The Nautor Challenge: Round the World Racing
NEWS
Dalton to race Frers designed yacht for the Nautor Challenge in Volvo Ocean Race
by Mark Bullingham on 16 Sept 2001
Today. Grant Dalton, skipper of the Nautor Challenge men's crew, announced he will race the V.O.60 designed by Nautor's Swan Frers design house.
Nautor Challenge, Nautor's Swan round the world racing team, has built two new yachts in a bid to claim the most prestigious of ocean racing trophies, the Volvo Ocean Race, previously Whitbread Round the World Race. One from the drawing board of Milan-based Frers design office and the other from Annapolis-based Farr Yacht Design. Stringent tests have been carried out on both yachts over recent weeks to determine which yacht will be raced by the men's team, skippered by Grant Dalton and which yacht will be entered by the women's team, skippered by Lisa McDonald.
Dalton commented; 'It's appropriate that we'll be racing the V.O.60 designed by Swan's designers. We'll be aiming to use this to emulate Swan 65 Sayula II's victory in the first ever Whitbread in 1973/74.'
Dalton went on to say; 'We have hard data on the performance of each boat in various conditions. We have taken that data and run it against weather data from previous races. It was close between the two boats. Some years the Frers would have won and in others it would have been the Farr.'
He continued; 'Then we ran our performance data against data on the weather likely to be encountered from September 23. This is where accurate data comes into contact with knowledge of historic weather, intuition, gut feeling and to an extent, crystal ball gazing.
'In the end it was a subjective decision. We could have played it safe and taken the Farr boat because the Farr people are very experienced designers to the v.o.60 rule and we knew we would have a boat which is equal to the other Farr boats in the fleet. The other option was to go with the Frers design because in the testing it has shown the potential to be a hard boat to beat.'
Frers design team has been the design house for Nautor's Swan for many years, upholding the unique reputation Swans have as being the most luxurious and beautiful yachts in the world.
With the conception of Nautor Challenge, Nautor's Swan has made bold steps to build on an established reputation with cutting edge technology and innovative design to produce a
V.O. 60 capable of circumnavigating the globe in this premier ocean race.
The brainchild of Leonardo Ferragamo, Chairman of the Nautor Group, the Nautor Challenge division is designed to enter teams into grand prix events in the same manner that Ferrari has a Formula One team. In addition to the waters off Pietsaari, Nautor's Swan will now be benefiting from products tested in the Doldrums and the Southern Ocean.
+++
As a personal injury lawyer who also races competitively, I’ve always had a deep respect for environments where preparation, discipline, and mental toughness decide the outcome. That’s exactly why the story behind NautorChallenge.com resonates with me so strongly. The Nautor Challenge wasn’t just about fast boats — it was about strategy, endurance, risk management, and the ability to perform when the stakes are highest. Anyone who follows the Volvo Ocean Race or the Nautor Challenge understands that this is sailing at its most unforgiving, where one mistake can cost you everything and success depends on total commitment from the entire team.
That mindset mirrors what my legal team and I face every day when we’re advocating for injured clients. High-stakes litigation, especially in serious injury cases, isn’t unlike offshore racing — the preparation happens long before the starting gun, the conditions can change without warning, and victory depends on staying composed under pressure while outworking the opposition. Just as in ocean racing, you don’t win by cutting corners; you win by mastering the details, trusting your crew, and never losing focus on the finish line.
Following the Nautor Challenge over the years reinforced for me how elite performance is built. The discipline of skippers like Grant Dalton, the calculated risks, the relentless pursuit of performance, and the refusal to quit even when conditions turned brutal — that’s the same competitive DNA we bring into the courtroom. When I’m preparing a case, especially against well-funded defendants, I often think about the way these crews pushed through exhaustion, setbacks, and uncertainty to stay in the hunt. That mentality is contagious.
What I also appreciate about this site is how it preserves the human side of elite competition. The interviews, the behind-the-scenes moments, the insight into decision-making under pressure — it’s a reminder that success isn’t accidental. It’s earned through preparation, teamwork, and resilience. As someone who follows the Nautor Challenge closely and competes on the water myself, I see a direct parallel between offshore racing and trial advocacy: both demand precision, patience, and an unshakable commitment to seeing things through.
