Oryx Quest

Oryx Quest (in the preparatory stage initially Oryx Cup ) was a sailing regatta that started in 2005 on G-Class yachts - multihulls of unlimited size , i.e. H. Maxi catamarans and trimarans once led non-stop around the world. It was the first circumnavigation of the world regatta, the start and finish of which was in the Middle East - namely in Doha , Qatar .

Of the four boats that took part, two were eliminated due to material damage; Since one of the two remaining boats was significantly slower than the competition, from that moment - exactly one month before the winner crossed the finish line - the outcome of the regatta was largely decided.

According to the organizer, participating boats were each paid an entry fee of 1 million US dollars . The total prize money of 1 million dollars was the highest in the history of sailing to date. In addition, prize money was offered for a boat that undercut the record time of the Trophée Jules Verne (a circumnavigation of the world from France / England), even if the route (and thus the prevailing winds) differed significantly and in particular, at 21,000 nautical miles, was shorter than for the Jules Verne Trophy.

As a result of the regatta, there were legal disputes between the British sailor Tracy Edwards or the organizer she runs and the sponsors from Qatar, who, according to English information , are said not to have paid out amounts in the millions - including prize money of 850,000 US dollars . This representation was doubted by other sources. Edwards and the organizer had to file for bankruptcy as a result of the regatta . Edwards was also accused of stealing ideas from one of the organizers of The Race .

Course of the regatta

Route, prize money and other regatta conditions

The regatta started on February 5, 2005 in Doha, then the route led through the Persian Gulf across the Indian Ocean to the south, then Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn were rounded. After a trip to the front of Uruguay situated Isla de Lobos (so that the boats do not get too sailed into the more dangerous southern waters and also footage could be transferred for marketing the regatta easier on land) went around the Cape of Good Hope and Mauritius around back to Qatar.

According to Edwards, participating boats were paid an entry fee of US $ 1 million each . When one of the registered boats canceled at short notice, Steve Fossett was even paid $ 2 million to participate in his Cheyenne maxi catamaran . Elsewhere, however, Edwards dropped a reference to participation fees .

There was also another million US dollars in prize money, including US $ 500,000 for the first place winner (even a million according to some earlier information), $ 300,000 (or 350,000) for the runner-up and $ 200,000 for the third-place winner. However, given the regatta's financial problems (see below ), no money was paid out at the awards ceremony and it is unclear whether the money was paid out at a later date (as of September 2005).

According to the organizers, the race to Qatar (in its most important markets 46 million dollars in "PR" public relations d, h.. Public Relations ) have flushed into the coffers; no confirmation of this number is known from Qatar.

Boats and Results

The yachts used were not subject to any structural restrictions, so that the participating were among the largest and at times fastest multihulls in the world. After at least six boats had temporarily registered, four actually took part in the regatta:

• Doha 2006 (ex- Club Med , ex- Maiden II ): winner of the maxi regatta The Race 2000; repeated record holder for the longest route sailed in 24 hours ( Etmal ), 2000 to 2002
• Daedalus (ex- Formule Tag , ex- Enza New Zealand etc.): Trophée Jules Verne 1994, but no significant records or victories after 2000; the boat was now considered obsolete.
• Cheyenne (ex- Playstation ): Record for the fastest North Atlantic crossing under sail 2001, record for the fastest circumnavigation of the world in 2004
• Geronimo (only trimaran in the field): Trophée Jules Verne 2004

Results:

placement	Boat name	Type	nationality	Skipper	time	Remarks
1	Doha 2006	catamaran	GBR	Brian Thompson	62 days 21 hours 1 min 22 sec
2	Daedalus	catamaran	GBR	Tony Bullimore	75 days 0 hours 20 min 48 sec
3	Cheyenne	catamaran	United States	David Scully	DNF	abandoned due to collision with floating debris on March 2nd *
4th	Geronimo	Trimaran	FRA	Olivier de Kersauson	DNF	abandoned due to broken mast on March 9th *

* Before leaving, Geronimo had fought with Doha for the lead in 2006 ; Cheyenne was in 3rd place or 2nd after Geronimo gave up.

Organizer: Financial and legal problems

Oryx Quest was initiated by Tracy Edwards , who, as an English ocean regatta sailor, skipped the Maiden II maxi catamaran (later the winning boat in the Oryx Quest). The organization took over the company Quest International Sports Events (QISE for short; until 2004: Maiden Events Ltd), which Edwards headed and to which she owned a third.

Legal disputes accompanied or followed Oryx Quest because on the one hand there were problems with financing and on the other hand the originator of the regatta was accused of stealing ideas from another regatta organizer.

