Volvo Ocean Race: Mr "Professor" makes a request

France's single-handed star Michel Desjoyeaux has received many tempting offers to take part in the Volvo Ocean Race over the past two decades. But he had to turn them all down. It never worked out because the smart solo sailor always had his sights set on other projects when the offers came in. But now it has worked out, and the most famous race around the world has one more prominent sailor.

In his home country, they only call the highly successful deep-sea hero and mentor of the current Vendée Globe winner François Gabart "Le professeur". The 49-year-old from the picturesque coastal town of Concarneau in Brittany, son of Henri Desjoyeaux, who was one of the first sailing instructors on the famous Les Glénans, has been sailing since he was a small child and was later trained by France's sailing legend Eric Tabarly. Desjoyeaux celebrated his debut in the Volvo forerunner Whitbread Round the World Race in 1985/1986 at the age of 20 together with Tabarly on the "Cote d'Or". He competed once again in this team race around the world in 1993/94.

Most of the time, however, his heart and commitment belonged to single-handed sailing. His greatest successes include winning the 2008/09 Vendée Globe on "Foncia". It was also this Open 60 that brought Desjoyeaux and his new team-mates together. Iker Martinez and Xabi Fernandez chartered Desjoyeaux's second-hand "Foncia" and sailed it to second place in the Barcelona World Race 2010/2011 under the new name "Mapfre".

Desjoyeaux, Martinez and Fernandez are now competing together with Team España in the 2014/15 Volvo Ocean Race. "I've known Iker and Xabi since they chartered my boat for the Barcelona World Race. I like both their personalities," said Desjoyeaux after the announcement of his appointment as one of three watch leaders under skipper Martinez. Desjoyeaux is particularly looking forward to competing on the new Volvo Ocean 65 unit yachts: "I'm learning and learning, never stopping."

In addition to Desjoyeaux, the Spanish team has announced further new additions: André Fonseca from Brazil completes the watch captain trio, which also includes Xabi Fernandez. Frenchman Anthony Marchand comes on board as trimmer and helmsman. Carlos Hernández joins the Spanish team as trimmer and foreshipman. The Spaniards have also recruited the young Brit Sam Goodchild as trimmer and foreshipman. The onboard cameraman is Francisco Vignale from Argentina. This means that the crew consists of ten men, two of whom have to sit out because only eight crew members are allowed per leg. The cameraman counts extra, but is not allowed to intervene in the sailing.