Please select your home edition
Edition
Beneteau Australia

Volvo Ocean Race – Poortman back on board Team Brunel

by Team Brunel on 21 Oct 2017
Poortman back on board Team Brunel – Volvo Ocean Race Stefan Coppers / Team Brunel
The Volvo Ocean Race starts in Alicante on Sunday, October 22nd. Ocean sailor Gerd Jan Poortman is not a crew member on one of the participating boats this time but will be onboard Team Brunel next Sunday. Poortman will jump off as the Team Brunel leg jumper after the start.

New experience
For Poortman, ambassador of the Volvo Ocean Race Finish in The Hague, who has already done everything in ocean sailing, it will be a new experience.
Poortman: 'I'm a bit nervous yes. Normally I'm one of the crew members, now I'm going to take it from another side. Jumping from the boat is really something unique.”

“I’m looking forward to getting back to the hassle of the start. It will be a bit difficult for me to don’t do anything. I'm sure this Team Brunel will perform very well without me. As soon as they are really on their way I jump from the ship. As Dutch, we are already looking forward to the finish next June at the ultimate destination in The Hague. But the sailors must first take those 45,000 nautical miles. '
Selden 2020 - FOOTERMaritimo M75Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design

Related Articles

Video: Exclusive Benjamin Schwartz Interview
Co-skipper of Sodebo Ultim 3 on Jules Verne Trophy attempt Today we have an exclusive Q&A with Benjamin Schwartz, co-skipper of Sodebo Ultim 3 from the Pacific Ocean during their Jules Verne Trophy record attempt around the world.
Posted today at 12:05 pm
ILCA Oceania & AUS Open & Youth Championship day 4
Wearn rules River Derwent and it's Moving Day for the ILCA 6 Women Australia's Matt Wearn has taken a commanding lead in the 2026 ILCA Oceania and Australian Open Championship in Hobart on Day Four of sailing, taking a lead of 16 points in the ILCA 7 Class, into the penultimate day of racing.
Posted today at 11:34 am
2026 Moth Australian Nationals Day 2
The wind clearly hadn't read the race schedule After an exciting opening day of racing, day two decided to keep everyone guessing. While the sun was shining and temperatures sat at a very agreeable 25 degrees, the wind clearly hadn't read the race schedule and failed to show up on time.
Posted today at 11:12 am
2026 12ft Skiff Interdominion Championship Day 3
Crucial decisions in shifty variable winds, breakages and swims cost others Day 3 and two races were sailed at the triSearch 12ft Skiff Interdominion Championship on Sydney Harbour, where crucial decisions in shifty variable winds made some, breakages and swims cost others, in a long day on the water.
Posted today at 9:26 am
ILCA Oceania & AUS Open & Youth Championship day 3
Finals test ahead for 191 ILCA sailors Three days of qualifying races are over for the ILCA 4 and ILCA 6 fleets with the sailors now assigned to either the Gold or Silver Fleets in the 2026 ILCA Oceania and Australian Open and Youth Championships under way in Hobart.
Posted today at 12:21 am
RSHYR 2025 | 2hands, foils, multis by BCM
The evolution of the Sydney Hobart race - can it happen? Will it happen? What will it look like? With the 80th Hobart run and celebrations of a small boat year still ringing in our ears, John Curnow of Sail-World and Crosbie Lorimer of Bow Caddy Media shared thoughts on how the race might evolve.
Posted on 5 Jan
The complete package
A thriving clubhouse leads to higher racing attendance, and visa versa I'm a great believer in starting things on the right foot. Be that in the morning, going for a run (even though it was damn chilly this morning) to set yourself up for the day, or preparing ahead for a meeting so that you've got the figures to hand.
Posted on 5 Jan
Performance Starts with the Proper Sailcloth
Every great sailing experience starts with sails you can trust Every great sailing experience starts with sails you can trust. North Sails offers three advanced material technologies, each engineered for precision, durability, and performance.
Posted on 5 Jan
2026 Moth Australian Nationals Day 1
Clear blue skies and sunshine do their best to convince everyone it was going to be an easy day Official racing got underway today in classic champagne sailing conditions, with clear blue skies and sunshine doing their best to convince everyone it was going to be an easy day (it wasn't).
Posted on 5 Jan
2026 12ft Skiff Interdominion Championship Day 2
Sailing and Swimming in Sydney Harbour Today's two races were punctuated by shifty light airs that were hard to read and react to, leading to countless capsizes and one crew falling overboard, but quickly pulled back aboard by his skipper - a day when swimming was second only to sailing.
Posted on 5 Jan