Olympic medallist at the helm for Team Abu Dhabi

The UAE is steeped in maritime history, so it is fitting that the Abu Dhabi team taking part in the Volvo Ocean Race for the first time next year have selected a captain with impressive international credentials. Ian Walker was an Olympic silver medallist in two classes - dinghy and Star - in 1996 and 2000, respectively. He has also captained his native British team in an America's Cup yacht and is now preparing to play a leading role in his second round the world race.

"There are four peaks in our sport," Walker said from his home in Southampton on the south coast of England. "It's a bit like a tennis grand slam. "I have managed to hit three of them, but there is no chance of me completing the sweep," he said. Why is that? "I don't like myself enough to sail round the world on my own," he said, referring to the fourth leg of the yachting "slam" - the Vendee Globe single-handed race.

Captaining a 10-man crew on a circumnavigation of the globe next year is sufficient to keep Walker's sailing juices flowing. "It's going to be as exciting as anything else I have done in my career and I can't wait for the start," he said.