Volvo Ocean Race - Team SCA paints their home town magenta

by Team SCA on 23 Jun 2015 Today in Gothenburg, Team SCA crossed the finish line of the final leg in the 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race and, after over 38,000 miles of racing, sailed into their homeport in Sweden.

The rain didn’t dampen the spirits of the crowds that lined the river and dockside for the team’s arrival, where they were greeted by thousands of well-wishers welcoming them home. Today marks the culmination of a project that started almost three years ago when SCA announced their participation with the first all-female team in 12 years.

Speaking after arrival Skipper Sam Davies said: “We are really, really proud of everything we have achieved. What we have done is huge, now we are racing against the best in the world and it’s an incredible feeling to have progressed this far.

It’s the first time we have sailed into Sweden and that’s a pretty proud moment for the whole team. The support is amazing, and here there were people lining the river all the way along with pink flags, banners - even in the rain.'

Team SCA had one aim, to bring female sailors back to the world’s toughest ocean race and to compete at the same level as their male counterparts. It has been over a decade since the race had seen an all-female entry. Earlier this month Team SCA sailed into the history books winning Leg 8, from Lisbon to Lorient by becoming the first all-female team in 25 years to win a leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. Over 200 applicants went through the trial process where a squad of thirteen sailors and two OnBoard Reporters (OBR’s) were selected for the grueling race ahead.

“We finished it, that was a quick nine months, it just flew by. I can remember Alicante like yesterday, it’s not just the race, it’s the whole journey starting in Lanzarote two and a half years ago. Learning the boat, getting to know each other, growing up as a team, as a family. It’s an unforgettable journey. I’m pretty proud to be part of Team SCA, it’s not just an amazing bunch of girls, it’s the coaches, the shore crew, all of the support from SCA. It’s just an unforgettable journey.” Carolijn Brouwer (NED)

“Commercially it has been a great success, we won the race onshore. The fact that the SCA brand was more or less unknown globally as a consumer brand, has changed. Now both clients, investors and employees are talking about SCA as a company that really understands how to build a brand, and they are as well-known as some of their competitors,” commented Richard Brisius, Team SCA Managing Director.

The finish into Gothenburg marks the end of the offshore element of the race, with the InPort standings still to be decided on Saturday June 27. Team SCA will be fighting for a podium spot, as one of only two teams with two InPort Race wins.

Final standings:

1) Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing 24 pts
2) Team Brunel (Netherlands) 29
3) Dongfeng Race Team (China) 33
4=) Team Alvimedica (Turkey/USA) 34 and MAPFRE (Spain) 34
6) Team SCA (Sweden) 51
7) Team Vestas Wind (Denmark) 60