First Volvo Open 70 christened

ABN AMRO launch webcast to 105,000 employees of the Dutch bank

The first of the two Team ABN AMRO Volvo race yachts, and the first Volvo Ocean 70 to be built, was christened last night in Portomao, Portugal. With 200 people attending the christening was broadcast live on-line involving all of the bank’s 105,000 employees worldwide.

Team ABN AMRO will now start testing and fine-tuning their new gear for the bank’s bid in the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-2006. The crewmembers of the first boat have been painstakingly selected by skipper Mike Sanderson and the team's Technical Director Roy Heiner. Two new crew members were also announced at the christening ceremony: Sidney Gavignet and Mark Christensen who sailed on ASSA ABLOY and illbruck in the last Volvo Ocean Race. The crew line-up now comprises:

Mike Sanderson – Skipper (New Zealand)
Brad Jackson – Watch Captain (New Zealand)
Tony Mutter – Helmsman Trimmer (New Zealand)
David Endean - Trimmer Pitman (New Zealand)
Jan Dekker – Bowman (France)
Robert Greenhalgh – Helmsman Trimmer (UK)
Justin Slattery - Bowman (Ireland)
Stan Honey – Navigator (USA)
Mark Christensen – Watch Captain (New Zealand)
Sidney Gavignet – Helmsman Trimmer (France)

To see the replay of the webcast - click here

More photos on page 2...