Team Sun Hung Kai\/Scallywag name crew for Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18<\/p>\n
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Konrad Frost\/Volvo Ocean Race<\/p>\n
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Hong Kong\u2019s first ever Volvo Ocean Race entry Team Sun Hung Kai\/Scallywag have named their full crew for the upcoming edition \u2013 featuring a mix of rookies and veterans, including a winner from 2014-15 and a history-making navigator back for his sixth edition (full story below)<\/p>\n
Australian Luke Parkinson, who won the trophy as a rookie onboard Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing last edition, will race as part of skipper David Witt\u2019s crew \u2013 and he is joined by navigator Steve Hayles, who returns to the event after almost a decade.<\/p>\n
Hayles made his debut as a 20-year-old onboard Reebok\/Dolphin & Youth in 1993-94 \u2013 and still holds the title as the youngest ever navigator to compete in the history of the event.<\/p>\n
He went on to make it five consecutive races over 15 years, onboard Silk Cut in 1997-98, Tyco in 2001-02, Ericsson in 2005-06 and Green Dragon in 2008-09.<\/p>\n
Also named in Witt\u2019s squad are New Zealand\u2019s Mark Fullerton, who raced with Brunel in the 2005-06 edition, Briton John Fisher, Hong Kong local Tiger Mok and Australian trio David Mann, Alex Gough and Ben Piggott.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m delighted to have a crew of guys I\u2019ve known for a long time \u2013 they\u2019re all great sailors, and we\u2019ve done a lot of miles together over the years,\u201d said Witt.<\/p>\n
\u201cSteve Hayles is the best navigator I\u2019ve ever sailed with, and Luke Parkinson comes with bags of Volvo Ocean 65 experience. That\u2019s one of the areas where we\u2019re a little bit light, so he\u2019s a big asset to us and brings a lot to the team.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cWe want to create a team ethos where everyone can reach their potential in whatever their role is \u2013 and to do that, you\u2019ve got to trust and respect each other 100%.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want Hayles to become a Race-winning navigator, we want Piggott to become the next Parko, and we want Parko to become a future skipper in the race.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all a team and want to succeed in a team, but we recognise that part of our role is to promote and let everyone be as good as they can in an individual role in the team without ego or conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n
The team, which is backed by Seng Huang Lee and Sun Hung Kai & Co., the Hong Kong-based owner of super-maxi yacht Scallywag, aims to promote competitive sailing in Asia and build a long-lasting youth sailing legacy in the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cTiger (Mok) is Hong Kong born and bred, and he\u2019s a great sailor,\u201d continued Witt. \u201cHe will race some legs \u2013 and he\u2019s also the backup navigator, so will do a lot of onshore navigation and work closely with Steve (Hayles).<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving him onboard will help to build the profile of the sport in the region, and encourage kids in Hong Kong to see that there\u2019s a real future in offshore sailing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sun Hung Kai\/Scallywag had their first taste of competitive Volvo Ocean 65 action in the opening stage of Leg Zero\u00a0\u2013 and now prepare to tackle the Rolex Fastnet Race, departing on Sunday 6 August.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cWe\u2019ve finished with our squad selection for now, but the only thing that\u2019s up in the air with us is whether we need to take more crew on the boat or not.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now, we\u2019re playing catch up a little bit with all of the idiosyncrasies of the boat. We still think we\u2019re on the right track going with minimal crew \u2013 but we\u2019re still open, and that could change as the race draws nearer.”<\/p>\n
via Team Sun Hung Kai\/Scallywag name crew for Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18| Volvo Ocean Race<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Team Sun Hung Kai\/Scallywag name crew for Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 Download Konrad Frost\/Volvo Ocean Race Download Ainhoa Sanchez\/Volvo Ocean Race Download Konrad Frost\/Volvo Ocean Race Hong Kong\u2019s first ever Volvo Ocean Race entry Team Sun Hung Kai\/Scallywag have named … Continue reading