Volvo Ocean Race - Planned crew change on Dongfeng

by Dongfeng Race Team on 14 Nov 2014 Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 - Chinese sailor Liu Xue (Black) will be the third Chinese crew member to sail onboard Dongfeng in the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15. This pre-planned crew change, is part of the long term sporting mission behind Dongfeng Race Team – with the ambition to bring offshore sailing to China, Yang Jiru (Wolf), Chen Jinhao (Horace) and now Liu Xue (Black) are the first of many Chinese sailors to represent China in the years to come in professional ocean racing.

On Black – 'Why did I choose him? He’s a natural.'

On the effect of the crew change – 'Its maybe a compromise on performance to have a crew change just as Wolf was gaining in experience, but this is pre-planned, it’s part of our mission as a project to develop as many Chinese sailors as we can during the race.' – Charles Caudrelier

Name: Liu Xue
Chinese Name: ??
You can call him: Black (yes, really!)
Date of birth: 12th March 1993
Hometown: Qingdao, China

Initially, Black (or Little Black to his friends) comes across as the stereotypical young adult, listing sleep, food and computer games amongst his interests. Delve a little deeper however and you discover a determined and charismatic young sailor.

Black’s first contact with the campaign was back in December 2013 when he was handpicked from the first selection trials to become part of the Dongfeng Race Team training squad. Piquing the interest of Skipper Caudrelier and navigator Pascal Bidégorry from an early stage, Black became determined to make the final race squad and was eventually picked to sail the first offshore training leg the team had.

Feeling unsettled:

It was during this first ocean training leg across the Pacific ocean that Black felt unsettled and decided that the Volvo Ocean Race was not for him. 'After the first few days I felt a bit confused – there was no competition and suddenly I could not figure out what the objective or goal was for the training.' Despite this setback, it wasn’t long until Black was back with the team and felt ready to learn. 'I started to miss the team, miss my teammates and miss all the difficulties we have been through together. Also, this is the Volvo Ocean Race – a really rare opportunity – and I am ready to participate in the race. I can do it – I believe in myself.'

A unique bond:

After leaving the team in March 2014 Black reached out to navigator and mentor Pascal Bidégorry. 'I remember it, it was Pascal that told Black he was making a mistake leaving and I know Pascal felt he had potential. When Black came back he reached out to us only through Pascal, these things just happen, friendships form and this is a unique one. Who knows? Maybe if he wasn’t for Pascal, Black wouldn’t be back with us today' suggests Caudrelier.

Next step? 6,125 nautical miles (at least) to Abu Dhabi:

'Yang Jiru (Wolf) and Chen Jinhao (Horace) have done great job in Leg 1, I’m happy about our good result, they should be very proud,' shares Black. 'As a young team, we are lacking the experience of the sailors onboard Abu Dhabi yet we finished only 12 minutes behind them at the end of leg 1. I feel our team has a lot of potential.'
'I’m happy to come back to our team. I have adapted to the work after I came back.

I have learned many things though working with my teammates and they have lots of experience in offshore sailing. I have found a good mentality to face the Volvo Ocean Race now. My attitude changed when I was welcomed back by the team. I am not scared of anything anymore.'

As in Leg one, Dongfeng will race with two Chinese crew on board – Chen Jinhao (Horace) in the position as bow man alongside his counterpart, Kevin Escoffier, and Liu Xue who will take be tasked of looking after the ‘pit’ in the cockpit of the boat – the centre of every operation as the pitman controls all the halyards and lines to the sails. A central role under the coordination of the helmsman and bowman.