The Ericsson Racing Team has decided to build two boats in its bid to conquer the Volvo Ocean Race in 2008 - 09. After recruiting skipper John Kostecki, designer Juan Kouyoumdjian and boat builder Killian Bushe last year, the team announces today that a second boat bearing its colours will be raced by a Nordic crew and skippered by Swede Anders Lewander.
Alongside Kostecki's international crew, the second boat will be raced by an all Nordic team with a Swedish skipper. Anders Lewander, who will lead this team, is a newcomer in the Volvo Ocean Race and his profile is different from the usual offshore professional sailor. Anders Lewander has a strong background in dinghies sailing, having been a member of the Swedish National Sailing Team. Amongst different and very varied sailing experiences - ranging from 49ers to Archipelago Raid - he has also sailed around the world on board Cheyenne/Playstation in the Oryx Cup 2005. He has been working for North Sails Sweden since 1994, and is a very experienced sail maker. Lewander's crew will benefit from five time Whitbread / Volvo Ocean Race veteran Magnus Olsson's experience. Technical Director for the Ericsson Racing Team in 2005-06, "Mange", has been appointed by Lewander as coach and advisor to the Nordic crew. The two crews will be part of one same team and the two boats will compete on an equal basis. Both of them will be built by Killian Bushe next to Ericsson's headquarters in Kista (Stockholm).