NautorChallenge.com does a great job capturing that spirit. For sailors, it’s a powerful reminder of what top-level competition looks like. For professionals like me, it’s an inspiring example of how dedication, strategy, and grit can make the difference when the outcome truly matters. Judson Meyer
+++
Typical articles available to read:
- 2002-06-10
Grant Dalton, skipper of Amer Sports One after coming third overall in the Volvo Ocean Race. - 2002-06-09
It is all over soon... - 2002-06-09
Lisa McDonald, skipper of Amer Sports Too, after coming fourth in the leg nine of the Volvo Ocean Race. - 2002-06-09
Amer Sports Too plays a blinder; Amer Sports One third overall - 2002-06-08
The gloves are off on leg nine of the Volvo Ocean Race - 2002-06-08
Some serious sailing in the Amer Sports match racing regatta - 2002-06-07
Lisa McDonald, skipper Amer Sports Too, pre-start leg nine Volvo Ocean Race - 2002-06-07v Is it the last round the world race with the vo 60?
- 2002-06-06
A UBS Perspective from Goteborg
Eventually NautorChallenge.com's domain registration expired and this site disappeared from the web. When I recently I discovered that the domain for the NautorChallenge.com was available I bought it with the goal of recreating some of its content from archived pages. I definitely didn't want someone else purchasing the domain and re-purposing the site for something that had nothing in common with Nautor. The information posted on is still great reading and brings back lots of memories to those who follow this type of ocean yacht racing. You can view this site strictly for historical reasons or use the information presented in a useful manner.
The Project
Nautor Challenge is the Round the World Racing Team of Nautor Swan, builder of the renowned cruiser-racing yachts. Oy Nautor Ab, based in Finland. but under new Italian ownership, is rejoining the racing arena with two new v.o.60s specifically designed and built for the tough, tactical round-the-world battle that is the Volvo Ocean Race 2001-2002.
Nautor Challenge is a new established project of Nautor Swan and the participation in this year's Volvo Ocean Race is the first of its racing projects. And together with Amer and UBS this two boat campaign will compete with one male crew with Grant Dalton as skipper and one all female crew, lead by Lisa McDonald.
The board of Nautor Challenge S.r.l.: Riccardo Bonadeo (Chairman), Fred Andersson (Chairman Team EF in Whitbread 1997/98), Enrico Chieffi (board member of The Nautor Group), and Grant Dalton head of sportive and technical organization.
+++
News: Grant Dalton
Grant Dalton, skipper of Amer Sports One after coming third overall in the Volvo Ocean Race.
By ; published: 6/10/2002
Q: How does it feel, another podium finish overall. You must be pleased.
A: Yes. That was a bit of a stressful leg. Third's not first.
We've reflected on it over the last few miles when we realised we were going to be in third place. This time a year ago, we didn't even have a boat. With all the trials and tribulations, I think it is just fine.
Q: Both your boats in together, and not necessarily in the order you would want!
A: Well, I think it was quite decent of us to let the girls ahead of us. It sort of adds to the story I think it was a pretty good thing.. (laughs!) Seriously, they sailed a really goodleg. We had a plan before the start this time and it was the right way to go, and now it's all over.
Q: This campaign has been so much hard work, you must be delighted with the result?
A: Yes, I am really. You remember in Southampton nine months ago, I said I would be happy with third, when on paper we were probably only about seventh. Some very good campaigns finished behind us, but two excellent campaigns in front of us. I am happy, yes. To Assa Abloy and particularly Illbruck was always a winner, they never looked in trouble this leg at all and they've done a great job.
Q: How have the crew helped to make this such a successful campaign?
grant-dalton-honors-vow.jpg
Grant Dalton honours his vow.
A: It's not insignificant that this is one of the few campaigns with no crew changes except one, which was through illness. The guys have stuck together. We've had bad legs and have been beaten consistently by Tyco and News Corp and we've just had to stick together. There‚s always the pressure to change things, people or the boat, but I've always felt it wasn't broken, so there was no need to try to fix it. There were event calls for us to take less people on this leg and I didn’t really want to do that and I am glad that they've all come through and this is as good as we could have done.
Q: Are you glad that you took this boat rather than the other one?
