Illbruck - a Legend of Sailing Sports

 The Illbruck is a legend of sailing sport. Among the skipper John Kostecki the yacht won the Volvo Ocean Race 2002, in a spectacular race around the world and put it on world records.

Star designer Bruce Farr had drawn the boat. As easy as possible, but stiff enough for a circumnavigation the Irish boat builder Killian Bushe built the racer in sandwich foam core made of Kevlar and carbon fiber specially manufactured for the extreme conditions of the Volvo Ocean Race.

On 23 September 2001, the yacht went with 7 competitors in Southampton at the start. In a great race the Illbruck won 4 of 7 legs. In stormy north on the Nordatlantk the crew succeeded in April, a new world record for the longest distance sailed in 24 hours. 484 nautical miles, she had 896 kilometers, a distance comparable with Berlin-Paris back down. This marked more records: the first time was the 24-hour average speed of 20 knots (37 km / h). The new world record for the maximum speed was now at 38.98 knots (72 km / h).

At the spectacular finish on the 9th June in the Kiel Fjord were the winner John Kostecki and his crew after 32 700 nautical miles into the sailing history. The Illbruck, the first German boat which won this extreme race, was included in the circle of the most successful yachts of all time.

The Illbruck is preserved in its original condition. Even the sail bags of the race do their duty with the original inscription Illbruck. In the body of the racing yacht, is aside the traditionally somehow expendable weight, it is easy to understand the performance of a crew who fought here 9 months under extreme conditions in a confined space without any comfort for the win.

Only the green exterior painting of the yacht has now been replaced by a bright blue.