#VOR - Three-time Volvo Ocean Race winner Brad Jackson has been announced as skipper of Team AkzoNobel after the surprise dismissal of Simeon Tienpont at the weekend.
Jackson, who coached the Swedish all-women entry Team SCA in the 2014-15 edition, was promoted from within the crew with just days to spare before the fleet departs Alicante on the first leg this coming Sunday (22 October).
The 49-year-old New Zealander will take on the skipper role as well as his watch captain commitments shared with three-time Volvo Ocean Race veteran and 2008-09 edition winner Joca Signorini (BRA). This will be Jackson’s seventh Volvo Ocean Race.
“It’s a privilege to lead a team of people as talented and committed as this one – both on the water and on shore,” said Jackson yesterday (Monday 16 October). “The credit for the quality of team AkzoNobel should go to Simeon Tienpont.
“We have been through a difficult time since Simeon’s departure, but I’m proud of the way everyone at team AkzoNobel has responded and now it’s time for us to focus on the race.”
Jackson added: “I’m grateful for the support I have received from within the team. It’s not the ideal preparation for the race that we had hoped for, but I know we can move forward quickly and be racing hard on start day.”
Meanwhile, Simeon Tienpont has issued his own statement after Team AkzoNobel announced the termination of their relationship with his management team over “breach of contract”.
“They talk about a contract break, which is absolutely unfounded and is very damaging to my reputation, especially in view of the timing, just before the start of the race,” said the Dutch sailor, who would have been competing in his first Volvo Ocean Race as skipper.
“I can only guess that it is about a small budget overrun on a safety issue, but we have always been 100% transparent to AkzoNobel about our financial affairs and all our expenses have been made with their approval. It is them, not me, who is in clear breach of the contract.”
Scuttlebutt Sailing News has more on Tienpont’s statement HERE.