Financial preludes and aftermaths of the regatta

Funding problems

The financing of the regatta was obviously problematic. A major sponsor of the regatta was HSBC Bank , while the search for further sponsors at least until July 2004 (7 months before the start of the regatta) and possibly still remained unsuccessful. According to the organizer's announcement, the regatta was to be financed to a large extent as part of a large sponsorship contract with Qatar: the Qatar Sports International (QSI) organization , which was founded by Crown Prince Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani , was a partner in Qatar ; QSI is said to have contractually agreed to provide around 38 million pounds (approx. 55 million euros or 66.4 million dollars) for sailing activities in Qatar over four years , from which, among other things, the Oryx Quest should be paid for. According to Edwards and some Western media outlets, however, some of the monies to be paid before or during the regatta were not made available or not made available in the agreed amount. In some cases there was talk of around 6 million pounds (approx. 10.5 million dollars), which had not been paid as agreed, whereupon Edwards and / or her company ultimately increased to around 2.6 million pounds (approx , 5 million dollars) in debt. Qatar Sports International was dissolved in late 2005.

According to the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph, however, Edwards demanded payment of 1.7 million pounds from QSI, even though a written contract had never been drawn up with QSI . Quest's financial management is also unclear, however, insofar as the financial manager (and owner of another third) of the company requested an independent audit shortly after his release .

Edwards was also personally affected by the funding problems, as she had taken out loans of $ 14.5 million in her own name for the regatta; According to other information, she had guaranteed the amount of 5.4 million euros . In addition, there were apparently pre-existing personal debts: The British should already before the regatta - in particular by buying the maxi-catamaran Maiden II for at least 1.1 million pounds (over 1.9 million dollars) or even 2.2 million Dollars - have been heavily in debt and have not paid the crew of their catamaran for up to two years. According to other newspapers, Edwards had already owed 6.3 million pounds (about 11 million dollars) from boat purchases, crew salaries and marketing campaigns before the start of the regatta, and had been repeatedly sued for partial debts of up to six figures, although Edwards was able to do so in late September In 2004, she sold her maxi catamaran, whose regatta participation was actually planned to be Edwards' property, to another interested party, for whom the boat would eventually sail and win the Oryx Quest as Doha 2006 . A loan of 6.5 million US dollars taken out a few weeks before the start of the regatta was used to repay half of her pre-existing debts to 72 different creditors. (Edwards later refused to use funds for purposes other than those for which they were intended .)

consequences

Both Quest and Edwards had to go through 2005 - i.e. H. after the end of the regatta - file for bankruptcy. A landlord of office space in Qatar obtained an injunction against Edwards due to outstanding debts, according to which the British woman was no longer allowed to leave the country after a planned short visit in July; She was only granted an exit visa after four weeks .

In the ensuing legal dispute, a civil court in Qatar acquitted Edwards of (personal) financial responsibility in early April 2006. The Briton was thus free to sue the government of Qatar before the International Court of Justice in The Hague for damages for Edwards sustained non-pecuniary damage . Spiegel Online later even used Edwards as an example of "rough business methods" in Qatar and Western businessmen whose contracts were not kept in the emirate.

Another regatta planned for 2006, which according to Edwards Society should also be organized under the 38 million pound agreement with Qatar, was no longer carried out. The regatta, which had been announced as the Qatar Sports Global Challenge as well as the Quest Qatar , had multi-and monohull boats of over 100 and 110 feet (approx. 30.5 and 33.5 meters) around the world Stages in England, in American and in Asian ports. The participating boats should have sailed from Great Britain to Qatar as part of a " Suez Parade". Originally, the agreement also included sponsorship with which Edwards' should have attacked the Jules Verne trophy record on their Maiden II maxi catamaran in winter 2003/2004 .

Accusation of "theft of ideas"

Financial matters aside, the regatta also made headlines because Bruno Peyron , father of the maxi non-stop circumnavigation regatta The Race , accused Edwards of "stealing" ideas for the regatta. According to Peyron, the Englishwoman had attended the preparatory meetings for The Race 2004 for two years. According to various statements, the regatta had to be canceled due to the cancellation of registered participants (according to Peyron: including Edwards) or problems with the search for sponsors. A few days after Peyron had made the end of The Race public, Edwards surprisingly stepped in with the announcement to the media that they were planning two circumnavigation regattas for maxi yachts - the non-stop regatta Oryx Quest (then still known as the "Oryx Cup") ) and the stage regatta Qatar Sports Global Challenge - for which she has signed contracts with Qatar to finance.

Peyron accused Edwards that the two regattas were copies of The Race and The Race Tour (the regatta never held before), and spoke in harsh terms of "theft" and "piracy". He then sued Edwards in France, who in turn responded with a counterclaim.

