Mason goes Nordic; Ericsson Racing Team crews complete

With the announcement, the Nordic crew is complete, as Mason joins recently-announced sailing veteran Magnus Olsson onboard. Mason says: "Magnus Olsson is the reason I came to Sweden initially. It's great sailing with him, especially going around the world. It's a long journey and it means a great deal to have a happy, positive and capable man on board."

Mason holds a British passport, was born in Australia, and grew up in New Zealand, but he says he feels quite Swedish. "My wife is Swedish, we have two beautiful daughters, and we live in Sweden," he says.

This will be Mason's third Volvo Ocean Race and his second round-the-world adventure on an Ericsson yacht. He was with Ericsson Racing Team as it finished 5th in the 2005-2006 Volvo Ocean Race. This year, he thinks it will be a tougher but better competition thanks to developments in boat design and high-quality opponents.

Nordic skipper Anders Lewander says he was looking for an experienced sailor with Mason’s profile: “an expert in hydraulics, medical aid, plus and excellent sailor.” Eventually Lewander decided to ask the man himself, and Mason then made the move from the International crew for Ericsson Racing Team.