Volvo Ocean Race- Three times Volvo veteran signs on with Mapfre
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com on 13 Nov 2014
The Extreme Sailing Series 2014. Act 2. Muscat. Oman Air skippered Rob Greenhalgh (GBR) with headsail trimer Will Howden (GBR), trimer Tom Johnson (AUS), bowman Hashim Al Rashdi (OMA) and bowman Musab Al Hadi (OMA). Lloyd Images
British offshore veteran Rob Greenhalgh has been announced as the on board replacement for Michel Desjoyeaux aboard Mapfre for the second leg of the Volvo Ocean Race which gets underway on November 19 from cape Town, South Africa.
Mapfre finished last in the seven boat on Leg 1, which was won by skipper Iker Martinez, in the previous edition of the race.
Spanish media reported that disagreements aboard Mapfre were the reason behind Desjoyeaux electing to step off the boat, he was joined by navigator Nico Lunven.
Greenhalgh will leave UK on Thursday and is expected to be sailing in the Practice Race on Friday.
Team weather strategist Jean-Luc Nelias was previously announced as the replacement for Lunven. Both Lunven and Desjoyeaux were reported by the team as staying involved, but in shore-based roles.
Rob Greenhalgh has sailed the race three times and won it once and if the 35-year-old Briton gets his way he'll back in 2014-15 in his old role as watch captain – or maybe even something better.
Greenhalgh is a three time Volvo Ocean race competitor, sailing the last edition aboard Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing.
A skiff world champion and Extreme 40 Series winner, he triumphed the Volvo Ocean Race with ABN Amro One in 2005-06, took second with Puma Ocean Racing in 2008-09 and fifth with Abu Dhabi in 2011-12.
'I’ve done three races so far but I’m definitely keen to do the next one,' said Greenhalgh in a 2013 interview with Volvo Ocean Race Media. At that time he had also been racing the new Moth he bought during the last race in Miami. 'Right now I’m certainly hoping to get a position on a boat for the next race, or ideally my own team with myself as the skipper. Time is running out on that one but hopefully I’ll be able to join a team as a watch captain or something.'
'It’s so important to have the right people around you – that’s how you create a winning team. When you get that environment, then it’s very infectious and you want to go back and do it again.
'Creating that environment is the trick. It’s so much about being part of that team that doesn’t necessarily win all the races but is a winning one. And certainly the next race will be a lot closer as it will be sailed with the One Design boat. It will be all about just the people on the boat.'
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