The Whitbread Round the World Race is the world’s toughest ocean sailing race. Safety requirements are strict, not least when it comes to the all-important electric power supply. The batteries mustn’t weigh more than 280 kilos and must have a high capacity.Short charging time, versatile mounting, high resistance to vibrations, impacts, blows and temperature variations are other important requirements. After thorough tests, the crews of the Swedish W60 boats, EF Education and EF Language, and of the Norwegian Kvaerner boat, chose the standard Yellow Top battery from Optima batteries.

Optimum performance calls for minimal weight, so the crew are keen to save every gram. They even share toothbrushes and soap. The engine that runs to produce fresh water also drives the charger. It runs for less than one hour a day to keep diesel consumption to a minimum, so the batteries must charge up fully within such a short time.
“The crews are not only pitted against each other but against the forces of nature. Storms, fog banks, heavy rain and tropical heat put an enormous strain on the crew, the boat and the equipment”, says Magnus Andersson, Marketing manager at Optima Batteries in Stockholm.
“Boat owners are an important target group and the Whitbread Race gives us an excellent opportunity to test the battery in a marine environment under extreme conditions. We have supplied the Swedish boats with 14 batteries each rated at 12 volts, 60 ampere-hours, as well as charging equipment and technical expertise.

Many fields of application
“Optima Yellow Top is the world’s first rapid-charging starter and service battery and it’s 100 percent maintenance-free”, says Magnus Andersson. It’s really safe, as it doesn’t give off any explosive gases. And unlike car batteries there’s no liquid electrolyte (battery acid) to leak out and cause corrosion. Other features are a high cold-start output and low self-discharge. An Optima Yellow Top battery weighs 20.5 kilos and measures 245 x 172 x 199 mm.

The Whitbread Race in brief
The Whitbread Round the World Race 1997-98 is the seventh of its kind. It will start on 21 September in Southampton, England, where it will also finish on 24 May 1998. By then the boats will have covered 31 600 nautical miles, about 58 000 km or one and a half times round the globe. The race is in nine stages and is being covered by TV companies from all over the world. There are six cameras on each boat. EF Education is the main sponsor of the Swedish boats, one with a male crew, the other with a female crew. The Norwegian boat is sponsored by Kvaerner.


For further information:
Optima Batteries, Magnus Andersson,
Box 742, S-182 17 Danderyd,
Sweden
Phone: +46 8 622 32 00
Fax: +46 8 622 32 90

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