Royal visit

Ericsson get to meet their princess

The Ericsson Racing Team is honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the Volvo Ocean Race stopover. Crown Princess Victoria, godmother of the Ericsson boat, will come as a special guest of the team. She will sail with them as onboard guest for the in-port race on 25 March, and will wish them farewell as they set off for the fifth leg to Baltimore, USA, on 2 April.

HRH the Crown Princess Victoria christened the Ericsson yacht in Gothenburg, Sweden, back in August 2005. Not only is she godmother of the Ericsson boat - her brother Prince Carl Philip of Sweden was on board guest for the first in-port race in Sanxenxo, Spain, which the Ericsson team won. Prince Carl Philip is also patron of the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-2006.

"The Ericsson Racing Team is proud to welcome the Crown Princess as part of the team," commented Dusyant Patel, Operating Officer for the Ericsson Racing Team. "It will be an honour to host her during her stay in Rio de Janeiro, and we look forward to having her onboard for the in-port race. With any luck she will bring the team the same good fortune as her brother did in Sanxenxo."

Arriving in Rio de Janeiro on 24 March, Her Royal Highness will join the team at the Ericsson shore base for a team meeting and an informal lunch. She will be given a tour of the Volvo Ocean Race Village, meet the other competitors and learn what life is like for the sailors as they discuss their experiences in the Southern Ocean and prepare for the imminent inshore race. On 25 March she will take part in the fifth in-port race and will attend the official Leg Four Prize-Giving as the guest of honour.

Amongst other activities during her stay, The Crown Princess will pay a visit to Ericsson's Rio de Janeiro office to meet Ericsson employees. She is planned to attend a luncheon hosted by Ericsson and the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Brazil to the benefit of the World Childhood Foundation; founded by H.M. Queen Silvia of Sweden. The mission of World Childhood Foundation is to defend the rights of the child and to promote better living conditions for vulnerable and exploited children at risk all over the world. Crown Princess Victoria's visit will conclude on 2 April when she will bid the Ericsson Racing Team 'goodbye' and head out on the water to watch the fleet's departure for Baltimore, USA.