Laurent Pagès is out for the fifth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race because of an injury. The French sailor broke two ribs during the stopover in Auckland. He will be replaced by the famous Dutch offshore sailor Dirk de Ridder. De Ridder’s long experience in ocean sailing and his excellent trim- and steering capabilities make him the perfect candidate to join the crew on what is, undoubtedly, the toughest leg of this Volvo Ocean Race.
Credit : S.Coppers
"It's very sad for Laurent that he will miss this leg," according to Dirk de Ridder after being appointed by Team Brunel. "I wish him all the best with his recovery. I will give it all that I’ve got in order to replace him and I would also like to achieve a good result with the team."
"Dirk is one of the best trimmers in the world," says skipper Bouwe Bekking. "I know him well, we have sailed many times together, so I know exactly what to expect of Dirk. During the 1997/98 Whitbread Round the World Race we rounded Cape Horn together aboard Merit Cup. "
From : Brunel
