Crew Lists for Volvo OR leg 7- Fisher off, Martinez on Telefonica Blue

by Riath Al-Samarrai/Volvo Ocean race media on 14 May 2009
Telefonica Blue helmsman Simon Fisher has confirmed he will miss the leg seven race across the Atlantic in order to 'recuperate' ahead of the final stages of the event.

The Englishman has sailed all six legs and five in-port races up until this point, initially as navigator and then above deck.

But, having noted the 'renewed energy and motivation' enjoyed by Iker Martinez after the Spaniard's break during leg six, Fisher was keen to follow suit.

'It has been a long time since I have had the opportunity to take a decent break,' said Fisher, who is replaced by Martinez. 'After seeing Iker's renewed energy and motivation here in Boston, there is no doubt in my mind that it makes a lot of sense for me to do the same.'

Fisher, 31, will rejoin the crew in Galway ahead of the in-port race on May 30.

'It will be good to take this opportunity to recuperate, as I am sure the final stages of this race are going to be very busy, very intense and critical to our final placing in the Volvo Ocean Race,' he said.

'I am looking forward to coming back in Galway feeling fresh, rested and ready to go again,' he said. 'I'll be following the next leg closely, with Iker back on board they will be fielding a strong team for the big downwind conditions we are expecting in the north Atlantic.'

Skipper Bouwe Bekking added: 'Simon is fundamental to the team and I hope that this well-earned break means he'll be back to 100% for the tough final stages ahead.'

Martinez helmed the team to victory in last weekend's in-port race and is excited by his return to the offshore crew.

'I've tried to regain strength for this last part of the competition,' he said. 'I feel good now, so I think it's been a great idea and I'm really looking forward to being back on the boat for this oceanic leg.

'It's been an active rest because you don't get a rest from everything. You are so involved with the team that you do all you can to help them with other things aside from the sailing, to help the team to push further ahead.'

The syndicate has also confirmed that Mike Pammenter has sufficiently recovered from an ankle injury and will resume his role onboard Telefonica Black.

The bowman was evacuated from the boat just hours into leg six after his foot became entangled in the genoa sheet, which then launched him into the mast. It was initially feared he had fractured his ankle, but test results showed it was a hematoma and after resting for a month he proved his fitness in a training sail yesterday.

Elsewhere, Shannon Falcone will remain onboard PUMA for leg seven. The Antiguan was originally due to stand aside for Jerry Kirby's return, but the American veteran will now miss the leg for personal reasons.

Volvo Ocean Race crew lists for leg 7 - Boston to Galway.

DELTA LLOYD
1. Roberto Bermúdez De Castro/ESP – skipper
2. Wouter Verbraak/NED – navigator
3. Sander Pluijm/NED – media crew member
4. Stuart Wilson/NZL – watch captain
5. Nick Bice/AUS – watch captain
6. Andre Fonseca/BRA – helmsman
7. Ben Costello/NZL – helmsman
8. Ed Van Lierde/NED – trimmer
9. David Pella/ESP – trimmer
10. Gerd-Jan Poortman/NED – bowman
11. Morgan White/AUS - bowman
No crew changes

ERICSSON 4
1. Torben Grael/BRA - skipper
2. Jules Salter/GBR - navigator
3. Guy Salter/GBR - MCM
4. Brad Jackson/NZL – watch captain
5. Stu Bannatyne/NZL – watch captain
6. Dave Endean/NZL - pitman
7. Horacio Carabelli/BRA - trimmer
8. Tony Mutter/NZL - trimmer
9. Joao Signorini/BRA - trimmer
10. Ryan Godfrey/AUS - bowman
11. Phil Jameson/NZL – bowman
No crew changes

ERICSSON 3
1. Magnus Olsson/SWE – skipper
2. Aksel Magdahl/NOR - navigator
3. Gustav Morin/SWE MCM
4. Thomas Johansson/FIN – helmsman/trimmer
5. Richard Mason/NZL - watch captain
6. Eivind Melleby/NOR - helmsman
7. Arve Roaas/NOR – trimmer/helmsman
8. Martin Strömberg/SWE – trimmer
9. Jens Dolmer/DEN - pitman
10. Anders Dahlsjö/SWE - bowman
11. Martin Krite/SWE - bowman

On: Arve Roaas/NOR – trimmer/helmsman
Off: Magnus Woxen/SWE – trimmer

GREEN DRAGON
1. Ian Walker/GBR - skipper
2. Ian Moore/IRL - navigator
3. Guo Chuan/CHN - MCM
4. Neal McDonald/GBR – watch captain
5. Damian Foxall/IRL – watch captain
6. Anthony Merrington/AUS – helmsman/trimmer
7. Phil Harmer/AUS – helmsman/trimmer
8. Andrew Mclean/NZL – pitman/trimmer
9. Ian Budgen/GBR – helmsman/trimmer
10. Justin Slattery/IRL – bowman
11. Freddy Shanks/GBR - bowman

On: Ian Budgen/GBR – helmsman/trimmer
Off: James Carroll/IRL – pitman/trimmer

PUMA OCEAN RACING
1. Ken Read/USA - skipper
2. Andrew Cape/AUS - navigator
3. Rick Deppe/GBR MCM
4. Sidney Gavignet/FRA – watch captain
5. Robert Greenhalgh/GBR – watch captain
6. Robert Salthouse/NZL – helmsman/trimmer
7. Justin Ferris/NZL – helmsman/trimmer
8. Erle Williams/NZL – helmsman/trimmer
9. Shannon Falcone/ANT – bowman/pitman
10. Casey Smith/AUS – bowman/helmsman
11. Michael Müller/GER – helmsman/bowman

No crew changes

TELEFÓNICA BLUE
1. Bouwe Bekking/NED - skipper
2. Tom Addis/AUS – navigator
3. Gabriele Olivo/ITA – MCM
4. Iker Martinez/ESP - helmsman
5. Jonathan Swain/RSA – watch captain
6. Jordi Calafat ESP – helmsman
7. Xabier Fernandez/ESP - trimmer
8. Pablo Arrarte/ESP Spanish - trimmer
9. Laurent Pages/FRA – trimmer
10. Daryl Wislang/NZL - bowman
11. Pepe Ribes/ESP - bowman

On: Iker Martinez/ESP - helmsman
Off: Simon Fisher/GBR- strategist/helmsman

TELEFÓNICA BLACK
1. Fernando Echavarri/ESP – skipper
2. Roger Nilson/SWE – navigator
3. Anton Paz/ESP – MCM
4. Antonio (Ñeti) Cuervas-Mons/ESP – bowman
5. Gonzalo Araujo/ESP – watch captain
6. Jaime Arbones/ESP – watch captain
7. Pablo Iglesias/ESP – helmsman
8. Javier de la Plaza/ESP – helmsman
9. David Vera/ESP - trimmer
10. Maciel Cicchetti/ARG – trimmer
11. Michael Pammenter/RSA - bowman

No crew changes

www.volvooceanrace.org