In Alicante, Spain the Green Dragon team unveiled their new livery and sponsors but more importantly for race fans the Chinese-Irish entry the team also went live with a new website.A dramatic green and black design the site offers a glimpse behind the scenes of the effort involved to make the start line. Worth the look. Click here .
The Chinese syndicate of the Irish team is made up of three companies; Shandong Lingong, Weichai Power and Triangle Group who are all part of a consortium of Chinese industrial companies based in Shandong Province, China. Shandong is located on the east coast of China, with total area of 157,000 square meters and a population of 92.48 million. Today, Shandong's gross domestic product (GDP) holds the leading economic position in China.
"Being involved in an international market is a strategy that Shandong Lingong (SDLG) is keen to implement. The Volvo Ocean Race, is one of the most influential sailing events in the world. Our involvement with the Green Dragon team ensures us a platform to communicate the SDLG brand with a global audience," Mr. Wang Zhizhong, CEO and President of Shandong Lingong Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
The imagery on the boat reflects the heritage of the Green Dragon project. The green portrays the projects' origination in Ireland. With the Dragon reflecting the Chinese title sponsorship. One of the partner sponsors on Green Dragon is www.discoverireland.com <http://www.discoverireland.com/> (The Irish Tourist Board) and the shamrock indicates their objective to promote Ireland as a maritime tourism destination through participation in the Volvo Ocean Race.
For the first time in the 35 year history of the race, China will not only host a three-week stopover in the Olympic sailing venue, Qingdao, but now has the first Chinese sponsorship of a Volvo Ocean Race entry.
The team already holds strong Chinese links with construction of the boat in China. The boat was built by a team of 90 Chinese boat builders at McConaghy Boats in Zhuhai, (Southern China) and this is the first Volvo Open 70 boat to be built in the country.
Ireland will also host its first Volvo Ocean Race stopover from 23 May to 06 June 2009. Galway will be ready and waiting with a true Irish welcome to the Volvo Ocean Race and the hundreds of thousands of visitors who are expected to visit Galway.
Also announced today are four Chinese squad members who will be involved in the Green Dragon team both onboard and onshore. Sailing onboard Green Dragon for the duration of the race in the role of Media Crew Member will be Guo Chuan (44). Guo originally from Qingdao, started sailing in 1996 and was the first Chinese participant in the Mini Class. He has 16,000 nautical miles under his belt so far, and this will be his first round the world race. Guo also sailed onboard the Qingdao boat during the Clipper Round the World Race in 2007. For the Volvo Ocean Race he successfully passed the strict pre-race sailing team trials making him the first Chinese sailor to compete in this race.
Guo will join the existing Green Dragon sailing squad, which includes four crew who competed in the last edition of the Volvo Ocean Race; Damian Foxall, Neal McDonald and Tom Braidwood (ERICSSON) and Justin Slattery (ABN AMRO ONE).
Green Dragon Racing Team Crew
1) Ian Walker (GBR) Skipper
2) Ian Moore (IRL) Navigator
3) Damian Foxall (IRL) Watch Leader
4) Justin Slattery (IRL) Bowman
5) Neal McDonald (GBR) Watch Leader
6) Guo Chaun (CHN) Media Crew Member
7) Tom Braidwood (AUS) Driver/Trimmer
8) Andrew Mclean (NZ) Bowman
9) Phil Harmer (AUS) Driver/Trimmer/ Sailmaker
10) Freddie Shanks (GBR) Bowman
Also joining Green Dragon as part of the shore team are Huang Jian Cameraman, Jiang Yongtao Photographer and Ms Wang Delu Interpreter and Chinese/Asian PR co-ordinator.
The team's official website is here
