Ericsson takes gun in Eurocard Gotland Runt

by Ola Rembe on 4 Jul 2007 Ericsson Racing Team took line honours in the Swedish long distance classic Eurocard Gotland Runt Tuesday morning.

Tuesday July 3rd at 09.45, local Swedish time, Ericsson Racing Team was the first boat in their class over the finish line in Eurocard Gotland Runt. The team completed the 429 nautical mile long course in less than 48 hours.

'It has been a fantastic race and everybody did their best to get us through the course as fast as possible,' says Anders Lewander, skipper on Ericsson Racing Team.

On the last half of the race Ericsson passed all its competitors to cross the finish line in Sandhamn under spinnaker in 16 knots of boat speed.

Ericsson Racing Team will have to boats on the VOR start next year. One skippered by John Kostecki (USA) with an international crew, and one Nordic boat skippered by Anders Lewander (SWE). The Eurocard Gotland Runt was also an opportunity for Lewander to try out a five potential Nordic sailors for the next Volvo Ocean Race.

Anders Lewander will not stay long in Sandhamn. He will be heading out to sea again with another ten potential Nordic crew members in the next couple of days. Together with Volvo Ocean Race and Whitbread veteran Magnus Olsson he will be testing Nordic sailors on a three day offshore 'race'.