Ericsson sign Irish sailor Damian Foxall

by Ericsson Racing Media on 22 Dec 2005 The Ericsson Racing Team has today signed Irish sailor Damian Foxall as new crewmember for the Volvo Ocean Race. Damian, a highly experience sailor and veteran of 17 transatlantics and five round-the-world events, will replace Tony Kolb (GER) who recently left the team.

Foxall, is one of the most experienced sailors of his generation. At 36 years of age, he has covered over 220,000 nautical miles over the last 25 years and has been involved with just about every discipline in competitive sailing from dinghy campaigns to Americas Cup, offshore trimarans and the Volvo Ocean Race.

Before joining the Ericsson Racing Team, Foxall was under contract with Brasil 1, as a reserve team member. He also competed in the Transat Jacques Vabre, but was forced to retire after his trimaran capsized in storms.

McDonald commented: 'Damian has vast experience; I know him well as I have sailed with him before and so do most of our team members. We really look forward to having him onboard. He is a great single handed, multihull and monohull sailor. He has done the Volvo Ocean Race before and I believe he will fit in very well. A crew change is always difficult but in this particular instance it's a change for the better as we are bringing in some experience which we would otherwise not have.'

Foxall is looking forward to getting started: 'The Volvo Ocean Race is something I've followed very closely. I was lucky to compete with Team Tyco in the last race where I sailed with Steve Hayles and Tim Powell. It was a nice experience and one of many reasons I wanted to sail with Ericsson.'

Foxall continued, 'I've sailed with many of the Ericsson crewmembers before and they are a very strong team. Their Project Management team is a very good operation and Neal is a great leader. I feel that I will fit in well with the team and look forward to taking on the position that Neal has offered me.'

Foxall is now training full time with the team as they prepare for the first in-port race. The Ericsson Racing Team thanks Brasil 1 for easing Foxall's transfer.