Fri, 26 May 2006 13:39:55 UTC
Ericsson Racing Team has grabbed the newly-available Andrew Cape, to sail as their navigator for the remainder of the race.
Ericsson Racing Team has scooped up Andrew Cape, recently made unemployed following movistar’s abandonment of their yacht during leg seven, to sail as navigator for the remainder of the race.
Mark Rudiger, who didn’t have enough space in his schedule to sail legs eight and nine, steps off the yacht which finished second into Portsmouth.
Australian Cape will debut with the team in Monday’s In Port race. Commenting on the switch he said, “After all that has happened with movistar, it is great to be able to continue in the Volvo Ocean Race. I am very happy that the Ericsson Racing Team has asked me to become its navigator. It is a very talented team, and I look forward to racing with them until Gothenburg.”
Skipper Neal McDonald added, "The team set up worked very well on the previous leg, and so we have decided to continue with the same crew, with the addition of Capey. Between us, we certainly have a good deal of local knowledge around the Solent. However, the In Port race is to be held in an area where none of us have done a lot of racing."
Looking ahead to the In Port race on his native waters, Englishman McDonald said, "I look forward to sailing the In Port race in my home waters. We have a very solid team and we really showed our true potential on the previous leg. A good result in Monday's In Port race would set us up nicely for the remainder of the race."