There's a lot going on in the Volvo Ocean Race. On land and at sea. This morning, Volvo Ocean Race helmsman Mark Turner officially and quite emotionally bid farewell to the stage. His replacement had been known for some time, but today he is calling it a day. Turner said in his farewell speech during a live broadcast on Tuesday morning: "Everything I had hoped for has come true. And everything I feared, too. The race is in extremely good hands in view of the difficult decisions ahead and remains for me the ultimate test for offshore sailing teams." Turner only briefly outlined the reason for his early exit: "The strategy I stood for will no longer be pursued."
Two Swedes take over the reins: Richard Brisius takes the helm as the new President of the race, and Johan Salén becomes his Co-President. Both have known the race around the world for a very long time and have worked together often and intensively. Brisius himself has taken part twice as a sailor. Like Johan Salén, Brisius has been part of the "inner circle" of the Swedish Volvo Ocean Race community for decades. Together, the two founded the agency Atlant Ocean Racing, which has managed seven Volvo Ocean Race campaigns over the past 28 years. Their winning projects included "EF Language" (1997/98) and "Ericsson 4" (2008/09). Second places went to "Assa Abloy" (2001/02) and "Intrum Justitia" (1993/94).
Brisius is entering the race with a lot of experience and some anticipation: "I am honoured to be working with my friends in the Volvo Ocean Race again. This race is part of the heartbeat chamber of sailing and has formed the backbone of large parts of my life." Brisius is currently still CEO of a company belonging to the National Olympic Committee in Sweden, which is bidding to host the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. He will continue in this role.
Salén will provide Brisius with intensive support in the operational business and also in developing the strategic direction of the Volvo Ocean Race. Salén said: "It's impossible not to be impressed by what the teams are currently achieving and how the race is being presented to its fans and shareholders. But we also want to focus on the future. To do this, we need to work closely with Volvo and all the participants, including the upcoming ones. This includes the sailors as well as the commercial partners." One thing seems clear: the new Scandinavian management duo are likely to have their ears closer to the wishes of the Swedish race owners than their British predecessor.
Whilst this news was being reported on land, things were also getting down to business at sea. After the cheerful equatorial baptisms on the previous day, the fight for every second and every mile continued on Tuesday. Bouwe Bekking's Team Brunel made the biggest leap from the morning to the afternoon and is now close on the heels of the leading trio again. There has also been a shift within the trio: The Danish-American team Vestas 11th Hour Racing has moved past the Spanish team Mapfre. Charles Caudrelier's Dongfeng Race Team remains in the lead for the time being. On the tenth day of the second leg, only eight nautical miles separate the first four boats at around the halfway point of this second longest section of the course!
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
