PUMA's Murray McDonnell is the "youngest nipper" in the race village and will often be found turning heads riding his impressive beach cruiser - - when he's not toiling tirelessly on Mar Mostro that is.
There is little to suggest his 61-year vintage except his grey hair and typical grandpa boasting when he is asked about his grandchildren.
While many his age are contemplating retirement McDonnell, best known as Murph, is more occupied with more youthful thoughts like travelling the world and being a part of an elite sporting team.
"I don't think I'm old, this job keeps you on your toes and you know, I'm always surrounded by younger people,'' he said.
There are moments, Murph admits, when he wonders what the hell he is doing -- the work is physical, the days are long and he is away from his family. But his innate competitive nature soon reminds him why he's doing what he is doing.
"It's not like a real job," he said. "You work towards something, you work towards a prize, whether it's the America's Cup or the Volvo Trophy. That's motivating stuff.
"I've never won a Volvo Ocean Race and I want to be part of a winning team, so I try as hard as I can on every campaign; everyone does. It doesn't matter if you're a sailor or shore crew, we all give our all.''
Murph's experience may also be a telling sign of his age, having worked on three Volvo Ocean Race campaigns and eight America's Cups.
Born and raised in the sailing heartland of Auckland, he finished his sailmaking apprenticeship with Hood Sails in 1966 before heading overseas in 1972.
"I wound up in the United States, had a family and life has just gone from one campaign to another campaign, to another campaign since,'' he said.
His first big break was with the Stars and Stripes America's Cup campaign in 1983, giving rise to a total of six campaigns with Dennis Conner.
His first Volvo came a few years later, working with Toshiba in 1997-98, which was followed by the Pirates of the Caribbean campaign in 2005-06.
Murph thought his Volvo days were over when he turned down an offer to work on PUMA's 2008-09 campaign in favour of working on the Cup again.
"Can you imagine sitting down with (skipper) Ken Read and (shore manager) Kimo Worthington and telling them that you're not accepting their offer," he asked.
Murph said he thought he had been "lifed".
"They call it lifed when you can never get back on board again, you will never work for them again,'' he explained. "I really thought I was lifed then.''
But sure enough he's back for his third campaign, and loving it.
"You know, we're really like a family,'' he said. "At the end of a campaign I usually feel low, you just miss everyone and feel like something's missing.''
From : Volvo Ocean Race
Credit : I. Roman/VOR
There is little to suggest his 61-year vintage except his grey hair and typical grandpa boasting when he is asked about his grandchildren.
While many his age are contemplating retirement McDonnell, best known as Murph, is more occupied with more youthful thoughts like travelling the world and being a part of an elite sporting team.
"I don't think I'm old, this job keeps you on your toes and you know, I'm always surrounded by younger people,'' he said.
There are moments, Murph admits, when he wonders what the hell he is doing -- the work is physical, the days are long and he is away from his family. But his innate competitive nature soon reminds him why he's doing what he is doing.
"It's not like a real job," he said. "You work towards something, you work towards a prize, whether it's the America's Cup or the Volvo Trophy. That's motivating stuff.
"I've never won a Volvo Ocean Race and I want to be part of a winning team, so I try as hard as I can on every campaign; everyone does. It doesn't matter if you're a sailor or shore crew, we all give our all.''
Murph's experience may also be a telling sign of his age, having worked on three Volvo Ocean Race campaigns and eight America's Cups.
Born and raised in the sailing heartland of Auckland, he finished his sailmaking apprenticeship with Hood Sails in 1966 before heading overseas in 1972.
"I wound up in the United States, had a family and life has just gone from one campaign to another campaign, to another campaign since,'' he said.
His first big break was with the Stars and Stripes America's Cup campaign in 1983, giving rise to a total of six campaigns with Dennis Conner.
His first Volvo came a few years later, working with Toshiba in 1997-98, which was followed by the Pirates of the Caribbean campaign in 2005-06.
Murph thought his Volvo days were over when he turned down an offer to work on PUMA's 2008-09 campaign in favour of working on the Cup again.
"Can you imagine sitting down with (skipper) Ken Read and (shore manager) Kimo Worthington and telling them that you're not accepting their offer," he asked.
Murph said he thought he had been "lifed".
"They call it lifed when you can never get back on board again, you will never work for them again,'' he explained. "I really thought I was lifed then.''
But sure enough he's back for his third campaign, and loving it.
"You know, we're really like a family,'' he said. "At the end of a campaign I usually feel low, you just miss everyone and feel like something's missing.''
From : Volvo Ocean Race
