Volvo Ocean Race Leg 3 - Crew change onboard Dongfeng
by Dongfeng Race Team on 31 Dec 2014
Dongfeng Press Conference Abu Dhabi - Image from the Dongfeng press conference held on the 30th December in Abu Dhabi to announce the race crew for Leg Three - Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15. Yann Riou / Dongfeng Race Team
For the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 Leg 3 Dongfeng Race Team announce new crew line-up, a new fourth Chinese sailor, addition of an under 30 solo sailor, and a replacement OBR for next leg.
As it stands, against all odds, the Chinese team in the Volvo Ocean Race have exceeded expectations to position themselves in joint first place on points with Team Brunel and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing.
What does this mean?
It means the Dongfeng Race Team are capable of contending with the best.
What doesn’t this mean?
This is a long race and with seven more legs and another 26,127 nautical miles to go, assuming anything and probably everything can and will happen! First of all Charles must manage a significant change of crew, with three of the nine sailors for leg three coming onboard for the first time.
Dongfeng Race Team have overcome adversity on many occasions (broken rudder, broken pad-eye, damaged mast…) all the while continuing to push forward with the long term sporting mission of training Chinese rookies from leg to leg, often replacing one Chinese sailor with another to ensure equal experience, which most expected would have a greater negative effect on performance.
It goes without saying that had Dongfeng Race Team perhaps replaced their Chinese rookie sailors with professional western sailors then they would have a stronger team in terms of experience and potentially performance, but that is not the point of this project. 'If we had an all professional crew we would simply be a western project with Chinese money. That is not who we are and not what we’re about,' states Team Director, Bruno Dubois. 'We could have also just trained two guys and kept them onboard for each leg – but we know we have to widen the base of experience amongst the Chinese sailors, and that won’t happen by leaving them onshore. So it’s on the job training…'
Cheng Ying Kit (also referred to as Kit) will sail onboard Dongfeng for the first time in the race in Leg Three and will accompany his friend and colleague Liu Xue (Black), star performer on leg two, in what will be an important leg for the team as they head to their home country, China. Kit will be the fourth Chinese sailor to sail with the team since the race started back in October. Kit is also the most advanced in terms of technical knowledge amongst the Chinese selected for the Dongfeng 12 strong squad – and harbours the ambition, and potential, to manage a future Chinese campaign as Technical Manager. Sailing on the race will give him a vital piece of experience required to do that job well in the future.
'You know for two legs I have been working in the shore team and I’ve been happy, learning and living so much, I never expected to be on the boat. So when Charles told me, just before Christmas it was like the perfect early Christmas present, the best one. I am going to live my dream and I finally get to sail on the boat we have worked so hard to maintain and prepare!' said Kit.
One result of Kit joining for this Sanya bound leg, as he is the one Chinese squad member over 30, means that it has given Charles Caudrelier both the challenge and opportunity to bring onboard dual nationality Brit and Australian Jack Boutell. A product of the OC Sport managed Artemis Offshore Academy, Jack is one of the few non-French to have competed in La Solitaire du Figaro – something valued highly by Charles and the other western crew who have all but one competed in this cherished solo French race. To allow these changes to occur Swedish sailor Martin Strömberg will step down for this leg but will return for Leg Four.
'I’m personally very happy to have Kit onboard, he has been a big brother to the Chinese guys during their journey into offshore sailing and he brings the best out in the crew,' explains Skipper, Charles Caudrelier. _'He has been instrumental in the progress of this project because he played a key part as the link between the western sailors and the non English-speaking Chinese sailors at the beginning of the project. I am also excited to welcome Jack Bouttell into the team, this is a really exciting moment for him and I’m glad we could be the ones to give him the opportunity.'
As part of the long term sporting mission of bringing offshore sailing to China, this team are determined to teach and train as many Chinese rookies as possible, even if it can certainly be a compromise on performance as the crew start a new rookie on the steep Volvo Ocean Race learning curve. However, this is critical in order to lay the ground for a more long-term future for China in the world of offshore racing, both in terms of sporting legacy and sponsorship opportunities.
The lack of experience of the Chinese sailors puts constant extra pressure on the western sailors who often have to over-compensate and then, on top of this, find the time and energy to mentor. Crew changes (as any sports team will tell you) can also risk altering the spirit but this is a risk the team have decided to take in their quest to work towards the long-term goal. Today it was announced that the final crew for Leg Three would be: Charles Caudrelier, Pascal Bidégorry, Eric Peron, Thomas Rouxel, Jack Bouttell, Kevin Escoffier, Liu Xue (Black), Cheng Ying Kit (Kit) and Sam Greenfield (Onboard Reporter).
An unexpected change for the team was that of the Onboard Reporter. Due to extremely unfortunate personal circumstances at home, Yann Riou will miss leg three – he will be sorely missed by the team. Sam Greenfield, one of the star Volvo Ocean Race cameramen and editors, will replace him for the leg to Sanya. 'We are really sad to not have Yann with us at this time but we know it’s not possible,' says Caudrelier.
'Looking ahead to Sanya I have a good feeling about this leg. Most people don’t understand but 10 months ago these guys discovered offshore sailing, they have been training all this time and now they will come home to China to share their experience with their country. I know we can expect a great reception but I hope we will do China proud because this is our home leg, it’s where is all started.'
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