Volvo Ocean Race – Xabi back at the helm as MAPFRE skipper for leg 8
by Rob Kothe Sail-World.com on 3 Jun 2015
Xabi back at the helm - Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 Francisco Vignale/Mapfre/Volvo Ocean Race
Volvo Ocean Race – Xabi Fernández was today confirmed as MAPFRE’s skipper for leg eight from Lisbon to Lorient when the Spanish team revealed their crew for the 647-nautical mile stage which starts on Sunday.
Xabi will step in for his fellow 2004 Olympic gold medallist, Iker Martínez, who is fulfilling pre-race commitments to train with the Nacra 17 class for the Rio 2016 Games. He would like to be be racing at Weymouth UK next week in the Sailing World Cup event but under the strict ranking system and pre-event qualification system now in place he has not yet qualified for the World Cup events, with his Volvo committments taking precedence.
It will be the fourth time Xabi has stepped in for his long-time sailing partner after taking charge for the third, fourth and sixth legs.
MAPFRE won the fourth stage from Sanya to Auckland with Xabi as skipper.
Although he will not be sailing the leg, Martinez has confirmed he will be contesting the Lisbon In-Port Race on Saturday.
After taking a breather for the seventh leg, Rafa Trujillo (ESP) returns to the MAPFRE crew for the stage to France, expected to be completed after around three days of sailing on Wednesday, June 10.
MAPFRE leg eight crew: Xabi Fernández (ESP), Jean Luc Nélias (FRA), Rob Greenhalgh (GBR), André Fonseca (BRA), Antonio ‘Ñeti’ Cuervas-Mons (ESP), Carlos Hernández (ESP), Willy Altadill (ESP), Rafa Trujillo (ESP). Onboard Reporter – Francisco Vignale (ARG).
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