Web links

• Picture of Doha 2006 and Daedalus at the regatta start in 2005
• Pictures of Cheyenne and Geronimo (relatively far below, in the section on Oryx Quest)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} admin (October 15, 2003). Qatar sails to $ 63m deal. ( Memento of the original from April 29, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Sport Business (accessed January 22, 2011) 
2. ^ ^{A b} Nick Hayes (January 19, 2005). Amundsen Oslo Appointed As Official Timekeeper. sailing.org ( International Sailing Federation ) (accessed January 20, 2011)
3. ↑ ^{a b c d e} Tracy Edwards (December 24, 2010). Letter. on Tracy Edwards - Qatar Blog (accessed January 20, 2011)
4. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h} Cahal Milmo & Stuart Alexander (July 15, 2004). Is Edwards sailing into debt-infested waters? The Independent (accessed January 20, 2011)
5. ↑ ^{a b c d e} no author details (October 20, 2003). Deep sea piracy - naval warfare for the 'jackpot'. ( Memento of the original from May 4, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Seglermagazin (accessed January 21, 2011) 
6. ↑ no author details (December 20, 2004). Bullimore sets sail for Qatar. Yachting World (accessed January 22, 2011)
7. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h} Dick Durham (April 4, 2006). Middle East muddle. Yachting Monthly (accessed January 20, 2011)
8. ^ Brian Hancock (2005). Oryx Quest - Los Lobos Rendezvous. ( Memento of the original from July 4, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. yachtracing.com (accessed January 20, 2011) 
9. ↑ " Ms Edwards (...) issued a statement insisting that (...) the Oryx Cup (...) is still on, with six entries, three of which have" paid up ". " - Cahal Milmo & Stuart Alexander (July 15, 2004 ). Is Edwards sailing into debt-infested waters? The Independent (accessed January 20, 2011)
10. ↑ ^{a b} no author details (September 6, 2005). Tracy Edwards declared bankrupt.  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. CowesOnline (accessed January 21, 2011)  
11. ↑ staff (April 12, 2005). Doha 2006 claims Oryx Quest title. Gulf News (accessed January 22, 2011) Barry Pickthall (December 9, 2004). Bullimore ready to take on the high seas again. The Daily Sail (accessed January 22, 2011) no author details (April 23, 2005). British entry take second place in Oryx Quest race. ( Memento of the original from April 3, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Gulf Times (accessed January 22, 2011)
    
     
12. ↑ staff (April 12, 2005). Doha 2006 claims Oryx Quest title. Gulf News (accessed January 22, 2011) no author information (April 23, 2005). British entry take second place in Oryx Quest race. ( Memento of the original from April 3, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Gulf Times (accessed January 22, 2011)
     
13. ↑ Kimball Livingston ( no date ). The Luckiest Sailor in the World? ( Memento of the original from September 6, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. sailmagazine.com (accessed January 22, 2011) 
14. ^ Af (April 11, 2005). Oryx Quest: "Doha 2006" at the finish. (accessed January 20, 2011)
15. ↑ no author details (April 5, 2005). Multiplast and Doha 2006 win the Oryx Quest. ( Memento of the original from December 8, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. multiplast.eu (accessed January 20, 2011) 
16. ↑ no author details (April 22, 2005). Qatar. Oryx Quest: Team Bullimore on Daedalus cross the line. bymnews.com (accessed January 20, 2011)
17. ^ Tim Jeffery (March 10, 2005). Scully crew safe after dismasting. The Daily Telegraph (accessed January 20, 2011)
18. ↑ ^{a b} no author details (February 21, 2005). Oryx Quest: Disaster on Geronimo.  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Sailing magazine (accessed January 20, 2011)  
19. ↑ no author details (April 23, 2005). British entry take second place in Oryx Quest race. ( Memento of the original from April 3, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Gulf Times (accessed January 22, 2011) 
20. ↑ ^{a b} Catriona Davies (October 14, 2004). Tracy Edwards 'paid debts with firm's money'. The Daily Telegraph (accessed January 22, 2011)
21. ↑ admin (October 15, 2003). Qatar sails to $ 63m deal. ( Memento of the original from April 29, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Sport Business (accessed January 22, 2011) no author information (October 20, 2003). Deep sea piracy - naval warfare for the 'jackpot'. ( Memento of the original from May 4, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Seglermagazin (accessed January 21, 2011)  
     
22. ^ Edwards' self-illustration: Tracy Edwards (December 24, 2010). Letter. on Tracy Edwards - Qatar Blog (accessed January 20, 2011)
    Other media: Dick Durham (April 4, 2006). Middle East muddle. Yachting Monthly (accessed January 20, 2011)
    Michael Wulzinger (April 2, 2007). Which contract? Spiegel Online (accessed January 20, 2011)
23. ↑ ^{a b c d} Catriona Davies (September 5, 2005). 'I have lost everything'. The Daily Telegraph (accessed January 21, 2011)
24. ↑ ^{a b c} Tim Jeffery (October 11, 2004). New court action for Edwards faces new court. The Daily Telegraph (accessed January 21, 2011)
25. ↑ ^{a b} Michael Wulzinger (April 2, 2007). Which contract? Spiegel Online (accessed January 20, 2011)
26. ↑ ^{a b} Jonathan Brown (September 7, 2004). Sailing: Edwards ordered to pay £ 500,000 debt. The Independent (accessed January 21, 2011)
27. ↑ no author details (February 4, 2005). Edwards describes 'debt misery'. BBC (accessed January 21, 2011)
    Joanne Harris (July 11, 2005). Spring Law sinks Tracy Edwards' defense. The Lawyer (accessed January 21, 2011)
    Jonathan Brown (September 7, 2004). Sailing: Edwards ordered to pay £ 500,000 debt. The Independent (accessed January 21, 2011)
28. ↑ Sean O'Brian (April 3, 2006). Judgment goes for Edwards. The Daily Sail (accessed January 20, 2011)