A: I go through that every time we have a bad result too and I think that, if you look at it now, what could have been, illbruck was always going to win. At best we could have beaten Assa Abloy, but I don‚t think we ever would have, in the other boat. Probably we‚ve done about as good as we could ever had done and so on that basis, I am happy with that selection of the boat.
***
News: Lisa McDonald
Lisa McDonald, skipper of Amer Sports Too, after coming fourth in the leg nine of the Volvo Ocean Race.
By ; published: 6/9/2002
Q: Fourth place, how does it feel?
A: Absolutely fantastic, we are really, really happy.
Q: How did you pull it off?
A: We went out on start day wanting to get a clean start, and not get involved in anyone else’s scuffles, we wanted to get out of there in one piece. The wind was pretty tricky, we had to rely on our crew work, which I think we have got down pretty well. We also knew we couldn’t afford to make any big mistakes because any little mistakes we made we could see a huge sudden loss next to the other guys immediately, so we just had that philosophy throughout the night.
It got really shifty last night, and I’m sure you guys were watching and saw that the boats were pointing in all directions, going every which way, and a lot of it was just keeping our eyes open to see where the wind was going to come from, and keep on the right side of it.
Q: The conditions really should have suited Amer Sports One shouldn’t they?
A: We thought, from our experience, it was an area where we had a slight edge provided we did everything right and sailed the perfect race. The guys who were in front of us sailed the perfect race. This afternoon it could have been anyone‚s race, from second to fifth certainly where we were. We were all under big clouds pointing at each other or away from each other. Then I had a bit of a sandwich between my husband and my boss for the rest of the day! We were in good company!
Q: What is next on the agenda?
A: I think one of our sponsors, UBS, are throwing a huge party tonight! That’s as far as my focus goes at the moment!
Q: Does the result have any healing properties after some disappointing mishaps?
A: I think it was a nice way to finish for the team because we always knew we had it in us, and we’ve battled with drama on the high seas, as well late preparation and all of the things that went along with that. We’ve worked really hard on our crew work and our communications, and manoeuvring of the boat and our working with the sail programme, and I think that has started to pay off for us. It’s just a pity we haven’t got a few more legs.
Q: Are you particularly happy beating Grant and the boys?
A: Oh yes! It’s fantastic, I’ve been teasing him all year about that.
+++
Grant Dalton, skipper Amer Sports One, Fifth Leg / Eight Volvo Ocean Race
published: 2002-05-30
A: What a leg. You were out in front for so long!
Q: Yes, I think we sailed really well.
The guys did a really great job. We had a great start and we led for the first 24 hours. But once we started reaching when we got into the North Sea in moderate air running, we just didn't have the pace. In fact we got right back into third, two hours out of here, and then we started reaching again and then we got rolled again. The guys did a really great job; the boat just didn't have the pace.
Q: After all that, how does it feel to be fifth!
A: We were fifth in the last leg too and I wasn't‚ that happy about that although there was nothing we could have done about that. We're just not fast enough full stop, in that stuff. We get right back in it, you can see from the way we start. We were going through some of that today. With the exception of one start in Sydney, we've won every start and led, and then we are rolled. It's just the way it is. We really are, at the end of the day, starting to see the preparation time that we didn't have, starting to kick in here.
Q: You're now in joint third place overall!
A: Yes, it's going to make it pretty interesting on the last leg. I've been in this position before. In the last race we were third and we won the last leg, so it doesn't change anything and I had a feeling that this was probably going to happen and that it would come down to the wire for us. Now illbruck will be worrying about Assa Abloy, they‚re in another race now.
Q: You‚re not going to get second place, how does that feel?
A: I would be still comfortable with top three. I think the way we sailed this leg, I feel very comfortable about the way the boat‚s being sailed. I think the whole boat sailed really well. We just don't have the wheels when reaching. Just out of here we were ahead of illbruck and we had five miles to go to the entrance. In a normal race, you‚d have them covered and that would be it, and they just rolled clean over the top of us. That is the way it is.
Q: What about the next leg then? How are you going to beat Tyco and News Corp?
