Skipper Simeon Tienpont has unveiled the eight sailors who will join him to represent team AkzoNobel in the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race.
The diverse international line-up features leading professionals from seven nations and includes four past Volvo Ocean Race winners, who between them have claimed six victories – three-time winner Brad Jackson from New Zealand, Chuny Bermudez from Spain, Joca Signorini from Brazil and Jules Salter from Great Britain. "The crew I have chosen blends maturity and experience with youth and vigour”, explained Tienpont, who will be competing in his third Volvo Ocean Race.
Commenting on the announcement, AkzoNobel CEO Ton Büchner said: "The Volvo Ocean Race is a wonderful showcase for the unrivalled quality and high performance of our products, so it’s important this is reflected in the team itself. Simeon has assembled an outstanding mixed crew of real pedigree, which is fully committed to winning together and we are proud to have them on board.”
Work is under way at the Volvo Ocean Race Boatyard facility in Lisbon, Portugal, to fit out and paint team AkzoNobel’s brand new Volvo Ocean 65 yacht. The boat is scheduled to sail for the first time in early June, with an official christening ceremony planned to take place a few weeks later at the team’s base in The Hague, The Netherlands. The team AkzoNobel crew will then begin a period of intense on-the-water training before the eight-month round-the-world race officially starts in Alicante, Spain, on October 22.
