Ed Adams joins Delta Lloyd's coaching team

by Riath Al-Samarrai on 6 May 2009
Delta Lloyd have enhanced their preparations for the Boston in-port race by adding former illbruck strategist and two-time Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Ed Adams to their coaching team.

The American, who sailed the final two legs of illbruck's victorious campaign in the 2001-02 event, will join regular coach Maurice Paardenkooper in guiding the team as they look to build on their third-placed finish at the Rio de Janeiro inshore course.

It will see Adams link-up once again with David Pella, Stu Wilson and skipper Roberto Bermudez, who he worked with when coaching Team Caixa Galicia, a TP52 campaign.

'I got an email from Chuny (Bermudez) as he was rounding the Fernando de Noronha scoring gate. He said ‘are you available?' and I said ‘sure'.'

The Newport, Rhode Island native has an impressive sailing CV. Having twice won the Olympic pre-regatta series in the Star class - ultimately he missed out on selection for the Games to two-time gold medal winner Mark Reynolds - he also won a Star world title in 1987, the same year he was first named Rolex Yachtsman of the Year. He won it again in 1991.

After leaving the Star, he was appointed coach of the US Olympic Sailing team of 2000 and 2004, while also participating at the 2000 America's Cup as navigator onboard of Young America. Two years later, he won the Laser Master Worlds in Massachusetts, the state in which Saturday's race will take place.

Adams has plenty of experience sailing in these waters, but he played down the importance of local knowledge.

'I'm not from here, but I have sailed here plenty and have a lot of friends in the area, he said. 'Where are going to be racing for the in-port, the course is almost exclusively used for Star and Snipe racing. It's not a common race course, it is very infrequently used. There's a bit of current coming in and out of the harbour, but other than that it should be pretty fair.

'Unless they put the race course in the channel, which I don't think they will because of the ships, I don't think it (local knowledge) will make a big difference.'

So far Adams has been impressed by the commitment of the team.

'Yesterday I walked through the Volvo Ocean Race village for a hour and didn't see any sailors, except for the Delta Lloyd crew. All sailors are helping, which is good.

'It's clear everyone is excited about the improvements that have been going on.

'Hopefully I can help the guys. This is new to me and I'm just here to be another set of eyes.

'It feels good to be back involved with the race. I had a great experience working with illbruck and this campaign looks good.

'Every time I look at the team's roster another great sailor seems to have been added.'

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