Team Russia
New Zealander Andy Meiklejohn is among a quartet of additional crew members confirmed by Team Russia.
Meiklejohn is joined aboard the Russian Volvo Open 70 Kosatka by Jeremy Elliott (IRE), Jochen Wolfram (GER) and Nick Bubb (GB).
It will be the 31-year-old Meiklejohn’s third lap having previously been a rigger on News Corp in 2001-02 and a bowman on Brasil 1 in the 2005-06 edition. He will fill the role of bowman for the Russians and will train team principal Oleg Zherebtsov as second bowman.
In addition to the Volvo, Meiklejohn was bowman on Victory Challenge in the last America’s Cup and was onboard Rosebud, winner of the 2007 Sydney-Hobart Race.
Elliott, from North Sails UK’s loft, joins as trimmer and sail designer. Irish-born Elliott, 29, was on the sailing and design team for GBR Challenge America’s Cup teams in 2002 and 2004 and the sail design team for Luna Rossa in 2007. Jeremy has been fundamental in designing Kosatka’s sails.
German Olympian Wolfram, 41, signs on as grinder and trimmer. Wolfram was part of United Team Germany for the America’s Cup in 2007.
Wolfram is an accomplished maxi boat sailor and in addition to his role as grinder, he will also oversee and manage the deck equipment onboard.
Bubb, 29, will be pitman and boat captain. He will be responsible for liaising between the boat and shore team and will look after below deck systems including hydraulics and engines.
Bubb has extensive short-handed racing experience including four years of Mini Transat racing. He took part in the Oryx Quest (non stop around the world) on Maxi Cat Daedalus (ex ENZA) as well as sailing in Class 40’s for La Route du Rhum and Transat Jacques Vabre. Most recently he worked with Mike Golding on the Open 60 Ecover.
Commenting on the crew announcements, Team Russia’s CEO Michael Woods, said: “I am delighted to announce Andy, Jeremy, Jochen and Nick’s involvement with Team Russia. We have assembled a great team of people here with enormous experience and a true sense of adventure.”
Team Russia crew: AUT - Andreas Hanakamp (skipper) ESP - Guillermo Altadill (watch leader) DEN - Stig Westergaard (watch leader and performance manager) UKR - Rodion Luka (helmsman) NED - Wouter Verbraak (navigator) RUS - Oleg Zherebtsov (bow 2 and Pit) NZL - Andy Meiklejohn (bow) IRE - Jeremy Elliott (trimmer and sail designer) GER - Jochen Wolfram (grinder and trimmer).
Find out more about Team Russia on their website www.teamrussia.org.
You can watch hours of race video at www.VolvoOceanRace.tv, the official Race TV channel for free!
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