Issue date
If racing around the world seven times wasn't already enough, Kiwi sailor Stu Bannatyne has signed up for an eighth edition of the Volvo Ocean Race.
The 45-year-old, who has won the race three times, has signed with the Dongfeng Race team for the 2017/18 edition. He will be joined by fellow Kiwi Daryl Wislang, who lifted the trophy with Abu Dhabi in 2014-15, as well as Frenchman Jérémie Beyou, who recently finished third in the Vendée Globe non-stop solo round the world race.
(Photo: Benoit Stichelbaut / Dongfeng Ra)
Wislang will be a watch captain on Dongfeng, who were third in the last Volvo Ocean Race in 2014/15, with Bannatyne likely to be on board for the main Southern Ocean legs.
Bannatyne first sailed the round the world race in 1993-94 onboard New Zealand Endeavour and his love for Southern Ocean is as strong as ever.
“The big thing with the Volvo Ocean Race for me is the fast downwind sailing, having no bottom mark to worry about going around, and then of course the camaraderie of the team,” he is quoted as saying on volvooceanrace.com. “And I love being offshore and trying to get the best out of the boat."
Wislang is eager to continue his “love affair” with the race – and is particularly looking forward to sailing with skipper Caudrelier.
“I’ve always had a lot of time for Charles and I know what he did with Dongfeng last time and how good a skipper and team leader he is,” said Wislang.
The team are currently settling into their permanent base at Lorient in Brittany after delivering their newly-refitted Volvo Ocean 65 there from Lisbon last week.
They are one of only three teams confirmed for the 2017/18 Volvo Ocean Race - Dutch outfit Team AkzoNobel and Spanish team Mapfre have also signed up - although announcements on more teams are expected to enter soon.
Auckland will once again be a stopover, with the boats due into port in March, 2018.
Stuart Bannatyne (New Zealand)
Born April 20, 1971
Lives in Auckland, NZ
Seven Volvo Ocean Races and three wins with New Zealand Endeavour, Illbruck Challenge, Ericsson 4.
Broken the 24-hour monohull world speed record on five occasions
New Zealand Yachtsman of the Year in 2009
Eight Fastnet races, three Transpacs and 11 Sydney Hobarts
Daryl Wislang (New Zealand)
Born May 20, 1981
Lives in Wellington, NZ
Four previous Volvo Ocean Races and winner in 2014-15 with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing.
On board Comanche as it set the world 24-hour distance record in the Translatic Race in 2015 and later won the Sydney to Hobart.
