Volvo Ocean Race- Ericsson Racing gets royal Start

by Media Office on 5 Nov 2005 Ericsson Racing Team ready for an exciting showdown in tomorrow's in-port race

The Volvo Ocean Race 2005-06, the world's premier ocean race, kicks off tomorrow with the first in-port race in Sanxenxo, Spain.

The in-port races are one of the most exciting new additions to this year's event, drawing on a different skill set to ocean racing and counting for over 20% of the overall points. After a great day on the water yesterday, Ericsson skipper Neal McDonald (GBR) and his team are looking forward to the challenge.

McDonald commented, ‘The new Volvo 70 boats are a big leap in technology. They are faster, more powerful and will be a big challenge to race around the buoys.’ He continued, ‘It will be the difference between a sprint and an endurance race. When we start the inshore race we know that it will be over in three to four hours so we will give it all we've got.’

John Kostecki (US), winner of the last Volvo Ocean Race, is tactician on Ericsson for the in-port races. ‘These boats are different animals to the Volvo 60's and will be quite a challenge to handle round the marks. It will be difficult to get the spinnaker up and down quickly so we will rely on timing and anticipation. Our training these past few weeks has been very much focused on maneuver training and the team seems to work well together.’

Despite the light to variable breezes forecast on Saturday, Kostecki is hoping for some good wind: ‘These boats are pretty exciting when the wind picks up, so I hope for some good breeze and we can put on an exciting show!’

The first leg to Cape Town, South Africa, begins on 12 November, from the neighbouring port of Vigo. From there, the race will visit ten ports in eight countries and cross four oceans, before finishing in Gothenburg, Sweden 32,250 nautical miles later, on 17 June 2006.

Quotes

Magnus Woxén (SWE): ‘We are as prepared as we can be but it's going to be very tight and competitive racing. These boats are very powerful but there are only 11 crewmembers onboard, so manpower will be a struggle. We have a very good team and a great boat and we will give it our best shot.’

Tim Powell (GBR): ‘The difficulty tomorrow will be turning the corners. The Volvo 70's are really fun, exciting boats to sail and it will be an impressive spectacle to see these boats race close to the shore for the first time, right in front of the spectators' eyes.’

Tom Braidwood (AUS): ‘It will be great if we can get out there and get a good result. However, our goal is long term so we need to think of the big picture. We have an ocean to cross next week.’

Tony Kolb (GER): ‘The in-port races bring an exciting new twist to the race. As in the America's Cup, fleet racing close to the public is becoming very important; it is both fun and interesting.’

Ericsson Racing Team, the only Swedish entry in the Volvo Ocean Race, have announced that HRH Prince Carl Philip of Sweden will be on board as guest for the first in-port race. Under the race rules each team is allowed up to three guests onboard its boat for each of the seven in-port races.

The very first in-port race will begin at 13.00 on 5 November from Sanxenxo, Spain, and will start with a bang from a cannon fired by the Swedish ship Göteborg. The Ericsson Racing Team is delighted to have Prince Carl Philip as honorary guest. The Prince will not be allowed to take part in the manoeuvres, but he will be able to follow this exciting race from a privileged position. The in-port race is scheduled to last approximately four hours and will be sailed off the coast of Sanxenxo, Galicia.

Dusyant Patel, Operating Officer for the Ericsson Racing Team, commented, ‘We are proud and honoured to have HRH Prince Carl Philip as a guest onboard Ericsson for the in-port race. Ericsson was christened in August by HRH Crown Princess Victoria. Tomorrow we welcome her brother and hope that his support will bring us good fortune.’