Bekking’s Team Brunel for Volvo Prologue

Skipper Bouwe Bekking announced his team for the Volvo Ocean Race Prologue Leg from Lisbon to Alicante. For the Prologue Leg, Team Brunel will consist of Bouwe Bekking, Carlo Huisman, Alberto Bolzan, Kyle Langford, Maciel Cichetti, Andrew Cape, America’s Cup winning skipper Peter Burling, Annie Lush and Abby Ehler.

Bekking said, “Team Brunel is ready, we had a good run this week. Both the shore crew and the sailors have done a lot of work, but we managed to get the boat ready for departure to Alicante. We use this prologue to test out some small details. For example, the location of the spares and the various sail trim possibilities. No big changes anymore, that work has already been done.”

Carlo Huisman added, “We are well prepared. Everyone is looking forward to it. The weather forecast offers us a light wind start, that’s a bit of a pity. But we all suffer from that. Last week was the first time we had the whole team together, that was good. We are on schedule.”

The composition of the team means that Argentine Juanpa Marcos has to delay his debut in the Volvo Ocean Race. Marcos said, “It’s not surprising to me. This has been part of the plan from the beginning. I have other commitments and sign in Sunday for the Nations Trophy in Palma. Normally when everyone stays fit, I won’t be in Alicante or Lisbon.”

Race details – Race route – Facebook

2017-18 Edition: Entered Teams – Skippers
• Team AkzoNobel (NED), Simeon Tienpont (NED)
• Dongfeng Race Team (CHN), Charles Caudrelier (FRA)
• MAPFRE (ESP), Xabi Fernández (ESP)
• Vestas 11th Hour Racing (DEN/USA), Charlie Enright (USA)
• Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag (HKG), David Witt (AUS)
• Turn the Tide on Plastic (POR), Dee Caffari (GBR)
• Team Brunel (NED), Bouwe Bekking (NED)

Background: Racing the one design Volvo Ocean 65, the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race begins in Alicante, Spain on October 22 2017 with the final finish in The Hague, Netherlands on June 30 2018. In total, the 11-leg race will visit 12 cities in six continents: Alicante, Lisbon, Cape Town, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Auckland, Itajaí, Newport, Cardiff, Gothenburg, and The Hague. A maximum of eight teams will compete.

Source: Volvo Ocean Race, Team Brunel