Record breaking British round-the-world yachtswoman, Emma Richards, today announced plans for her next major sailing challenge, the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-06. Richards, 29, is teaming up with America’s Cup star Mike Sanderson, and at the launch of their campaign in London, they announced an unexpected addition to their team in golfing legend, Colin Montgomerie.
Montgomerie, star of Europe’s victorious 2002 Ryder Cup team, is a keen follower of sailing and will join Richards and Sanderson’s crew for one of the legs of the 30,000 nautical mile race. The 40-year old Scot, who headed the PGA European Tour’s Volvo Order of Merit for seven years in a row, will also be lending his support to the team’s search for sponsorship. They are currently in talks with a variety of multi-national companies in the hope of securing a £12 million three-year sponsorship deal.
Colin Montgomerie said, “I am fiercely supportive of all Scottish sportspeople. I greatly admired Emma’s inspirational solo circumnavigation last year, and feel privileged to be invited to become a member of her and Mike’s team. I have said once before that I would love to take on a new challenge in my life such as competing in a major yacht race like the Volvo Ocean Race, but I never thought I would either have the time or the opportunity. I’m sure it’s going to be one of the biggest challenges of my life, but also one that I will greatly enjoy.
“Depending on my schedule, I am aiming to sail on one of the legs of the race and possibly some of the in-port races, but before then I will be playing my part by helping Emma and Mike to secure the necessary sponsorship. Emma’s participation in the Volvo Ocean Race would be great for British sport and is also a great marketing opportunity for the right sort of company.”
Emma Richards, who is bidding to make sporting history by becoming the first female skipper ever to win what is arguably the world’s toughest sporting event, commented, “We are particularly thrilled that we are getting Colin’s support in this project and his advice to help our search for sponsorship. We are building a team that can deliver a great return on investment to our sponsors both on and off the water but without the necessary funding we will not get to the starting line.”
Speaking from Australia, Volvo Ocean Race CEO Glenn Bourke, said, “The combination of Emma, Mike and Colin working together is extremely exciting for our event. Emma and Mike’s proven track record at the highest level and Colin’s prowess both on the golf course and in business will be a strong attraction for corporate partners who wish to be associated with successful sporting personalities. Colin has always said he wanted to compete in our race and now he will have the chance to experience an event which is unique and very different from his own sporting arena. It will be very refreshing for him to see how our sport operates. The complete contrast in the sporting qualities will be interesting to him and it will be a challenge requiring enormous strength of character for him to make the transition to a team sport after spending his sporting life as an individual performer.”
Richards’ co-skipper and joint project leader is Mike Sanderson. Sanderson, 32, from New Zealand, will be the driving force behind the development and building of the boat for the campaign, and having already won the race once before, will form the basis of a formidable team.
Mike Sanderson commented: “I am looking forward to what is a very exciting challenge. I think that with my technical knowledge of racing boats, together with Emma’s experience and determination, we will have the best overall package to win this race.”
The Volvo Ocean Race starts on November 5, 2005 from Vigo, Galicia on the northwest coast of Spain, and comprises nine gruelling legs and seven inshore races in stopover ports around the world.
Notes to editors:
Emma Richards
Emma Richards gained international recognition last year when she became the first British woman and youngest ever competitor to complete the 29,000 mile solo round-the-world race, Around Alone. She was nominated for an MBE in the New Year’s honours list in recognition of her achievements.
Mike Sanderson
Mike Sanderson is one of the leading all-round yachtsmen in the world today. In 1994 he won the Maxi Division of the Whitbread Round-The-World Race as trimmer on board New Zealand Endeavour, skippered by Grant Dalton. Since then he has sailed on three America’s Cup campaigns, including most recently as mainsheet trimmer on Oracle BMW. He is also race skipper of Mari Cha IV, Robert Miller’s record-breaking yacht that smashed the transatlantic record by two days in October last year.
The Volvo Ocean Race
For further information on Emma Richards or Mike Sanderson, please contact:
Henry Chappell or Victoria Fuller at Pitch PR
Tel: +44 207 494 1616
Mob: +44 7880 707068
Email: henry@pitchpr.co.uk or victoria@pitchpr.co.uk
Website: www.emmarichards.com www.mike-sanderson.com
For further media information on the Volvo Ocean Race, please contact:
Lizzie Green, press officer
Tel: +44 1489 554 832
Mob:+44 7801 185 320
Email:lizzie.green@volvooceanrace.org
Website: www.volvooceanrace.org
For further media information on Colin Montgomerie, please contact:
Michele Mair, press manager, IMG
Tel: +44 208 233 5177
Mob:+44 7990574184
Email:mmair@imgworld.com
Website: www.img.com
Current stills archive (royalty-free images for media):
Patrick Anderson, Tel +44 777 55 33 956, Email: mailto:Patrick.Anderson@volvooceanrace.org
Online archive http://media.vemuk.com
Film and video archive:
Axiom International, Pat Marshall, Tel +44 1252 795 567, Email: patrickm@scn-axiom.co.uk
