Volvo Ocean Race – MAPFRE sign up two female stars to complete crew

by Volvo Ocean Race on 27 Jul 2017 Volvo Ocean Race – MAPFRE have completed their squad for 2017-18 by naming two female sailors – Spanish Olympic gold medallist Támara Echegoyen and Volvo Ocean Race star Sophie Ciszek.

The addition of Echegoyen is notable for two reasons – she is the first Spanish woman ever to compete in the race, and she takes MAPFRE's Olympic medal count to five.

'It's been months of hard work but I am very happy with the result because thanks to the help of everyone and especially the hours on the boat I have been able to improve in a world that is so new to me,' she said.

'I have to continue learning, especially to check at what level I am and if I can be a crew member to join the team and help to achieve the goals for the following months.'

Sophie, who raced onboard Team SCA in 2014-15, joins up with Xabi Fernández's crew to compete in her second consecutive edition – and will be keen to build on an impressive debut in which she won the prestigious Hans Horrevoets Rookie Award.

'This time I have an idea of what to expect and I definitely know what it takes to do the race, what it takes to be on board and be competitive,' she said.

'It is very exciting this time to be on board with the guys. I can see they have so much experience and I’m learning everyday from them, so I am really excited to get going and start the race.'

It's been a long road to the start line for Sophie, who has been desperate to get back in the race for a second time.

'I’m very competitive, I love the ocean, I love the adventure and the Volvo Ocean Race is just the ultimate, so it is great to be a part of it,' she said.

For Xabi, the signing of the two females represents a landmark moment in the assembly of his squad.

'Támara has been working hard since March, when the crew first started to sail. With all that I have talked about, both with Pablo [Arrarte] and Neal [McDonald], they agree that as we expected, she has an important learning curve and is gradually gaining confidence and contributing more to the team.”

He continued: 'Sophie is someone who has already sailed on this type of boat, so perhaps it's been a little easier to adapt, although it is also an environment totally different from the previous one. On Team SCA, they had more people on board and so more hands for each job and now she is trying to adapt to sailing with us, which is a bit different.'

In less than a week, the 2017-18 fleet will line up alongside each other for the first time this edition as they assemble in Gosport, UK for Leg Zero.

'It will be a good test to know how far I can go and what skills I need to improve to be strong within the team. It is a turning point towards the start of the Volvo Ocean Race,' added Echegoyen.

The team departed yesterday and the new recruits join recent edition Blair Tuke and the rest of the all-star crew which is eyeing a first Race win in Spain's history.

The 2017-18 edition will see the teams cover 45,000 nautical miles in a race that features a total of 12 Host Cities and will finish in The Hague, Netherlands at the end of June.