Finnish 49er hero joins Ericsson

But oddly is on the B-Boat

Finnish sailor Thomas Johanson, has signed with Ericsson Racing Team as crew member in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009. The 49er Olympic gold medallist from Sydney 2000 will be sailing with Ericsson's Swedish skipper Anders Lewander on the Nordic crew.

"I have been thinking about sailing around the world for about six or seven years. And when I got an offer from the Ericsson Racing Team, it was impossible to say no," said Johanson.

At the age of 38, Johanson is now writing a new chapter in his sailing career. After many years of inshore fleet racing and as skipper onboard a 60 foot trimaran, Thomas is ready to take on his first round the world race.

"Ericsson has a great project: a great team, two boats - and most of all there are people in the Ericsson Racing Team whom I respect and would love to work with", says Johanson, who says he is not worried about climbing down a rung or two. In his dinghy days and as skipper of the 60ft trimaran, he was of course making all the decisions himself. Now he suddenly has to follow orders.

"Well, I think I'll probably manage," he said. "I am also a team player from playing ice hockey and floorball. I think Anders Lewander and I have the same leadership style. Neither of us is a dictator. We both believe in giving people space and confidence."

With three Olympic campaigns and extensive experience in big boat racing Johanson is a valuable addition to the crew. As a helmsman he has proved that he can make boats go fast and he is a team player with a winning attitude, says Anders Lewander.

Skipper Anders Lewander has, just like Thomas, a strong background in dinghies sailing, having been a member of the Swedish National Sailing Team. Among different and very varied sailing experiences - ranging from 49ers to the Archipelago Raid - Lewander also sailed around the world on board Cheyenne in the Oryx Cup 2005. He has been working for North Sails Sweden since 1994, and is a very experienced sail maker.