Welcome to the May issue of At The Front, a monthly digest of top news and stories from the world of Harken.

Contents:

• Opening Thoughts by Bill Goggins, Managing Director Harken USA
• Catching up with Bouwe Bekking, Skipper of Team Brunel
• New Hats from Harken
• Harken Tech Team Asked & Answered: Rebuilding the 150 Cam-Matic Cleat
• Converting Your Winches to Electric

At The Front, it’s Christmas in May!

It’s the last week of April as I write this. And something special is about to happen in the USA. The Volvo Ocean Race fleet is already on the way from Brazil to its US stopover in Rhode Island. It’s expected the boats will arrive on or about May 12th. Now, if this stopover is anything like the last VOR stop in Newport, it will be an amazing spectacle. Last time, in 2015, more than 130,000 people visited the race village during the stopover. The Volvo Ocean Race does a fantastic job creating shore-side spectator experiences. Then there is the in-port race and finally the restart of the race leg to Cardiff. It is completely worth a trip!

We’re proud that Harken is an Official Race Supplier to the VOR. In that capacity, we have been deeply involved with the race’s execution. Harken winches, Battcar mainsail handling systems, traveler equipment and track, blocks and deck hardware have been specified for the fleet of one-design Volvo Ocean-65s in each of the last two laps of the planet. Our colleagues in The Harken Tech Team have been performing tech service and maintenance from the VOR Boatyard at every maintenance stop. If you’ve missed it, check out what we’ve been up to:

Harken will be well represented in Newport when the fleet charges in from Itajai. Some of us will be working on the boats. Some will be entertaining customers. Some will be shooting video and interviewing sailors. But don’t be surprised if you see someone with a Harken name badge standing off to the side just gazing at the boats. When you get down to it, we’re sailors…we’re fans…we’re in awe of the teams and we’re proud of what we do behind the scenes. Good spectating if you come to Newport. And good sailing anytime you hit the water!

Best Regards,

- Bill Goggins, Managing Director Harken USA

Catching up With Bouwe Bekking, Skipper of Team Brunel

Hear from Bouwe Bekking, skipper of Team Brunel in the Volvo Ocean Race, as he reflects on experiences with Harken throughout a storied career.

New Hats for a New Sailing Season

Introducing the Emily Street Retro and Trucker Lennie hats. Freshen up your look for summer!

Emily Street Retro

Throw it back to 1967 with the Emily Street Retro, featuring one of the earliest Harken logos set on a thick embroidered patch. This classic and minimal design pays homage to the first Harken office location in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

Trucker Lennie

The trusty everyday trucker hat is upgraded with the Trucker Lennie, featuring premium cotton construction, soft mesh back, and double thick curved bill.

Live outside the U.S.? Contact your local Harken dealer to get these in your country.

Harken Tech Team Asked & Answered: Rebuilding the 150 Cam-Matic Cleat

Repair your Harken 150 Cam-Matic Cleat with our Rebuild Kit and some guidance from the Tech Team.

Converting Your Winches to Electric

Considering converting your manual winches to electric? Learn everything you need to know from the Harken Tech Team.