Bekking to lead Dutch boat in Volvo Ocean Race

The Hague, Dec 4 (IANS) Dutch sailor Bouwe Bekking will skipper a new Dutch team in the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015.

The team will be sponsored by Brunel, an Amsterdam-based company specialising in project management, recruitment and consultancy. It is the third time it is sponsoring a team for the prestigious around the world sailing event, reports Xinhua.

The team joins the all-female campaign Team SCA, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing and the Chinese challenge Team Dongfeng in the 2014-15 line-up announced so far.

The Volvo Ocean Race will be organised for the 12th time next year and will start Oct 4 in Alicante, Spain, and finish June 27, 2015 in Swedish Gothenburg. The race was won a record three times by a Dutch boat, of which the last one in 2006 (ABN Amro). During the final edition (2011-2012) there was no Dutch participant.