Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09

September 16, 2008 16:34 by Bang The Corner | 0 comments

O'Rourke and Delta Lloyd delivery crew due in Alicante in the early hours of tomorrow.

O’Rourke and Delta Lloyd delivery crew due in Alicante in the early hours of tomorrow.

Preparation continues in the start port of Alicante, Spain, as seven of the fleet of eight Volvo Open 70s, the fastest monohulls in the world, begin their final checks. Delta Lloyd is expected to arrive in Alicante overnight and her arrival will complete the fleet of eight yachts racing in the Volvo Ocean Race.

The crew on Delta Lloyd after their last minute entry into the Volvo Ocean race are at present nearing the end of their 2000 mile qualifying passage, which will finish in the start port of Alicante over night tonight.

The team is sailing the boat with nine people from three nations, Ireland, Britain and New Zealand with the rest of the team from Holland joining the boat in Alicante. Many of the crew are from Ger O’Rourke’s old boat Chieftain and have made the step up to the Volvo Open 70. The team on the 2000 mile qualifier is:

Ger O’Rourke (Skipper) IRL
Mark Tighe IRL
Edwin O’Connor IRL
Wietse Og Buwalda IRL
Ryan Huston NZL
Stu Molloy NZL
Martin Watts GBR
Ed Hill GBR
Ben Mir GBR