Team AkzoNobel sign up Brazil’s Olympic gold medallist Martine Grael for the Volvo Ocean Race<\/p>\n
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Amalia Infante\/Volvo Ocean Race<\/p>\n
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Amalia Infante\/Volvo Ocean Race<\/p>\n
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Team AkzoNobel have added Martine Grael, Brazil’s sailing gold medallist from the 2016 Olympics in Rio, to their crew for the Volvo Ocean Race in 2017-18 (full story below)<\/p>\n
Team AkzoNobel have added Martine Grael, the Brazilian sailing gold medallist from the 2016 Olympics in Rio, to their crew for the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18.<\/p>\n
The 26-year-old is the daughter of race legend Torben Grael \u2013 Brazil\u2019s most successful Olympic sailor of all-time, with five medals \u2013 and she will be joining an AkzoNobel squad that features three members of her father\u2019s all-conquering Ericsson 4 team in 2008-09: British navigator Jules Salter, and watch leaders Brad Jackson from New Zealand and the Brazilian Joca Signorini.<\/p>\n
Together with Kahena Kunze, Grael clinched gold in the 49er FX class in Rio. She is the first Brazilian woman ever to take part in the Volvo Ocean Race, and in taking on the 45,000 nautical mile round-the-world challenge, she is making a massive step up \u2013 but it\u2019s one she\u2019s looking forward to.<\/p>\n
\u201cStepping up from the 49er FX\u00a0to the Volvo Ocean Race with team AkzoNobel\u00a0is a very exciting opportunity to expand my sailing skills and my fitness level,\u201d Grael said. \u201cMy goal is to as quickly as possible get a good feel for the boat and understand the finesse required to produce the best performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a big journey for me but I\u2019m hoping to enjoy the experience and learn a lot from it. Most of all I want to\u00a0prove that I belong on this team and I can\u2019t wait to start racing against other boats.\u201d<\/p>\n
Team AkzoNobel is led by Simeon Tienpont and the Dutchman is delighted to add another huge sailing talent to his strong multinational crew.<\/p>\n
\u201cMartine is one of the world\u2019s most talented young sailors and has proven her ability to perform at the highest level with her Olympic gold medal winning performance,\u201d Tienpont said. \u201cShe is one of the few individuals who can successfully make the leap from small boat sailing into the professional arena of big boat racing in events like the Volvo Ocean Race.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s no surprise that she is such a complete talent given the amazing sailing family she grew up in, where she learned from a young age what it takes to compete at the top of this sport. Aside from her sailing ability, Martine also has a great personality \u2013 she\u2019s fiercely competitive and great fun to have on board.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grael will take part in Leg Zero \u2013 a mandatory series of four preliminary races for the seven competing Volvo Ocean Race teams prior to the race start on October 22 in Alicante, Spain.<\/p>\n
Leg Zero begins on August 2 with a sprint around England\u2019s Isle of Wight, followed by the Rolex Fastnet Race on August 6-9 followed by a further two stages from Plymouth to St Malo and St Malo to Lisbon.<\/p>\n
The Volvo Ocean Race begins on 22 October from Alicante, Spain and will visit a total of 12 Host Cities around the world.<\/p>\n
via Team AkzoNobel sign up Brazil’s Olympic gold medallist Martine Grael for the Volvo Ocean Race| Volvo Ocean Race<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Team AkzoNobel sign up Brazil’s Olympic gold medallist Martine Grael for the Volvo Ocean Race Download Amalia Infante\/Volvo Ocean Race Download Amalia Infante\/Volvo Ocean Race Download James Blake \/Volvo Ocean Race Team AkzoNobel have added Martine Grael, Brazil’s sailing gold … Continue reading