March 23, 2006, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – With 48 hours until the in-port race starts in Rio, last minute preparations are underway and there are a few new faces on the dockside.

For the fourth in-port race of the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-06 many of the teams have made crew changes along with welcoming onboard an eleventh crew member to help with the additional work load when racing around a tight inshore course.

Ericsson Racing Team will be under the guidance of new skipper John Kostecki (USA), who has stepped up from the role of inshore tactician to replace Neal McDonald (GBR) as skipper.

The second crew change onboard the Swedish boat sees Ross Halcrow (NZL) replace an injured Thomas Braidwood (AUS) who has returned to Australia for treatment on a shoulder injury sustained during the previous leg. Halcrow will be a useful addition to the team having sailed with Kostecki for over ten years including onboard illbruck, the winning boat from the Volvo Ocean Race 2001-02.

Injuries have also resulted in crew changes within ABN AMRO TWO. Gerd Jan Poortman (NED) was replaced by Brazilian Lucas Brun on leg four into Rio de Janeiro and it will be Brun who competes in the in-port race after Poortman is forced to sit it out due to a back injury.

Australian Nick Bice will also stay onshore during the in-port race due to a broken hand. Bice will be replaced until Baltimore by Yves Leblevec, a French Figaro sailor and world record holder with maxi catamaran Orange II. The eleventh man spot on ABN AMRO TWO will be taken by Australian Neil Cox TEAM ABN AMRO’s boat captain.

The Spanish entry movistar have waged a race against the clock after stopping in Argentina during leg four to repair a damaged keel. The boat arrived into Rio five days later than the fleet and since then the shore crew have been working non-stop on the boat.

Two crew changes have taken place onboard for the in-port race due to existing crew members returning to previous projects. Xabi Fernandez has returned to Spain to train for the 2008 Olympic Games in the 49er class and will be replaced by fellow Spanish Olympic sailor Fernando Echavarri. Echavarri, who was crowned world and European Champion in the Tornado class in 2005 and World Sailor of the Year in 2005 will be a useful asset to the team.

The second addition to the movistar team is Mike Howard (USA) stepping onboard for the in-port race and the next leg to Baltimore in place of Noel Drennan (IRL). Howard is an experienced ocean racer, having competed in the last race onboard Assa Abloy. The eleventh man spot will be taken by Pedro Campos, movistar’s Team Manager.

Paul Cayard’s Pirates of the Caribbean finished second in the previous in-port race in Melbourne and will be looking to go one better this time. Two new Pirates will be stepping onboard. British sailor Ian Budgen will replace Rodney Ardern (NZ) who is due to return to Alinghi America’s Cup team. Budgen, who competed with GBR Challenge during the last America’s Cup, also has a wealth of inshore sailing from years of competing in the Olympic 49er class.

Curtis Blewett (CAN) returned to Alinghi prior to the last leg and was temporarily replaced by Jeremy Smith (NZ) for leg four. Jerry Kirby (USA) trained with The Pirates last year and has always been the planned replacement for Blewett. Kirby competed in the Volvo Ocean Race 97-98 onboard Chessie Racing and has an America’s Cup win under his belt. The eleventh man onboard will be Australian Mark Mctiegue.

Current overall leaders ABN AMRO ONE have very few changes to their crew, sticking to their previous in-port line up. Brian McInnes (CAN) replaces Mark Christensen (NZ) for the in-port race and Tomasso Chieffi (ITA) the newly signed joint helmsman of Team Shosholoza, the South African America’s Cup campaign, will also step back on for the in-port race.

Home favourites Brasil 1 will be looking for victory on their local waters after a disappointing fourth place finish into Rio. Norwegian sailor Knut Frostad who joined Brasil 1 for the Southern Ocean legs has stepped off, allowing space for Marcelo Ferreira, skipper Torben Grael’s Olympic Star crew, to step back onboard the boat. The crew of Brasil 1 will be joined by experienced keelboat sailor and Team Manager Alan Adler.

Multiple Olympic medallist Torben Grael and his crew, half of which are Brazilian, will be hoping that the local knowledge onboard will bring them victory in front of a home crowd.

The six teams will leave the Marina da Gloria from 11:00 (local) on Saturday 25 March. Racing gets underway at 13:00. The race will be broadcast live on TV Globo.

Live audio commentary will be broadcast at www.volvooceanrace.org. Tune in to Guy Swindells English commentary with guest Rob Mundle. Spanish speaking listeners will hear the events unfold through the voice of Amanda Blackley and guest Maria Bertrand.

Current Leaderboard
[position/team name/skipper/race points to date]
1st TEAM ABN AMRO ONE, Mike Sanderson (NZL) 49 pts
2nd TEAM ABN AMRO TWO, Sebastien Josse (FRA) 35 pts
3rd Pirates of the Caribbean, Paul Cayard (USA) 30.5 pts
4th Movistar, Bouwe Bekking (NED) 28 pts
5th Brasil 1, Torben Grael (BRA) 26.5 pts
6th Ericsson Racing Team John Kostecki (USA) 21 pts

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