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More of the crew line-up confirmed as team gathers for first time in Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates. Tuesday 11th February 2014: More pieces of the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (ADOR) team jigsaw have slotted into place as the core crew members of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority’s (TCA Abu Dhabi) 2014/15 Volvo Ocean Race entry were announced in the UAE capital. Joining Skipper Ian Walker’s team aiming to be the first from Arabia to win the prestigious round-the-world-race are four sailors with a combined total of 12 Volvo Ocean Race campaigns between them. Ireland’s Justin Slattery, Australia’s Phil Harmer, Britain’s Simon Fisher and New Zealand’s Andrew McLean join the ADOR line-up, which now boasts an enviable array of offshore racing talent. The ADOR ‘Fab Four’ join Emirati crewman Adil Khalid, Australian under-23 recruit Luke ‘Parko’ Parkinson and British On-board Reporter Tom Bushell. All four have previously raced with Abu Dhabi’s double Olympic silver medalist skipper. ADOR Performance Manager Neal McDonald was instrumental in the selection process and said the ADOR crew is a potent blend of skill, experience and talent. “I’m confident we have the right people.” McDonald said. “It’s a solid mix without any big egos. This is an international lineup, but the common factor is that they are all very much focused on winning.” For bowman Slattery, this will be his third lap of the world with Walker and his second Volvo Ocean Race as an Abu Dhabi crew member. Likewise navigator Fisher will be donning an Abu Dhabi crew uniform for the second time after competing as a helmsman and sail trimmer in the last race. McLean and Harmer previously raced around the world with Walker two editions ago. In the 2011-12 race Harmer was part of the winning Groupama crew and McLean finished second on CAMPER - this time both plan to use their experience to help Abu Dhabi’s quest for a Volvo Ocean Race victory. “Phil, Andrew, Simon and Justin each bring unique skills and invaluable experience to the team and I couldn’t be happier to have them aboard,” said Walker. “We all enjoy sailing together and that can an important factor in the pressure cooker environment of a nine-month yacht race around the world.” The final member of the nine-man ADOR line up will be announced in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the existing crew will this week explore Abu Dhabi’s sights and sounds ahead of what is planned to be a spectacular, fortnight-long race stopover in the emirate at the end of December. Three days of team activities over the coming days include a round of golf at the ocean-facing Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, four-wheeled racing against the clock at the Yas Marina Circuit F1 Grand Prix venue, thrills and spills at the award-winning Yas Waterworld aqua park and a visit to the Arabian Nights Village in Abu Dhabi’s Al Khatem desert. Sightseeing over, next on the agenda for the ADOR sailors are safety tests and sea trials aboard the team’s new Volvo Ocean 65 racing yacht, which is nearing completion in England. The trials are expected to be completed by the beginning of March when the team will sail to its training base near Lisbon, Portugal.
Follow news of the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team and hear the latest on the Abu Dhabi stopover for the 2014/15 Volvo Ocean Race by following on Facebook – www.facebook.com/AbuDhabiOceanRacing, on Twitter – @ADOR, online at www.volvooceanraceabudhabi.com, and on YouTube – youtube.com/AbuDhabiOceanRacing
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