A Beneteau 34.7 owned by Nick Jones has been fully equipped with all the latest in marine technology thanks to a new ambassador agreement with leading marine electronics manufacturer Raymarine. The boat started the season in top form winning the IRC3 class in the first race of the Raymarine Warsash Spring Series.

The Beneteau 34.7 Astarte – named after the ancient Phoenician great goddess of fertility, motherhood, and war – is jointly owned by 30 year old Nick Jones, his fiancé Suzi Lawicka and father Glen Jones. The boat is equipped with the latest electronics, navigation, communication and safety equipment from Raymarine, making it a showboat for this popular class, and illustrating the equipment available to similarly sized racing and cruising boats.

Astarte is fitted with ST290 instruments that provide big, bold visuals and super fast data, which is networked on board via Raymarine’s SeaTalk² technology. The ST290 remote keypad, gives complete remote control of the ST290 Graphic and Data displays, enabling vital data to be displayed and changed at the touch of a button from anywhere on deck. Also on board is the C series multifunction display and chartplotter, Ray54E VHF, Raystar 125GPS and S1G autopilot.

A key safety feature on Astarte is the Raymarine LifeTag Man overboard system. This personal wireless alarm is designed to alert the crew if a person falls overboard, and can also be networked into the Raymarine C series multifunction display and ST290 instruments to give an instant man overboard position.

Nick Jones says, “The equipment we have specified is designed to help us get the best out of the boat when racing and cruising. Having up to the minute, accurate data at the touch of a button is vital when doing close tactics, but key safety equipment such as the LifeTag will be particularly relevant when we are cruising or sailing short-handed.”

Astarte has a full programme of racing and events lined up for 2007 continuing with the Raymarine Warsash Spring Series, followed by the Red Funnel Easter Regatta, the IRC Nationals, JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, and the Royal Dartmouth Regatta. She has a full racing crew of top sailors including Jez Rowles from Spinlock doing tactics, and North Sail’s Neil Mackley with Suzi Lawicka on trim, Stuart Greenfield, and Nick Jones helming and father Glenn Jones navigating.