstrong’s global anti-cancer LiveStrong campaign to raise funds and awareness for this exceptional sporting foundation. In 1998, Ryan avidly followed the Around Alone race from his hospital bed while he was fighting his own battle with cancer. Lance Armstrong is known for his incredible fight with cancer and his subsequent dominance in cycling and the New Zealand-American duo of Colman and Finn hope that their performance and triumphs at sea during the GOR will help inspire those currently fighting the disease.

Conrad and Ryan have secured part of their budget for the GOR, but are still searching for a title sponsor for their project. “We each hail from a country hosting a stopover and both currently live in France,” says Colman, who is based in the Lorient, while his GOR co-skipper is based in La Trinité-sur-Mer. “By being the ‘local boys’ in Europe, Australasia and America, we will be able to communicate well with a huge part of the GOR audience and are thus a good prospect for a truly global brand.”

With 504 days remaining until the start of the Global Ocean Race on 11^thSeptember 2011, there are currently 14 confirmed entries. “This NZ/USA team is shaping into one of our strongest entries with two highly capable and motivated skippers that see the Global Ocean Race as a natural platform to showcase their talents,” comments Race Director, Josh Hall, on the latest news.  “Both Conrad and Ryan have had great success with their Mini programmes and their project really epitomises the true flavour of the GOR – international, imaginative and skilled sailors taking on the world,” continues Hall. “They will be both inspired and inspiring through their involvement with LiveStrong and we are very proud to formally announce their entry,” he adds.