Youth boat confirmed for ABN AMRO

Second Dutch Volvo Ocean Race boat will be sailed by 21-30 years olds

ABN AMRO is offering young, high-potential sailors the chance to sail the Volvo Ocean Race 2005/06.

A worldwide campaign is being launched in the second week of November to recruit this young talent. The crew members of the first boat are professionals, personally selected by skipper Mike Sanderson. The second boat will have an international crew of promising young men and women aged between 21 and 30.

Applications are exclusively being accepted via a dedicated website here.

Team ABN AMRO’s Sailing Director Roy Heiner and his staff will appoint four experienced sailors to fill key positions such as skipper and navigator. The remaining eight openings will be filled through an open selection process. Two crew members will be selected each from the Netherlands, Brazil and the US, as these are home markets for ABN AMRO. Another two are to be recruited from the applicants of the rest of the world. All will participate in a six-month training session. They will have access to world-class sailing expertise and will be entrusted with a purpose-built, state-of-the-art race yacht. ABN AMRO wants a crew that has the passion and determination to show that teamwork and talent can beat experience.

The selection process is being led by Dutchman Roy Heiner and comprises three steps. First, 80 finalists are selected from a global audience through an interactive questionnaire on the website mentioned above. This group will receive an invitation for the second step: live assessment at locations in the US, Brazil or the Netherlands. During this second stage, potential crew members will be tested on their sailing, physical and mental abilities. From this group, 20 will be selected in this worldwide campaign.

The third and final selection takes place in Portugal in March 2005. Eight out of the final 20 candidates will remain to join the high potential team on Team ABN AMRO’s second boat.

ABN AMRO considers its participation in this high-profile sporting event an ideal opportunity to further strengthen its international brand awareness. In addition, entering the second boat perpetuates the bank’s vision of empowering young, talented people. Qualities such as professionalism, flexibility, teamwork and innovation not only match the bank's corporate culture, but will also prove fundamental to the success of the team effort in the race.