Team Sanya crew search

Mike Sanderson's Volvo Ocean Race team on the hunt for the next Chinese sports star

Team Sanya is on the hunt for a crewman who can be the first Chinese super star in sailing. The team, under the leadership of Skipper Mike Sanderson, is finalising details of their sailing team right now and that team of 10 sailors will include at least one Chinese sailor.

Team Sanya has entered this race to compete at the highest possible level and put the venue of Sanya, China on the map as a world class (and, as yet, relatively unknown and undiscovered) tourism destination. Sanya is located on the Hainan Province and the city is located at the southern-most tip of China, right next to Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. The 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race will visit there in February 2012.

China has a reputation for producing world class athletes. The most famous Chinese athlete is Yao Ming, a world class basketball player standing at 7ft 6” tall, who has led the way in popularity and celebrity income earning for the last six years. This opportunity with Team Sanya is aiming at creating the next Chinese sporting hero.

The criteria is straightforward – applicants must be Chinese, super strong and fit (90 kgs), ideally have some sailing experience or sporting experience competing at the highest level, need to speak fluent English. They need to be willing and able to get stuck into being part of this team at every level – helping out on boat work, pre-race preparations, media interviews, fitness training - and generally willing and able to turn their hand to whatever each day brings.

So far Team Sanya has gathered a shortlist of around 20 potential Chinese sailing team candidates whom they are assessing right now with a view to the first two candidates joining the team for the Fastnet race from 14 August 2011.

Any other applicants should send their details to info@teamsanya.com with a copy of your CV/biography as well as a short video/podcast/set of images giving the reasons for joining the Team Sanya sailing team.