Thomas Johanson signs with Ericsson Racing Team

by Ericsson Racing Team on 22 Sep 2007 Finnish sailor Thomas Johanson, has signed with Ericsson Racing Team as crew member in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009. The 49er Olympic gold medallist from Sydney 2000 will be sailing with Ericsson's Swedish skipper Anders Lewander on the Nordic crew.

'I have been thinking about sailing around the world for about six or seven years. And when I got an offer from the Ericsson Racing Team, it was impossible to say no,' says Thomas Johanson.

At the age of 38 Thomas Johanson is now writing a new chapter in his sailing career. After many years of inshore fleet racing and as skipper onboard a 60 foot multihull, Thomas is ready to take on his first round the world race.

'Ericsson has a great project, a great team, two boats - and most of all there are people in the Ericsson Racing Team whom I respect and would love to work with,' says Thomas.

Thomas is not worried about climbing down a rung or two. In his dinghy days and as skipper on the 60 foot trimaran, he was of course making all the decisions himself. Now he suddenly has to follow orders.

'Well, I think I'll probably manage, he says. I am also a team player from playing ice hockey and floorball. I think Anders Lewander and I have the same leadership style. Neither of us is a dictator. We both believe in giving people space and confidence.'

'With three Olympic campaigns and extensive experience in big boat racing Thomas is a valuable addition to the crew. As a helmsman he has proved that he can make boats go fast and he is a team player with a winning attitude,' says Anders Lewander.

Skipper Anders Lewander has, just like Thomas, a strong background in dinghies sailing, having been a member of the Swedish National Sailing Team. Amongst different and very varied sailing experiences - ranging from 49ers to Archipelago Raid - Anders has also sailed around the world on board Cheyenne/Playstation in the Oryx Cup 2005. He has been working for North Sails Sweden since 1994, and is a very experienced sail maker.

Ericsson Racing Team will participate with two boats in the next Volvo Ocean Race. One will have an international crew and the other will be all Nordic. The two crews will be part of one same team and the two boats will compete on an equal basis. Both of them will be built by Killian Bushe next to Ericsson's headquarters in Kista, Stockholm. Having two competitive crews in the next race will allow Ericsson Racing Team to train efficiently before the start of the race in Alicante Spain in October 2008.