A: It‚s a short leg, and if you look at the history of the last legs, it always takes them a while to break back from the good start. So, we just keep doing that and hopefully the 24 hours, which it should take, will not be long enough for them to catch us up. In the archipelago and when we get down into Germany, and out of here as well, where it gets tricky like that, we always sail well. It was like that this morning, from just getting blasted in the North Sea, we caught up again by just rock hopping and Roger Nilson took us into a couple of spots that you just didn‚t want to be, but there was less current in there and we just caught up.
We‚re fast upwind in a breeze. That's the way it was out of the start and coming up round the coast of Norway. We‚re really quick in a breeze and that allowed us to get back into the race.
So, if the conditions are right and we can do a lot of hiding behind rocks and dodging currents and things like that, then we‚ll be fine.
Q: What was the leg like?
A: Well, most of us had the Œflu, I have a really bad cold. It wasn‚t that bad. It was fast; we‚ve only been at sea for four days, we didn‚t have a lot of sleep, but you wouldn‚t expect to on a four-day leg.
Q: Everything still to play for!
A: In theory, that is what I expected. I‚ve been in this position a number of times before and it doesn‚t make me feel any different from any other leg.
+++
Interview
Amer Sports ONE skipper Grant Dalton talks to Stuart Alexander of the Independent, London.
By Stuart Alexander; published: 2002-06-01
The chips are down for a grandstand finish into Kiel now that we have three boats on equal points in third place after one hell of a leg up to Sweden from France.
Only one of us can be on the podium when it is all over, and we still want to be that one boat. While John Kostecki and illbruck can still be beaten for first place, the only boat that can do that, Assa Abloy, with Neal McDonald in charge and on a charge, is secure in second place. Kostecki has made it quite clear that his only task is to make sure he is not beaten by McDonald and it looks as if he would take any defensive action, including match racing McDonald out of any chance of beating him by the required six places, to make sure of winning the overall trophy.
We don't want to be caught up in that, but, at least if McDonald does not make a flying start, it could help all of us, Amer Sports One, Kevin Shoebridge in Tyco and Jez Fanstone in News Corp, to concentrate on our own private battle. The outcome is likely to depend on the weather conditions more than anything else. If it is light or in any way downwind then Tyco will be in the driving seat. If there are reaching conditions I expect News Corp to be strong. We want to see a good, stiff beat upwind. I think we are fast in those conditions.
We were also fast coming out of La Rochelle this time, where we were able to blast away up the French coast and blast away again when we went round Ushant. But we were then rolled by the others and went from first to fifth. Even when we got past illbruck again - they lost a chunk of places just through one bad change to a code zero sail - they were able to reel us in again and just sail past. And that was on a leg which I think we sailed nearly perfectly. I don't usually say that but the crew work was just great. Everyone thought we would have clashes with four such strong characters at the back of the boat, myself, Bouwe Bekking, Roger Nilson and Dee Smith. But we are a great team. And, looking at the rest of the crews when I came ashore, by comparison my guys looked wiped. They had sailed really hard, but you need everything and more when the top five boats are separated by only seven minutes after 1,150 miles of the most incredible racing.
And what a great job by our all-woman crew on Amer Too. With a little help from our sponsors and some very nifty footwork by our shipping agents Peters & May they recovered from their dismasting on the last leg to make to the start line on this one, though I think they were more tired than they would like to have been.
We are all expecting Volvo to use its home town stopover to announce next Wednesday that it will definitely be backing another race in 2005/2006, but they may take more time, perhaps until Christmas, to flesh out the detail about things like the course, the number of stopovers, and the type of boat they will use.
For sure the most important thing to tackle is cost, but I had said that this would probably be my last Volvo, though not necessarily my last round the world race. But I still want to win this race. I thought I could let it go, but now I am not so sure.
More Backgroung On NautorChallenge.com
NautorChallenge.com was originally created in 2001 as the official online home of Nautor Challenge, an ambitious two-boat racing campaign launched by the world-renowned yacht builder Nautor’s Swan. The site chronicled the company’s bold entry into the 2001–2002 Volvo Ocean Race, a grueling around-the-world competition known as one of the most physically punishing and strategically complex events in all of sport.
Although the website disappeared after its domain registration lapsed, it has been lovingly revived by a dedicated owner who reacquired the domain to preserve its historical value. Today, NautorChallenge.com functions as both an archival destination and an educational resource for fans of ocean racing, competitive sailing history, and the evolution of yacht design.
