STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Nov. 24, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- ABN AMRO today announced the crew that will mount its challenge to win the 2005/06 Volvo Ocean Race. The line-up, selected by skipper Mike Sanderson and technical director Roy Heiner, is:
Brad Jackson -- Watch Captain (New Zealand) Tony Mutter -- Helmsman Trimmer (New Zealand) David Endean - Trimmer Pitman (New Zealand) Jan Dekker -- Bowman (France) Robert Greenhalgh -- Helmsman Trimmer (UK) Justin Slattery - Bowman (Ireland) Stan Honey -- Navigator (USA)
The Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) takes off from Spain in November next year and runs its final leg into a Baltic port in the summer of 2006. It is the longest and most challenging round-the-world sailing competition and arguably the toughest test of teamwork as well as endurance in world sport.
Commenting on the crew selection, TEAM ABN AMRO Skipper Mike Sanderson, said, "Next year's Volvo will be the toughest ever test of our technical, physical and emotional strength. The Volvo 70's will be excitingly fast and the mix of offshore and inshore racing adds new pressures. I am delighted by the makeup of the team -- great talent, huge experience and strong personalities. Over the next 11 months we will be building the spirit and understanding required to win a world class team competition."
Jan Berent Heukensfeldt Jansen, Managing Director of the campaign team, said, "This is an international crew to represent an international bank. We have huge admiration for these men, for their skill, professionalism and commitment. Our role is to provide them with the infrastructure and support teams that will ensure TEAM ABN AMRO fulfils its potential."
ABN AMRO is also offering young, high-potential sailors the chance to sail the Volvo Ocean Race 2005/06. A worldwide campaign is underway to recruit young talent for a second boat that will have an international crew of promising young men and women aged between 21 and 30. Applications are exclusively being accepted via a dedicated website: www.abnamro.com/team
TEAM ABN AMRO's sailing director Roy Heiner and his staff will appoint four professionals sailors to fill key positions such as skipper and navigator. The remaining eight openings will be filled through an open selection process. Two crew members will be selected from each of ABN AMRO's home markets: the Netherlands, Brazil and the US. A further two crew will be recruited from other countries around the world.
The selection process is being led by Dutchman Roy Heiner and comprises three steps. First, 80 finalists are selected from a global audience through an interactive questionnaire on the website mentioned above. This group will receive an invitation for the second step: live assessment at locations in the US, Brazil or the Netherlands.
During this second stage, potential crew members will be tested on their sailing, physical and mental abilities. From this group, twenty will be selected in this worldwide campaign. The third and final selection takes place in Portugal in March 2005. Eight out of the final 20 candidates will form the crew on TEAM ABN AMRO's second boat.
The successful candidates will participate in a six-month training programme, have access to world-class sailing expertise and will be entrusted with a purpose-built, state-of-the-art race yacht. ABN AMRO wants a crew that has the passion and determination to show that teamwork and talent can compete at the highest level.
ABN AMRO has entered the Volvo Ocean Race with two boats designed by Argentinean Juan Kouyoumdjian and built under the watchful eye of Irishman Killian Bushe -- who also built "Illbruck," the winner of the last VOR.
More information about ABN AMRO's participation in the Volvo Ocean Race 2005/06 is available on www.abnamro.com/team.
Further information: Press Relations: +31 20 6288900
About ABN AMRO
Netherlands-based ABN AMRO is a leading international bank with total assets of EUR 637.5 bln (as at 30 September 2004). It has over 3,000 branches in more than 60 countries and territories, and has a staff of about 104,000 full-time equivalents worldwide. ABN AMRO is listed on the Euronext and New York stock exchanges.
ABN AMRO operates through three Strategic Business Units, each responsible for managing a distinct client segment. Wholesale Clients provides integrated corporate and investment banking services to corporate, institutional and public sector clients worldwide. Consumer & Commercial Clients focuses on retail and SME clients in three home markets -- the Netherlands, the US Midwest and Brazil and in a number of selected growth markets. Private Clients & Asset Management provides private banking services to wealthy clients and investment products to financial intermediaries and institutional clients.
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