It can't have been down to sporting success, as Simeon Tienpont recently led his team AkzoNobel to third place in the prologue and thus onto the podium. The 13th edition of the race around the world begins on Saturday with the first harbour race off Alicante and the first important points for the team accounts. However, according to a team statement available to some Dutch and American media, Simeon Tienpont will no longer be taking part in this harbour race. The Dutchman, who so proudly entered his team for this edition of the Volvo Ocean Race more than a year ago, has apparently been sacked.
The team statement, published by online media such as Sailing Anarchy and Sailing Illustrated, said: "As a result of a breach of contract, Simeon Tienpont has relinquished his role as skipper of Team AkzoNobel in the 2017/18 Volvo Ocean Race on Friday 13 October. At the same time, AkzoNobel, as owner and title partner of Team AkzoNobel, has assured the team of its full support for the participation in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017/18." According to a statement, the successor skipper will be introduced shortly. However, it is also clear that Tienpont has not left the team and the race of his life voluntarily. According to several reports, he was even still fighting for an agreement on Friday evening.
Speculation is rife in the scene as to whether Tienpont or his employer have committed a breach of contract with their actions. The fact that the other team members were unwilling to comment on Saturday night can probably be explained by their contractual obligations, but also by ongoing negotiations and internal team discussions. Two crew members had already left the team beforehand: Annemieke Bes has since been signed by the Sun Hung Kai/Scallwag team, and Spaniard Roberto "Chuny" Bermúdez de Castro is also no longer part of the team.
Tienpont celebrated his Volvo Ocean Race première in the 2005/06 race and two years ago, after the dramatic reef collision involving Team Vestas Wind, he contested two more legs for the Danes. In the America's Cup team of Larry Ellison's Oracle Team USA, Tienpont appeared to be involved in the lead ballast scandal in 2012, but unlike his compatriot Dirk de Ridder, he was acquitted at the time. The 35-year-old Tienpont has won the Cup twice with Oracle and skipper Jimmy Spithill.
He had repeatedly emphasised his goal for the 13th Volvo Ocean Race: "I can hardly wait to start. I will do everything I can to win the race." As an AkzoNobel skipper, this could now be denied him. Following the imminent departure of Volvo Ocean Race manager Mark Turner, which was also announced before the start, the race would have to cope with its second prominent sacking - unless the shunned Dutchman finds a way back onto his boat after all. Alternative skippers or at least interim successors from the team could include the experienced six-time circumnavigator Brad Jackson or the strong helmsman Nicolai Sehested.
The first official harbour race, which starts on Saturday at 2 p.m. German time, will show how the struggle for the right course in Team AkzoNobel will end. here will be broadcast live.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
