ABU DHABI // The Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (ADOR) team has put in place the final piece of its on-board jigsaw for this year's Volvo Ocean Race (VOR).
On Thursday, the team announced they had recruited VOR veteran Roberto Bermudez de Castro Munoz.
The Spaniard completes the eight-man on-board crew, the remaining members of which were revealed in Abu Dhabi last month.
Munoz, a former Olympian, is recognised as one of Spain’s most accomplished sailors having raced in the America’s Cup and the Audi MedCup.
He has an exemplary record at the VOR – of the five races he has competed in, he has four podium finishes.
He will be a familiar face to some on the ADOR team. In the latest VOR, he sailed alongside Andrew McLean on Camper, which finished second.
“I know all the crew and I have sailed with ‘Animal’ [McLean], ‘SiFi’ [Simon Fisher], the ADOR navigator, its bowman Justin ‘Irish’ Slattery and Neal McDonald before,” Munoz said.
“I’ve only ever raced against Ian [Walker, the skipper] and have a lot of respect for him and the rest of the crew as fierce competitors.
“That’s how I know this is a good strong team and one I’m proud to be a part of.”
Munoz joins the team in Cascais, Portugal, for two-and-a-half months of training and preparation aboard the new one-design Volvo Ocean 65 yacht Azzam.
“His Volvo Ocean Race experience is remarkable,” Walker said of Munoz.
“As well as being one of the most sought after professional sailors around, he’s also a thoroughly nice guy and fits perfectly into our line-up.”
osamiuddin@thenational.ae
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