Team Brunel announced

Grant Wharington introduces his new look Volvo Ocean Race crew

Grant Wharington, announced today his Team Brunel - the 11 strong team who will take Brunel from Baltimore through to the finish of the Volvo Ocean Race in Gothenburg in June 2006.

The predominantly Antipodean team is somewhat different to his previous entry's crew. Although he has retained both Matt Humphries and Jeff Scott as his Watch Captains (both four times Volvo Ocean Race veterans - this race is their fifth), he has been joined by world - renowned Navigator Will Oxley, an original Premier Challenge team member and long time partner of Wharington's on the Maxi boat circuit.

"We are all here in Baltimore waiting to receive the yacht which is currently on board a Wallenius Wilhemsen freight carrier, and has just arrived in this morning. We are just waiting for customs clearance," explained Wharington. "We have made significant changes to the Volvo Open 70 itself, our squad and sails too. The guys are all really pumped and ready. We will have an extremely busy few days getting all the measurement issues sorted, but after that we will be out on the water and looking to make an impact."

He continued, "We are also pleased to welcome Dutchman Ed van Lierde into our team. He is the successful candidate from Brunel's selection process which ran over three weekends in Holland and culminated in the final two coming to Australia and competing in the Sydney Gold Coast Race. Ed did a great job there, and we are delighted to have him join us. It's great to have a Dutch representative on board, given the tremendous support we have had from the Dutch corporate world - first with ING Real Estate and now of course with our Title Sponsor Brunel."

Humphries, an Englishman who lives in Sweden, and Graeme Taylor, Brunel's Boat Captain, have been in Baltimore getting everything ready for the yacht's arrival.

Team Brunel:
Grant Wharington AUS Skipper
William Oxley AUS Navigator
Matthew Humphries GBR Watch Captain
Jeffrey Scott NZL Watch Captain
Eduard van Lierde NED Crew
Gareth Cooke NZL Crew
Graeme Taylor AUS Crew//boat captain
Mark Bartlett GBR Crew
Mitchell White AUS Crew
Phil Airey NZL Crew
Phil Harmer AUS Crew