February 9, 2006, Melbourne, Australia – After three weeks in Melbourne, the Volvo Ocean Race competitors are gearing up for the next leg, but not before leaving a lasting impression on Melbourne and in particular Waterfront City, Docklands.

The hands of the seven skippers that steered the Volvo Ocean Race fleet into Melbourne are to be immortalised in bronze at Waterfront City.

The skippers – New Zealander Mike Sanderson (ABN AMRO ONE), Frenchman Seb Josse (ABN AMRO TWO), Dutchman Bouwe Bekking (movistar), American Paul Cayard (Pirates of the Caribbean), Brazilian Torben Grael (Brasil 1), Briton Neal McDonald (Ericsson) and Australian Grant Wharington (Brunel) – today each placed a hand in a clay mould on the Waterfront City Piazza.

The moulds will be transformed into bronze tiles to be placed on a Wall of Fame on the piazza, where the boats have docked during their time in Melbourne, to commemorate the first-ever stopover in Melbourne of the Volvo Ocean Race.

Brasil 1 skipper Torben Grael commented: “This is a really fun thing to be doing but for me it is not the first time. The Brazilian Olympic Committee has one imprint of my hands and now Melbourne has the other.”

Since ABN AMRO ONE took the leg two victory into Melbourne on January 21, over 220,000 visitors have flocked to Waterfront City to join in the Melbourne Stopover celebrations.

The yachts are due to start leg three of the 31,250 nautical mile, around the world race on Sunday 12 February, with the crews waving farewell to Waterfront City from 10 00 (local) as they head to the start line off Station Pier, Port Melbourne.

From the start, the fleet will head out to a turning buoy off Mornington before heading off on the 1,450 nautical mile leg to Wellington, New Zealand.

Looking at the predicted forecast the boats are in for a swift ride to Wellington, and are expected to arrive into port on the 16 February.

One boat that will not be on the start line will be Grant Wharington’s Brunel. The predominantly Australian team have decided to rejoin the race in Baltimore, America, to allow for extra time to modify their boat to make it more competitive.

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