Damian Foxall is joining Dongfeng Race Team for the forthcoming treacherous Leg 5. Caudrelier and Foxall - plus Swede Martin Strömberg - were all on the Groupama boat that won the last edition, back in 2011-12. That made the Irishman a natural choice when Dongfeng’s skipper looked for an experienced sailor to bolster his line-up for the 6,776 nm stage from Auckland to Itajaí, Brazil, through the Southern Ocean and round Cape Horn.
Credit : E.Allaire
“I am delighted to be back ‘in the saddle’," says Damian, who has competed in four previous Volvo Ocean Races.
"This will be the 10th round-the-world event that I will be involved in and my eighth rounding of Cape Horn.
“It's a privilege to have the opportunity to join Charles and the boys onboard Dongfeng, who have been doing such an exemplary job."
He continues. "My role is to fit in as seamlessly as possible and to bring the benefit of a fresh person to the team.
“It's hard to overstate the difficulty of the Volvo Ocean Race for the sailors and teams, the longest sporting event in any sport, and it is exactly this, the duration, that makes it so hard.
"A planned rotation of the crew at key times has become a crucial part of any successful team's strategy.”
Caudrelier agrees. “This leg is going to be a tough, freezing cold, with big seas and strong winds – only the toughest sailors can endure it,” he says.
Foxall will replace Thomas Rouxel on this leg, continuing the crew rotation programme set by Caudrelier to ensure his eight-man crew are fighting fit and bringing fresh energy into the team.
In other news, navigator Pascal Bidégorry, who sat out the voyage from Sanya to Auckland, is also stepping back on board.
Dongfeng crew changes:
Foxall on, Rouxel off, Bidegorry is back, and Riou returns as leg 5 Onboard Reporter.
Leg 5 crew list – Auckland (NZL) to Itajai (BRA), (at least) 6,776nm:
Charles Caudrelier (FRA)
Pascal Bidegorry (FRA)
Martin Strömberg (SWE)
Eric Peron (FRA)
Kevin Escoffier (FRA)
Damian Foxall (IRE)
Yang Jiru (CHN)
8th (Chinese) crew to be decided
Onboard Reporter: Yann Riou (FRA)
From : VOR & Dongfeng
