Telefonica Black crew change for Leg 2

by Volvo Ocean Race media on 12 Nov 2008
Telefonica Black have confirmed that Gonzalo Araujo will replace Francisco Rivero onboard for the leg two of the race to Cochin, India.

Spain’s Araujo, 39, was initially slated to sail the first leg from Alicante, but a back injury on the 2,000-nautical mile qualifier saw him left on the dock.

He is now recalled to act as the team’s third watch captain while Rivero, who sailed the first leg as bowman, has chosen to prepare for the 2010 Barcelona World Race, in which he will team up with Guillermo Altadill.

'It was planned,' said Rivero, who will remain on standby for the team. 'I will be on standby just in case somebody is injured. Besides, I hope to be back in the longest leg of this edition, from China to Rio.

'Gonzalo is a fantastic helmsman and I am pretty sure this crew will be even faster having him as watch captain on board.'

The team finished last into Cape Town after sustaining rudder damage during the first leg, but Araujo believes they are capable of a podium finish.

'We hope to improve our position on the overall standings,' he said. 'I think we can fight for a gap in the podium, but this leg has a completely new course for the whole fleet so in my opinion there will be a nice fight for the first places as we saw during the approaching of the fleet to Fernando de Noronha in the previous leg.'

He added: 'It is a pleasure to be here and sail again with my crewmates, since I have been getting ready for one year and a half. I am recovered from the injury having carried out a strict rehabilitation.'

Skipper Fernando Echavarri paid tribute to Rivero, 44, but believes a structure with three watch captains will strengthen the team.

'In this second leg we will have onboard three watch captains to support Jaime Arbones and Santiago Lange in this position. It was already planned when we left Alicante and that is what we are doing now. The leg from Cape Town to India can be really exciting and we want to be among the best ones'.

He added: 'We will definitely miss him (Rivero). He is a great and really complete sailor. We are relying on him for the coming legs, where his experience in long legs will make the team even stronger.'

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