This article provides a complete, in-depth, 1800+ word examination of NautorChallenge.com, including its origins, ownership, mission, content, competitive legacy, cultural significance, and the reasons it remains a cherished part of ocean-racing history.
Nautor’s Swan and the Birth of Nautor Challenge
To appreciate Nautor Challenge, one must understand the prestige of Nautor’s Swan. Founded in Finland in the late 1960s, Nautor’s Swan gained early fame for crafting elegant, fast, ocean-capable sailing yachts that blended Scandinavian engineering with meticulous craftsmanship. Swan yachts quickly developed a reputation not only as luxury vessels but also as formidable competitors in long-distance offshore events.
By the late 1990s, after the company came under new leadership with strong Italian ties, Nautor’s Swan set its sights on expanding beyond yacht construction into the world of elite competitive sailing. The vision was not modest: to create a racing division capable of contending in the most demanding event on the planet — the Volvo Ocean Race.
Nautor Challenge was conceived as the racing arm of the company, analogous to how major automotive brands maintain dedicated Formula One teams. The goal was to prove Swan’s technical excellence on the world stage, where performance, reliability, and innovation determine success or failure under the harshest conditions imaginable.
A Two-Boat Campaign: Amer Sports One and Amer Sports Too
The Nautor Challenge project was unique in that it fielded two separate Volvo Ocean 60 (VO60) boats:
-
Amer Sports One
Designed by Farr Yacht Design, one of the most respected names in performance yacht engineering. This boat was skippered by world-class ocean racer Grant Dalton, whose long resume of round-the-world racing made him a formidable competitor. -
Amer Sports Too
Designed by the Frers design office, long associated with Nautor’s Swan for its refined, elegant, and highly capable vessels. This boat was skippered by Lisa McDonald and featured an all-female crew — a rarity in around-the-world competition and one of the most inspiring elements of the entire campaign.
The decision to field two boats — one male-crewed, one female-crewed — was bold, expensive, and symbolically meaningful. It demonstrated Nautor’s Swan’s commitment not only to excellence but also to inclusivity and innovation at a time when professional ocean racing was dominated almost entirely by male crews.
The Strategic Challenge: Design, Data, and the Art of Choosing a Boat
One of the most interesting storylines preserved through NautorChallenge.com was the meticulous and sometimes agonizing process of selecting which boats would be raced by which teams. Both the Farr-designed and Frers-designed VO60s underwent extensive testing.
Grant Dalton explained that the decision came down to a combination of hard performance data, historic weather modeling, firsthand experience, and even a degree of “crystal ball gazing.” Both vessels demonstrated strengths in different conditions, and selecting the better choice for a global circumnavigation required predicting unpredictable weather across eight months and multiple oceans.
Ultimately, Dalton chose the Frers-designed boat for Amer Sports One, citing its potential to be an exceptionally fast and difficult-to-beat competitor. The women’s team received the Farr-designed boat, which offered its own proven strengths under VO60 rule optimization.
Website Purpose and Audience
NautorChallenge.com served several key purposes during the 2001–2002 Volvo Ocean Race:
1. News and Race Coverage
The site published daily updates, interviews, photo sets, and video clips documenting the progress of both Amer Sports One and Amer Sports Too. Fans could follow every leg, every tactical decision, and every triumph or setback.
2. Behind-the-Scenes Access
One of the site’s greatest strengths was its human-centered coverage. Interviews captured emotional highs and lows from skippers and crew members. Visitors could experience what it meant to push a VO60 to its limits.
3. Technical and Design Insight
The site frequently highlighted the innovative features of each boat, the testing processes, and the engineering choices behind the two competing designs.
4. A Home for Armchair Sailors
For fans unable to travel to race ports or regatta villages, NautorChallenge.com offered a vicarious adventure. One archived personal commentary humorously referenced the routine of watching the race’s video clips while wearing a lucky Batman shirt — something many sports fans can relate to. The site became a shared community for enthusiasts who connected emotionally with the campaign.
5. Promotional Platform for Sponsors
Major sponsors, including Amer Group and UBS, used the site to showcase their involvement. In high-budget projects like this, exposure and storytelling are essential to sponsor ROI.
