Braidwood and Harmer named in Volvo Green Team
'Ian Walker in the nav station on board the new Green Team VO70. 'I need to get used to being in here - I'm going to be spending a lot of time at this desk in the near future.''
© Guy Nowell Click Here to view large photo
The Green Team have officially announced the majority of the squad which will sail alongside skipper Ian Walker for the 2008-09 race.
This will be double Olympic medallist Walker's first ever round the world race, so he has ensured he has some of most experienced ocean racers are among the lineup.
The sailing squad members announced are: Ian Moore (IRL) navigator; Damian Foxall (IRL) watch leader; Justin Slattery (IRL) bowman; Tom Braidwood (AUS) trimmer/driver;Andrew McLean (NZL) bowman; Phil Harmer (AUS) trimmer/driver;Scott Millar (IRL) trimmer; Freddie Shanks (GBR) bowman.
The team, along with 15 shore crew, are already hard at work at Endeavour Quay, Gosport preparing their new Volvo Open 70 for sea trials. 
Watch leader Foxall has the most ocean miles under his belt - 310,000nm to date. He was the winner of the inaugural Barcelona World Race earlier this year with Jean-Pierre Dick aboard Paprec Virbac and has competed in seven round the world races and completed 18 transatlantic crossings.
Overseeing sailing matters for the Green Team is TP52 owner Eamon Conneely: 'We are very fortunate to have secured the calibre of people that we have,' he said.
'We will be adding two more squad members including the second watch leader in due course but I am pleased with the current mixture of youth (four under 30s) and Volvo 70 experience. In Damian and Justin we have proven offshore winners and the team will be turning to them for a lot of advice in our preparation as well as during the race.'
Walker is pleased to be working with navigator Ian Moore. The pair have sailed together over the past 10 years. Walker said: 'Ian and I first sailed together as tactician and navigator on the IMS 50 Breeze in 1997. Last year we sailed together on Eamon's TP52 Patches and I have huge faith in his ability.'
Moore was navigator at Team New Zealand for the last America's Cup and was named as navigator for Britain's America's Cup challenger Team Origin in 2007.
www.volvooceanrace.org
by Volvo Ocean Race 
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