With only a year to go to the start of the race, the Volvo Ocean Race teams are making their final crew selections and starting to train before the Volvo Open 70s under construction are ready to hit the water. During the course of this week we will be giving you an update on what the Volvo Ocean Race Teams are up to and how they have been preparing for the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race.
The first team is Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, led by double Olympic medallist and 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race skipper, Ian Walker.
After frequent visits to the Emirates over the last six months, Ian Walker has settled into his new home and although he has only been in Abu Dhabi for a month, he can already say that he feels confident about the team's progress in terms of training, building the boat and the creation of the team.
"I couldn't have envisaged making as much progress as we have so far," he said. "I'm really confident in the build of the boat and in the work the designers have done and we've got some great guys on the team."
Two months ago, the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) announced Farr Yacht Design would be designing their Volvo Open 70 and not long after, they launched a nationwide campaign to recruit a UAE national to join their crew.
Now only one year out from the race, the design process is almost complete and its construction is already underway in northern Italy.
The team's base has been set up in Abu Dhabi's Marine Sports Club where most of the training is going on and where the final training push will take place once the new Volvo Open 70 is ready in June next year.
The Emirati crew selection process is nearly complete and over the next few weeks, the list of over 50 possible candidates will be narrowed down to twelve for the next phase, which includes tough endurance sailing trials and mental tests to find the best fit for the team.
Building its crew one by one, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing Team will be a medley of nationalities, ages and experience, all ready to face the Volvo Ocean Race challenge.
From Volvo Ovean Race
