By JULIE ASH
Sharon Ferris is determined to complete a non-stop dash around the world.
Ferris, from the Bay of Islands, was on Amer Sports Too for the first three legs of the round-the-world race, but left to join Maiden II which is embarking on a three-year programme during which
it will compete in the Jules Verne Trophy early next year and The Race in 2004.
The Jules Verne Trophy is awarded to the boat that completes the fastest non-stop, unassisted global circumnavigation.
Because it is an open challenge, teams compete against each other's times rather than in a race.
The record, set by Frenchman Olivier De Kersauson in 1997, is 71d 14h 22m 8s.
The Race is a non-stop event involving several teams.
"The Jules Verne is something I have always wanted to do," Ferris said. "I love multi-hull sailing. For me this is the highlight of my career."
Heading Maiden II is Britain's Tracy Edwards, who skippered the all-female crew on Maiden in the 1989-90 Whitbread round-the-world race.
Maiden II is Edwards' second attempt at the Jules Verne Trophy. Her attempt on Royal Sun Alliance in 1998 was on track until the mast broke between New Zealand and Chile.
Ferris was part of that attempt and, like most of the others on Royal Sun Alliance, has returned to give it another shot.
"We have some unfinished business," said Ferris, who is also hoping to qualify for the 2004 Olympics in the Yngling class.
Edwards has acquired the 110ft maxi-catamaran Club Med, which Grant Dalton used to win The Race last year. Dalton crossed the line in a record 62 days, 1450km ahead of his nearest rival, but he could not claim the official record because the race did not start and finish in the same place.
"The boat is extremely fast, triple the speed of the round-the-world yachts," Ferris said.
Maiden II will compete in a series of shorter races over the next year in the build-up to the Jules Verne Trophy and The Race.