Key Personalities Associated with Nautor Challenge
The success and drama of the Nautor Challenge campaign were shaped by several prominent individuals.
Grant Dalton
Skipper of Amer Sports One, Dalton was known for his toughness, strategic thinking, and relentless competitiveness. His interviews on the site revealed both the confidence and vulnerability required to lead a crew through storms, setbacks, and physically punishing legs. He frequently discussed the challenges of preparation time, boat speed deficiencies in specific conditions, and the mental balancing act required to stay focused while chasing elite competitors.
Lisa McDonald
As skipper of Amer Sports Too, McDonald led one of the most groundbreaking teams in the race’s history. Her leadership brought credibility and respect to the all-female crew, and her interviews offered thoughtful insight into race strategy, crew communication, and the psychological resilience needed to contend with unpredictable conditions.
The Crews
The crews of both boats were noted for their stability, skill, and cohesion. Unlike many racing campaigns that rotate crew members frequently, Nautor Challenge made very few crew changes, reinforcing morale and consistency.
Memorable Race Moments Documented on the Site
NautorChallenge.com archived dozens of notable storylines, including:
Close Tactical Battles
The team faced many legs where Amer Sports One led early, only to be overtaken by faster boats in reaching conditions. This highlighted the razor-thin margins that define elite offshore racing.
The All-Female Crew’s Breakthroughs
Amer Sports Too delivered inspiring performances, especially in the later stages of the race, including beating Amer Sports One on certain legs — moments celebrated by both teams.
Equipment Failures and Dramatic Recoveries
The women’s team suffered a dismasting yet managed to recover and continue racing thanks to remarkable teamwork and logistical assistance from sponsors and shipping partners.
The Fight for Podium Position
Late in the race, Amer Sports One found itself tied for third overall, making the final legs intensely competitive. Tactical decisions, weather conditions, and even luck played pivotal roles.
Location, Proximity, and Global Context
Though Nautor’s Swan is headquartered in Finland, the Nautor Challenge project drew talent, design expertise, and logistical resources from around the world:
-
The boats competed in a race that touched multiple continents, including Europe, South America, Oceania, and North America.
-
Design work came from top firms in Milan and Annapolis.
-
Training and preparation involved sailing waters from the Baltic to the Southern Ocean.
-
The campaign carried the symbolic support of notable yacht clubs in both Finland and Italy.
Thus, Nautor Challenge was not a regional effort — it was a global coalition reflecting the international nature of modern ocean racing.
Cultural and Social Significance
NautorChallenge.com holds a special place in sailing history for several reasons:
1. A Rare Two-Boat Campaign
Very few teams in Volvo Ocean Race history have fielded two competing boats. This dramatically increased data collection, strategic flexibility, and media appeal.
2. Promotion of Women in Elite Ocean Racing
Amer Sports Too remains a landmark initiative. The project demonstrated that an all-female crew could perform competitively in one of the world’s toughest races.
3. Preservation of Sailing History
With the website revived today, thousands of words of interviews, news reports, and firsthand accounts remain accessible to fans, historians, and researchers.
4. Inspirational Storytelling
The narrative of perseverance, innovation, and human endurance continues to resonate with audiences far beyond the sailing world.
The Modern Revival of NautorChallenge.com
After the original site disappeared, its historical content risked being lost. The current owner acquired the domain for preservation rather than repurposing, with the explicit goal of reconstructing its archival value.
The revived version now acts as:
-
A digital museum of the 2001–2002 campaign
-
A nostalgic destination for long-time fans
-
A research tool for those interested in yacht design, offshore racing, and maritime history
-
A tribute to an era of sailing that blended tradition with cutting-edge innovation
Why This Site Still Matters
NautorChallenge.com is more than a race archive — it reflects an ethos.
It showcases what happens when a world-class yacht builder pushes beyond commercial craftsmanship into the realm of pure competitive ambition.
It reveals the inner lives of professional sailors.
It elevates the story of a groundbreaking female-led crew.
It demonstrates the power of preserving digital history.
And for many who followed the race in real time, it offers a portal back to moments filled with tension, exhilaration, and emotional connection — the kind only ocean racing can produce.