Sea, Sail & Surf newsVolvo Ocean Race 2014-15
Bekking and Brunel back for Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15
"The race is just in our blood"
mardi 3 décembre 2013 –
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For both sailor and sponsor, it is a case of “unfinished business”. Bekking, 50, has competed in the event twice as skipper without winning and Team Brunel will be having their third crack at ocean sailing’s most prestigious crown on the new one-design Volvo Ocean 65.
Team Brunel is the fourth campaign to announce its participation in the 12th edition of the Volvo Ocean Race which starts with the Alicante in-port race on October 4, 2014 before setting off for the near nine-month, 39,379-nautical mile marathon a week later.
For Bekking, this latest challenge from one of the world’s leading nautical nations is a chance to put the record Record #sailingrecord straight having twice finished runner-up in an event that is part of Dutch sailing heritage having had three winners over the event’s 40 years.
He will match the achievement of Swede Roger Nilson as the only man to have competed seven times in the race, nearly 30 years after his first attempt in 1985-86.
“A Dutch-speaking team in the Volvo Ocean Race again – we owe this to our heritage and the future sailing generations to come. But above all it’s the best sailing in the world,”
said a delighted Bekking who takes the helm on a Dutch boat with a real chance of adding to the country’s success story.
“Our nation is known around the world as the country of windmills, dykes, tulips, cheese, wooden clogs – and the Volvo Ocean Race. The race is just in our blood.”
Referring to his partnership with Brunel, the global project management, recruitment and consultancy company, Bekking added :
“It is a great opportunity to reinforce to the world what Brunel stands for : diverse, international and dynamic. The Volvo Ocean Race is the perfect vehicle to showcase this message.”
Brunel CEO Jan Arie van Barneveld stated :
“We are really happy that Brunel has again its own team and own sailing machine in the most exiting and prestigious sailing regatta in the world.”
“The formula of the race has been improved significantly : the boats are identical so it’s the teams that make the difference. It is about the quality and cooperation between the people. That is Brunel ! We go for the people, the sport and the victory,” he added.
The team joins all-female campaign Team SCA, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing and the Chinese challenge Team Dongfeng in the 2014-15 line-up announced so far.
Dans la même rubrique
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