Volvo Ocean Race: Team profiles

Six yachts are competing in the 2011/12 Volvo Ocean Race. Here is more about the five entrants to do battle against Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, which include two from Spain, one from France, one from China and one from the United States. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing

Sponsor country: UAE
Boat name: Azzam
Design: Farr Yacht Design (US)
Builder: Persico (Italy)
Skipper: Ian Walker, England (one previous Volvo race; fifth as skipper on Green Dragon in 2007/08)
Crew: navigator Jules Salter, watch leaders Craig Satterthwaite and Rob Greenhalgh, helmsman/trimmers Justin Ferris, Simon Fisher and Andrew Lewis, bowman Justin Slattery, bowman/boat captain Wade Morgan, UAE crew member Adil Khalid, media crew member Nick Dana, reserve sailor Paul Willcox, reserve UAE crew member Butti Al Muhairi
Crew experience: 13 combined Volvo Ocean Races
Most experience: Satterthwaite, 3

Camper / Emirates Team New Zealand

Sponsor country: Spain
Boat name: Camper
Designers: Marcelino Botin (Spain) and Emirates New Zealand Design Team
Builder: Cookson Boats (New Zealand)
Skipper: Chris Nicholson, New Zealand (three previous Volvo races, all as watch captain; third in 2001/02, sixth in 2005/06, second in 2008/09)
Crew: co-skipper/watch captain Stu Bannatyne, navigator Will Oxley, helmsman trimmers Tony Rae, Roberto Bermudez, Rob Salthouse and Adam Minoprio, co-navigator/pitman Andrew McLean, bowman Daryl Wislang, bowman/boat captain Mike Pammeter, media crew member Hamish Hooper
Crew experience: 23 combined Volvo Ocean Races
Most experience: Bannatyne,5

Groupama

Sponsor country: France
Boat name: Groupama 4
Designer: Juan Kouyoumdjian (Spain)
Builder: Multiplast (France)
Skipper: Franck Cammas, France (first Volvo race)
Crew: navigator Jean-Luc Nelias, helmsman/trimmers Thomas Coville, Erwan Israel, Damien Foxall, Charles Caudrelier, Phil Harmer, pitman Martin Stromberg, bowman Brad Marsh, bowman/boat captain Martin Krite, trimmer/pitman Sebastien Marsset, media crew member Yann Riou, second media crew member Jacques Caraes, reserve navigator/bowman Bruno Jeanjean
Crew experience: 10 combined Volvo Ocean Races
Most experience: Foxall, 3

Puma Ocean Racing

Sponsor country: United States
Boat name: Mar Mostro
Designer: Juan Yacht Design (Spain)
Builders: New England Boatworks (US) and Customline Yachts (Australia)
Skipper: Ken Read, United States (two previous Volvo races; second as skipper on Puma in 2008/09).
Crew: navigator Tom Addis, watch captain Brad Jackson, watch captain/aerodynamics Tony Mutter, helmsman/inshore tactician Kelvin Harrap, pitman Ryan Godfrey, helmsman/trimmers Rome Kirby and Jonathan Swain, bowmen Casey Smith and Michi Muller, media member Amory Ross.
Crew experience: 21 combined Volvo Ocean Races.
Most experience: Jackson, 5.

Team Sanya

Sponsor country: China
Boat name: Sanya Lan
Designer: Farr Yacht Design (US)
Builder: King Marine (Spain) and Refit Hamble Yacht Services (UK)
Skipper: Mike Sanderson, New Zealand (two previous Volvo races; first as skipper on ABN Amro 1 in 2005/06, first as trimmer on NZ Endeavor in 1993/94)
Crew: navigator Aksel Magdahl, watch leaders Cameron Dunn and Chris Main, helmsman/trimmers Richard Mason, David Swete and Ryan Houston, bowman/boat captain Andy Meiklejohn, bowman/trimmers Bert Schandevyl and Teng Jiang He, media member Andres Soriano.
Crew experience: 11 combined Volvo Ocean Races
Most experience: Sanderson and Mason, 3 each.

Team Telefonica

Sponsor country: Spain
Boat name: Telefonica
Designer: Juan Kouyoumdjian (Spain)
Builder: King Marine (Spain)
Skipper: Iker Martinez, Spain (two previous Volvo races; sixth as tactician on Movistar in 2005/06, third as skipper on Telefonica Blue in 2008/09).
Crew: navigator Andrew Cape, watch leaders Neal McDonald and Joao Signorini, boat captain Pepe Ribes, trimmer Xabi Fernandez, helmsman/sail coordinator Jordi Calafat, helmsman Pablo Arrarte, bowmen Zane Gills and Antonio Cuervas-Mons, media member Diego Fructuoso
Crew experience: 20 combined Volvo Ocean Races
Most experience: Cape and McDonald, 4 each


Previous Volvo Ocean Races

Race Winning yacht Skipper

1973-74 Sayula II Ramon Carlin
1977-78 Flyer Conny van Rietschoten
1981-82 Flyer Conny van Rietschoten
1985-86 L'Esprit d'Equipe Lionel Pean
1989-90 Steinlager 2 Peter Blake
1993-94 NZ Endeavour Grant Dalton
1997-98 EF Language Paul Cayard
2001-02 Illbruck Challenge John Kostecki
2005-06 ABN Amro I Mike Sanderson
2008-09 Ericsson 4 Torben Grael

Scoring system and standings after in-port race in Alicante

• Each leg is worth 30 points to the winner, 25 for second, 20 for third, 15 for fourth, 10 for fifth and 5 for sixth.
• Each in-port race is worth 6 points to the winner, 5 for second, 4 for third, 3 for fourth, 2 for fifth and 1 for sixth.
• Overall winner is the team with the highest point total.


Standings (after in-port race)
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing 6
Puma Ocean Racing 5
Camper/Emirates Team NZ 4
Team Sanya 3
Groupama Sailing Team 2
Team Telefonica 1