GMT takes pride in building carbon components for real sailors who count on the quality and performance GMT carbon spars deliver. In the 2019 Transatlantic Race, our customers claimed 3 of the top 4 finishes in IRC3.
Hiro Maru - 1st IRC3
1971 S&S 49' with GMT Carbon Rig
"In IRC 3, Hiroshi Nakajima scored “an incredible win” with his aluminum S&S 49 Hiro Maru that was originally launched in 1971. Nakajima and crew finished the race at 1731:40 UTC for an elapsed time of 17 days, 2 hours, 21 minutes and 40 seconds and a victory over Rives Potts’ venerable Carina, the grand dame of the fleet.
Carina had led the class for most of the race, but Nakajima believes it turned in his favor when they passed the Isles of Scilly to the south while Carina passed to the north.
“'We did not go as far north as Carina following the weather,” said the 62-year-old Nakajima, a retired architect. “We were able to stay closer to the great circle route. When we passed the Scilly Isles we went outside while Carina went inside. I think we enjoyed slightly better breeze than Carina, we really closed the gap at that point. Everyone’s just excited, very ecstatic.'"
SOURCE - Transatlanticrace.org
Kiva - 3rd IRC3
Hinckley SW51 with GMT Carbon Rig, Bow Sprit, and more.
GMT has been working with Mark, the owner of Kiva, for years. We have built him two rigs, a bow sprit that has seen many revisions, and a very cool stern mounted swim ladder. Mark has a long resume of top finishes in many offshore races, including a first in the Newport to Bermuda Race sailing double handed. Next month he will be racing double handed in the Rolex Fastnet Race and we wish him the very best.
TRUE - 4th IRC3
J/160 with GMT Pocket Boom
GMT built a pocket boom for TRUE in 2018 and the owner Howard and Captain Ryan run a great program. Bermuda races, winters in Antigua, summers in New England, and now the Transatlantic, these guys do it right. Ryan let us know that Howard enjoyed walking the docks in Antiqua last winter admiring how his pocket boom had a better finish and more functional design than the other Park Ave booms out there. We couldn't agree more!
GMT would like to send out a huge congratulations to the owners and their crews for a job well done. We love working closely with real sailors on real boats to deliver custom solutions that produce results on and off the race course. Give us a call, send us an email, or come stop by our shop in Bristol to find out how GMT can help you achieve your goals.