For immediate release
GOTHENBERG, Sweden – Daniel Alfredsson may be the captain of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators when he steps on the ice, but today (Saturday) he’s just another member of the crew when he steps aboard a Volvo Ocean 60 yacht for the first round of the Volvo Baltic Race here.
Alfredsson impressed the British skipper of the Team Elanders boat when he practiced with the squad Friday, where he settled into his job quickly. “He’s a great team player, which is exactly what we need,” said Matthew Humphries, a veteran of the around-the-globe Volvo Ocean Race. He said Alfredsson’s strength, competitive nature and balance on the heaving deck made him an instant asset to his new team.
Despite being “a natural” at his new sport, Alfredsson doesn’t foresee a career change. “I’ve seen these boats on TV when they sail around the world so it was great to join the crew, and it’s good fun. But I never realized how much hard work it is to make these boats go fast,” he said after his first practice.
The Volvo Baltic Race is a tightly contested, 8-leg race series that starts from Gothenberg and cris-crosses the Baltic Sea, touching down in Denmark and Germany before returning to Sweden on July 7, 2004. The Volvo Ocean Race, an around-the-world yacht race, starts from Spain on November 5, 2005.
Photo by: Oskar Kihlborg
For further information on the Volvo Baltic Race, please contact:
Rikard Bjork, Press officer telephone +46 7071 06 953
Email: rikard.bjork@effektivamedia.se
Lizzie Green, Press officer telephone +44 7801 185 320
Email: lizzie.green@volvooceanrace.org
Video footage:
Contact Doug Mepham (doug.mepham@bellnet.ca) or (613)966-4969 for FTP site info
