Green Team announce crewmembers for Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09

The shore management team is also made up of three Irish experienced yacht professionals with Johnny Smullen as shore manager, Johnny Mordaunt as technical co-ordinator and James Carroll taking the position of boat captain.
The full sailing squad members announced today are:

Adobe Flash Plug-in Needed This website requires a Adobe Flash plug-in. Please download the latest version of the Flash plug-in by clicking here

Ian Moore IRL, Navigator
Damian Foxall IRL, Watch Leader
Justin Slattery IRL, Bowman
Tom Braidwood AUS, Trimmer/Driver
Andrew McLean NZL, Bowman
Phil Harmer AUS, Trimmer/driver
Scott Millar IRL Trimmer
Freddie Shanks GBR, Bowman

Amongst the crew, four of the team have competed in the Volvo Ocean Race previously, with Foxall (ERICSSON), Slattery (ABN AMRO ONE) and Braidwood (ERICSSON) all racing in the last edition.

Watch Leader Damian Foxall is the team-member with the most ocean miles under his belt, 310,000nm to date. He was the winner of the inaugural Barcelona World Race earlier this year with Jean-Pierre Dick aboard Paprec Virbac and has competed in seven round the world races and completed 18 transatlantic crossings.

Overseeing sailing matters for the Green Team is well known TP52 Patches owner, Eamon Conneely, and he is delighted with the squad chosen so far. “We are very fortunate to have secured the calibre of people that we have. We will be adding three more squad members including the second watch leader in due course but I am pleased with the current mixture of youth (4 under 30s) and Volvo 70 experience. In Damian and Justin we have proven offshore winners and the team will be turning to them for a lot of advice in our preparation as well as during the race,” explained Conneely.

The team’s media specialist and further squad members will be announced over the coming weeks. “It is my intention to have a squad of 12 sailors plus the media representative which is the minimum we need for both the offshore and inshore races. Nobody’s place is set in stone and everyone, including me, will have to earn the right to represent this team. We will bring in extra help as and when we see fit. It is a long race and it will take a heavy toll on both mind and body” explained Walker.

The team along with 15 shore crew and boatbuilders are already hard at work at Endeavour Quay, Gosport, UK preparing their new Volvo Open 70 for sea trials. Once initial sea trials have been completed the Green Team will sail to Ireland for an official christening in Dublin in July. The team will then be based in Galway until leaving for Alicante at the end of August.