Two new crew for Team Vestas Wind

Heavyweights sign up to sail with Chris Nicholson's Volvo Ocean Race team from Lisbon on

Following the firing of their navigator Wouter Verbraak, Team Vestas Wind has recruited two experienced offshore sailors to sail with them for the final two legs of the Volvo Ocean Race after they rejoin the race in Lisbon.

Tom Addis will navigate the Team Vestas Wind VO65 for the remainder of the race, while Simeon Tienpont will replace Tom Johnson as bowman as the latter has decided to accept a position within the Oracle Team USA.

Australian Tom Addis, 45, is a two-time Volvo Ocean Race veteran, having previoiusly competed with both PUMA and Teléfonica Blue as navigator. He has also participated in multiple transatlantic crossings and Sydney to Hobart races. His engineering and mathematical background is a welcome addition to Team Vestas Wind for the relatively short and technical legs from Lisbon onwards.

Experienced Dutch sailor, Simeon Tienpont. 33, formed part of the America's Cup winning team Oracle Team USA on two occasions and competed in the 2005-6 Volvo Ocean Race as an under 30 with ABN AMRO Two.

“I’m extremely satisfied with the composition of the team – our profiles are compatible and morale is high,” skipper Chris Nicholson said. “I know both Tom Addis and Simeon Tienpont well, and I’m sure they’ll fit in seamlessly, positively contributing to the dynamics and performance of the team. Now as a complete team, we’re solely focused on rejoining the race in Lisbon and on putting in our best performance for the remaining legs of the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015."

Vestas Chief Marketing Officer and CEO of Team Vestas Wind, Morten Albæk, said: “I am very pleased that Chris succeeded in hiring such strong sailors with a good combination of experience and motivation. I am very proud of all the hard work put in by the team in regards to the rebuild of the boat – in particular I would like to thank Persico Marine for an exceptional job – and I can’t wait to see the crew and the boat in Lisbon.”

No further adjustments to the Team Vestas Wind crew are expected to be made ahead of the Leg 8 start in Lisbon.