Two new crew for Assa Abloy

Replacements for Roy Heiner and Guillermo Altadill announced

Frenchman Hervé Jan (44) and Roberto 'Chuny' Bermudez de Castro (31) from Spain, will join the crew of ASSA ABLOY for leg two. They replace Roy Heiner and Guillermo Altadill for the first Southern Ocean leg. Roy Heiner was replaced last week as Skipper by Neal McDonald. Guillermo Altadill has to go home to Spain for family reasons. Guillermo will return to Sydney and join the team on board for leg three. Both new recruits have been contracted to sail one leg.

Skipper Neal McDonald was happy with his new men. "They have all the qualities we were looking for in this leg. And that means, good helmsmen with experience on a VO 60 in the Southern Ocean. Both of them came highly recommended. I sailed with Hervé onboard Club Med and I doubt there are any people out there with more Southern Ocean miles than Hervé. I did not have to see his CV and he is one of the few madmen who really likes sailing in that part of the world. Chunny has sailed with three guys in our team and they agreed on him straight away. His experience ranges from Olympic classes, America’s Cup and Whitbread. Both of them are Southern Ocean expert helmsmen and that is what we need."

Guillermo Altadill will be leaving Cape Town as soon as possible after the restart to go back to Spain for family reasons. "I definitely intend to come back. I will stay in Spain for one month and see how things are. This is very important for my family and I have to be there."

Race veteran and Team Manager Magnus Olsson was also content with the changes. "It is a perfect solution for the short term. I know both of them and sailed with them or against them. And I have the feeling that this will work out even better for us. We are bringing in two motivated, experienced and strong sailors."

About Hervé Jan: Hervé has been racing all oceans for 20 years now. On monohulls or multihulls, as crew and single-handed. This relaxed but determined Breton is a Whitrbread veteran. He has participated in the last four Whitbreads and showed his skills in some Grands Prix races on multihulls. Herve Jan was also victorious with Thomas Coville on board Sodebo, in the last Transat Jacques Vabre. And before winning The Race in absolute record pace on Club Med this year, Herve was also aboard Sport Elec alongside Olivier de Kersauson winning the Jules Verne Trophy.

About Roberto Bermudez de Castro ‘Chunny’ as Roberto Bermudez de Castro Muñoz is called, was born in La Coruña (Spain) in 1970 and is also Whitbread veteran, being a helmsman on Galicia Pescanova in the ‘93-’94 race. He started sailing at the age of five. Ever since he has sailed in several dinghy classes ranging from Optimist, Snipe, 470, Mistral One Design to Laser. Later on he acquired extensive experience and knowledge in the IMS circuit on the Whitbread 60 Galicia Pescanova race. Chunny also sailed in two America’s Cup campaigns (’95 and ’99). In the last campaign Chunny was tune-up helmsman for Bravo
Espana.