Norway's King Harald has always contributed to the Norwegian sailing community with both passion and numerous Fram campaigns. Now he has lent his Fram XV, Farr 51, to a young guns project called NORsteam. NORsteam will sail its first regatta in the ORC International Class in Faerderseilasen this weekend. Al lot of young Norwegian sailors has been introduced to the international big boat sailing arena onboard King Harald and his Fram campaigns. Now the sailing monarch has lent his Farr 51 to the Norwegian Sailing Federations project NORsteam.

NORsteam is a project that shall train and inspire young Norwegian sailors to step out in to the international sailing arena. Norwegian sailors has often brought home medals from the Olympics but on the big boat arena there has been only Knut Frostad, Espen Guttormsen and their friends who has dominated the arena.

NORsteam aims to change this.Færderseilasen is the first big project for the young guns project. The 51 footer will sail with a mixed crew of experienced Fram-crew, skippered by Thomas Nilsson, and six young sailors: Magnus Mørk (20), Didrik Godaker (21), Christian Juell (20), Petter Hessen (23), Christoffer Gundersen (24), and Stian Tuv (20). Gundersen has just received his Olympic ticket for the 49er class together with Frode Bovim.

"We are going to use the same model for training in this big boat project as we have done with our Olympic program. We are most grateful to the king for his support in this project. This has really given us a kick start and we hope to train young sailors that can get in to regattas as Volvo Ocean Race, World Match Racing Tour, Farr 40 and alike", says Paal K. Fevang, project manager NORsteam.

NORsteam will compete in the ORC International Class in Faerderseilasen which starts June 13th. Faerderseilasen is the biggest overnight regatta in the world with nearly 1200 participating boats that sails from the capital Oslo to Horten south in the Oslofjord.