Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing's Azzam will face six rivals in the round-the-world Volvo Ocean Race, it was confirmed Tuesday, when organisers announced a seventh boat has been added to the roster for the most prestigious competition in offshore sailing.
The late entry is Team Vestas Wind, backed by a Danish company that makes wind turbines. The boat will be skippered by Chris Nicholson, a 45-year-old Australian and five-time veteran of the nine-month race.
Read more: Good start leads to great finish for ‘Azzam’ at Artemis Challenge during Cowes Week
Nicholson is making a late start. The race begins in Alicante, Spain, on October 4 before going on to visit 10 more points, including Abu Dhabi, in a near 40,000-nautical-mile voyage around the world, finishing in Gothenburg, Sweden, on June 27, 2015.
Normally, challengers prepare for more than a year for the nine-month challenge; Nicholson has seven weeks.
“I’m working hard confirming my crew. This is no time to bring in newcomers. I need battle-hardened, experienced guys who know what it takes to succeed in the Volvo Ocean Race and can hit the ground running,” he said.
For the first time, every team will sail the same model boat, the Volvo 65, a move meant to reduce costs as well as make the event more about the sailors and less about their boats.
In addition to Team Vestas Wind, Azzam will take on teams from Sweden, China, the Netherlands, Spain and a joint US/Turkey set-up.
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