Camper Volvo 70 by Emirates Team New Zealand

Touch of Gloss has been contracted to paint the Camper Volvo 70 project managed by Emirates Team New Zealand.

Designed by ETNZ's in house team of Marcello Botin and structural engineer Giovanni Belgrano, and built at the world renown Cookson Boats, the finish is in Durepox in 5 striking colours that wrap around the entire hull. The request is for a Super-yacht finish for a Grand Prix round the world race yacht.

Weight is a critical issue on all race yachts but none more so than that of a Volvo 70. Class rules stipulate a maximum all up hull + keel weight with a maximum weight for the keel. The objective is to build the hull as light as possible whilst maintaining structural integrity and have the keel at maximum weight so as to achieve the most righting moment. More righting moment = more power = faster boat!

Our objective at Touch of Gloss was to have a great finish using as little paint as possible. The volume of paint TOG's expert sprayers used was considerably less than what the Team NZ designers had allowed for. 

TOG has greatly exceeded expectations of those involved for finish and schedule.

The departure from Cookson Boats was the first opportunity to see the yacht’s full graphic design. Her striking graphics are from by leading British studio Farrow.  Their projects have gained worldwide acclaim, and creative director Mark Farrow is considered to be one of the most important graphic designers working today.

The graphic design of a 70ft ocean going yacht is a massive departure for a studio best known for contemporary music packaging.

Mark Farrow says: “This is an amazing project and one of those that, as a team of graphic designers, you dream of being involved in.  To be given a canvas of a hundred foot tall masts and a seventy-foot carbon- fibre boat is very, very special!  In Camper we have found a creative kindred spirit who has been totally receptive to our ideas and who has pushed us creatively more than most clients, which is refreshing to say the least.”

Part of the inspiration for the design is taken from “‘dazzle painting”, a paint scheme extensively used on battle ships during World War One. Drawing inspiration from abstract artists, a dazzle ships’ paint work was composed of a complex pattern of geometric shapes, interrupting and intersecting each other.  

Everyone has given 100% to ensure that we have met all our deadlines and have been able to deliver CAMPER on time” commented Emirates Team New Zealand Managing Director Grant Dalton. “To be able to stand back and see the amazing job that they guys have done and now see her in her full livery, is quite humbling.

For more information about Camper see their official website: http://www.camper.com/#/en/volvo-ocean-race/

All photos TOG unless stated.