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February 27, 2014

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Frenchman is skipper of China team

Experienced French yachtsman Charles Caudrelier has been named as the new skipper of the Chinese Dongfeng Race Team which will take part in the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15.

The 40-year-old from Britanny was part of the winning French Groupama crew in the last edition of the multi-stage, team race which sees single-hulled 20-meter long boats race each other around the world.

He also won the Solitaire du Figaro single-handed race in 2004 and the double-handed Transat Jacques Vabre in 2009 and 2013 before agreeing to work under skipper Franck Cammas in the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race.

But he will break new ground in skippering the Chinese team which will be the third from the country to contest the race in its 40-year history, following Team Sanya (2011-12) and Green Dragon (2008-09), the latter a joint-entry with Ireland.

Caudrelier said that he was aiming to put together an eight-man crew, including four Chinese sailors from the country’s Olympic yachting program.

“Our Chinese candidates are very dedicated and they are working hard. Yet, few of them know about ocean racing and it’s quite a challenge with the race starting in six months,” he said. “I take a great pleasure in teaching my sport. I believe it’s key for our sport to get China involved in sailing for real, too.

“I want to do my part for everyone to gain from this — the sport of sailing, China, and Dongfeng Race Team.”

Backed by leading carmakers Dongfeng, the Chinese boat — a Volvo Ocean 65 (20-meter) — will prepare until the end of March in the southern port of Sanya, a race stopover in 2014-15.

The team will then head to Auckland for a proper offshore exercise at the end of March before sailing to Europe to gear up for the start of the race on October 4 in Alicante, Spain.


 




 

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