Dutchman Wouter Verbraak has been kicked out of Team Vestas Wind. As the team management announced, skipper Chris Nicholson has finalised his crew selection for the planned comeback and will do without Verbraak. A new navigator will join the team when it competes again in Lisbon in June. No reason was given for the termination of the collaboration, it was simply stated succinctly: "We thank him for his commitment and wish him all the best for the future."
Verbraak took the blame immediately after his team's accident on a reef in the Indian Ocean, claiming it was a navigational error. There is no longer much to be seen of the crew's almost celebrated solidarity at the time. Skipper Nicholson had also spontaneously declared himself at least partially responsible. There doesn't seem to be much of that left, as the sacking of Verbraak, while Nicholson remains skipper, must be seen as a clear assignment of blame.
Verbraak's reaction was anything but happy: "I am very sad that I can no longer work with Team Vestas. A return to racing would have helped me a lot," said the navigator. The future is now uncertain for the Dutchman. "Someone once told me," said Verbraak, "that life is not about how many breaths you've taken, but about the moments that have taken your breath away. I'm looking forward to the breathless moments to come. Ocean sailing seems to have a lot of them in store."
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital
