Alan Roberts visits Harken UK to discuss the new Figaro 3 and his plans for the 2019 season
by Alice Markham 4 Jan 2019 01:00 PST
Harken UK are proud to announce a continued partnership with one of Britain's top solo off-shore racers, Alan Roberts.
After his most successful season so far, Alan said of his 2018 season that he was delighted with the level of consistency he achieved, having worked hard to increase the performance of his boat and its systems, and training hard at the French training centre, Pole Finistere Course au Large. Alan worked closely with top French Figaro and IMOCA 60 sailors, allowing him to learn first hand from the best: he achieved podium finishes in the Championship du France Solo Concarneau Trophée Guy Cotten and the Solitaire du Figaro Prologue race.
His new Figaro 3, ready to collect in January, will be fitted with Harken Performa race winches and a range of other Harken hardware. Alan thinks the features of the new design will play to his strengths and his ability to adapt quickly; it is smaller and more lightweight than the previous Figaro and features new foils and an asymmetric kite, meaning it will act more like a dinghy on the water according to Alan. As a two-time Endeavour Trophy champion and with multiple National titles in dinghies to his name, he is no stranger to making a boat go fast!
Alan is excited at the prospect of the clean slate that a new boat brings to the race as every helm will be starting from scratch. With an intense tuning and training period lined up, he explains that next season will be 'a race to the race' to see who can learn and optimise their boat and sails the quickest, including understanding how to set up and sail the new Figaro 3, prior to the Solitaire du Figaro 2019 start in May.
Alan stopped by the Harken UK office in Lymington to confirm an on-going partnership with the brand for next season.
"There's a reason I'm here," Alan says; "I've always used Harken from dinghies to keel-boats simply put, it's the best product out there!" The Harken Tech Team will support Alan by providing product training for the winches and hardware on the new boat, including advice on servicing and maintenance, to ensure all of the systems on the Figaro 3 are working efficiently and safely.
Find out more at www.harken.co.uk