The rumour has been confirmed (YACHT online reported): Vestas, one of the leading wind turbine manufacturers, is sponsoring the seventh team in the Volvo Ocean Race, which starts on 4 October with the harbour race in Alicante/Spain.
Anders Runevad, Managing Director of Vestas Wind Systems: "Wind is our profession and our passion. The Volvo Ocean Race is the ideal platform to connect with customers, showcase our technology and strengthen our image in key markets. And the project supports our new growth strategy."
As expected, the Managing Director of the race is just as pleased. Knut Frostad (Norway): "Overall, I'm very pleased that we will have seven teams on the starting line, all of whom will be taking part with the new Volvo Ocean 65 standardised class yachts. We only introduced the concept two years ago."
The skipper will be six-time world champion and five-time race participant Chris Nicholson. The New Zealander led the New Zealand/Spanish team Camper to second place in the last Volvo Ocean Race. His crew of eight includes two Danes, Nicolai Sehested and Peter Wibroe. The first test for Team Vestas Wind will take place in August.
Denmark has already taken part in the global stage race once before, in 1985/86, when the event was still called the Whitbread Round the World Race, with a yacht named "SAS Baia Viking".
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Fridtjof Gunkel
Deputy Chief Editor YACHT
