HiQ Sailing Team aims for a new record

HiQ celebrates 20 years on the stock market by trying to break the Gotland Runt sailing competition record. Again. 
“Eleven years ago, we beat the speed record around Gotland with trimaran HiQ III. Now we’re also aiming to break the monohull record with the HiQ IV,” says Erik Ridman, Head of Communications at HiQ.

HiQ is since long a successful competitor at the offshore racing scene with the sailing project HiQ Sailing Team. HiQ’s well-known 60-foot trimaran was one of the world’s fastest sailboats, beating several records over the years. The Team’s most spectacular record was Gotland Runt 2008, where HiQ sailed two laps in 39 hours, 25 minutes and 43 seconds, an average speed of 14.38 knots. A record that still stands. 

But HiQ would not be HiQ if we did not jump right into exciting challenges once again. Our venture into the ÅF Offshore Race 2019, which is what the competition is now called, will be with the boat HiQ IV, which is one of eight VO65s in the world that have participated in the legendary Volvo Ocean Race. The record for monohull boats is from 2017 when the 100-foot CQS sailed around Gotland at an average speed of 11.17 knots. So, that is the record HiQ is now chasing. 

“Sailing is something we have in our blood at HiQ, and you can draw many parallels to sailing when it comes to working at HiQ. Winning requires teamwork, responsibility and focus as well as having fun. Sometimes you have to take a reef in because it’s blowing too hard. Sometimes you have to stay still in the boat. And sometimes you just have to ease for speed. It’s all about advanced technology, calculations, systems and data. Just like at HiQ,” says Lars Stugemo, President and CEO of HiQ. 

For HiQ, there are many reasons to get into sailing again. And with a long list of previous records, the expectations is set high. 

“I’m really thrilled that HiQ is back on the yacht racing course. We have now started preparing the boat and put together a crew that will win this for us. We’re looking both in Sweden as well as internationally to form a team that is as competitive as possible. More about that will follow a bit further on”, says Erik Ridman, Head of Communications at HiQ.

The ÅF Offshore Race starts 30 June. The VO65 boat HiQ IV arrives in Stockholm 28 June.

“The race starts right outside our new main office window, in the city centre of Stockholm, giving our employees the opportunity to see the start from the front row. When we sail the boat from the Netherlands, we’ll also stop in Gothenburg, Malmö and Karlskrona, which is perfect as our employees and clients there gets the chance to take a closer look at a VO65 yacht,” says Lars Stugemo, President and CEO of HiQ. 

For more information, please contact:
Erik Ridman, Head of Communications HiQ, tel: +46 70-750 80 60, e-mail: erik.ridman@hiq.se
Pelle Norberg, project manager HiQ Sailing Team, tel: 070-812 95 56

Facts: HiQ Sailing Team’s successful years

2008
New record Gotland Runt
Broke all Scandinavian and Nordic records
“Line Honour”, that is, the first boat across the finish line in all races that the boat took part in

2007
First place Gotland Runt
Speed record Helsinki-Tallinn
Speed record Tjörn Runt

2006
First place Nokia Oops Cup
First place Faerder Race
Second place Gotland Runt

2005
Third place Nokia Oops Cup
Third place Gotland Runt
Second place Faerder Race
Second place Själland Runt
New speed record Lidingö Runt
New speed record Gotland Runt

2004
Second place Nokia Oops Cup
Second place Gotland Runt
Second place Faerder Race
Second place Själland Runt

2003
First place Nokia Oops Cup
First place Gotland Runt
First place Faerder Race
First place Själland Runt
New speed record Faerder Race
New speed record Själlan Runt 

HiQ helps to make the world a better place by making people’s lives simpler through technology, design and communication. We are the perfect partner for everyone eager to achieve results that make a difference in a digital world. Founded in 1995, HiQ has over 1,600 specialists in four countries and is listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm Mid Cap list. For more information and inspiration, please visit www.hiq.se