Please select your home edition
Edition
A+T Instruments 2024 Leaderboard

Volvo Ocean Race - Rio medalist uses Volvo OR to build into Tokyo 2020

by Volvo Ocean Race on 13 Sep 2017
Annalise Murphy (IRL), Leg Zero, training on board Turn the Tide on Plastic. Volvo Ocean Race. 07 September, 2017 Jeremie Lecaudey / Volvo Ocean Race
Ireland's Olympic hero Annalise Murphy sees the Volvo Ocean Race as perfect preparation for a gold medal charge at Tokyo 2020

A little over a year ago Annalise Murphy was realising a lifelong dream.


On the waters of Rio de Janeiro, Murphy won not only an Olympic silver medal in sailing's Laser Radial class – Ireland's first in the sport since 1980 – but also the hearts and minds of sports fans all over the globe.

It was a poignant moment for Murphy, who four years earlier had endured heartbreak when she was edged off the podium into fourth place in the final race of the London 2012 games.

Thirteen months on from her Rio glory – and after recently being named Sportswomen of the Year by the Irish times – and she has taken a different tack by signing up to compete in the Volvo Ocean Race.

Murphy, 27, is the latest talented young sailor to join Dee Caffari's ranks on Turn the Tide on Plastic, a mixed gender youth team aimed at shaking up the fleet during the 45,000 nautical mile epic.

She has always been a fan of the Volvo Ocean Race but never considered being a part of it herself – until ocean racing legend Caffari got in touch with an offer she couldn't refuse.

“A couple of months ago Dee sent me an email asking if I'd be interested in trying out for Turn the Tide on Plastic team,” Murphy said.

“I said I'd love to give it a go but that I didn't know if I'd be any use as I've never done anything like it before. I went to Lisbon and did 48 hours offshore with the team. It was a totally new experience for me, and a real eye-opener.


“There were bits where I thought 'this is terrifying' and other moments where I thought 'this is amazing'. After that I got asked to be on the team and I didn't need to think too hard about it. I jumped at the chance.”

Murphy's training for Tokyo 2020 will have to be put on hold while she races round the world, but that doesn't mean an end to her dreams of a gold medal in three years' time.

“The Volvo Ocean Race actually falls at a perfect time if I want to go on to do Tokyo,” she said.

“When it ends in July next year I'll still have two full years to train for the Olympics. A break from Laser sailing will actually be quite healthy, and this will give me an opportunity to learn something new. I might be regretting the decision when I'm in my bunk in the Southern Ocean though!”

Strong, super-fit and busting to learn, Murphy is eager to impress as she gears up to make her Volvo Ocean Race debut in just over a month.

“My role on the boat will become more clear as I spend more time with the team but I want to make myself as useful as I can,” she said.

“I'm fit and strong, and ready to get my hands dirty. I'm under no illusions as to how hard this race is going to be – in fact I think it will probably be the hardest thing I ever do – but I'm up for the challenge. It's going to be an amazing adventure.”

V-DRY-XB&G Zeus SR AUSMarkSetBot

Related Articles

Cure Marine and McConaghy join forces
Leveraging McConaghy's world-class manufacturing and advanced composite technology Cure Marine has always been synonymous with high-quality, high-performance cruising catamarans, and we are excited to share news that will elevate our brand even further.
Posted today at 5:45 pm
52 Super Series 2025 Porto Cervo day 2
Immaculate Sled on song in breezy Sardinia With a race win which they delivered with a near perfect execution in brisk Mistral conditions, Takashi Okura's Sled today moved further ahead at the top of the leaderboard at the 52 SUPER SERIES Porto Cervo Range Rover regatta on Costa Smeralda.
Posted today at 3:34 pm
The latest in fleet monitoring and tracking
Join us on October 22nd for an in-depth exploration of the latest in tracking technology Fleet monitoring and tracking are essential for efficiency, safety, and compliance with real-time visibility into fleet movements critical.
Posted today at 9:30 am
Record fleet set for 13ft Skiff 2026 Championships
The biggest fleet in the event's history is set to line up in January The pain of handing over the national 13ft crown after owning it for a year is driving Manly's Theo Franklin to recapture the title when the biggest fleet in the event's history lines up for the 2026 Australian Championships in January.
Posted today at 5:29 am
2025 Six Metre World Championship Day 2
Eau Vive and Jill claim first victories in Oyster Bay After the disappointment of a wind and raceless day one, the 2025 International Six Metre World Championships at the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club finally got under way in warm sunshine and a south-westerly of around 6-8 knots.
Posted today at 3:23 am
46th Cannes Royal Regatta day 2
A dream day! If we had to give a score for the entry of the "classic " and 5.5 m on Tuesday 23 September, we would hesitate between an 18 and 19/20... knowing that you never put a 20/20!
Posted on 23 Sep
Middle Sea Race set to attract exceptional fleet
Royal Malta YC has 118 entries already At midnight on Friday, 19 September the 46th Rolex Middle Sea Race had amassed a fleet of 118 yachts. The entrants represent 30 countries and territories: from Australia and New Zealand to Finland and Norway, and from the United States to Romania.
Posted on 23 Sep
52 Super Series 2025 Porto Cervo day 1
Solid Sled earn early lead in Sardinia Takashi Okura's Sled lead the 52 SUPER SERIES - Porto Cervo - Range Rover regatta after the first two windward leeward races.
Posted on 23 Sep
Melges 24 Worlds 2025 at Trieste, Italy Day 1
No racing possible on the first day Good things are worth waiting for, and that was the adage at the opening day of the Melges 24 Worlds, which ended without any races in the scoreline. The weather in Trieste proved too unstable, with storms in the morning followed by a lack of wind.
Posted on 23 Sep
Formula Kite Worlds Quartu Sant'Elena preview
9th Sardinia Grand Slam is the first major step towards Los Angeles 2028 Next September 28th to October 5th, the Poetto beach will host the event that crowns the new World Champions. Among the top contenders: Maeder, Vodišek, and Pianosi in the men's fleet; Nolot, Aldridge, and Kampman among women
Posted on 23 Sep