Volvo RYA Keelboat sailor lands Volvo Ocean Race squad spot

Young Northern Irishman Scott Millar could be on the verge of becoming the first Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme sailor ever to take part in the prestigious Volvo Ocean Race after being named in the squad for Ireland’s Green Team entry.

Millar has been invited by Green Team skipper double Olympic silver medallist Ian Walker to join his team in their preparations for the gruelling 37,000 nautical mile, 10-leg epic, which gets underway in Alicante on Saturday 11 October.

At 25 the Newtownards trimmer is the youngest member of the Green Team squad that is already hard at work at Endeavour Quay, Gosport preparing the team’s new Volvo Open 70 for sea trials.

Now Millar has his eyes firmly set on impressing the Green Team hierarchy in the coming weeks to seal his place in the final Volvo Ocean Race crew.

He said: “It has been a lifelong dream for me to do this race and it would mean so much to me, especially sailing for an Irish team and representing my country at the highest level. I wouldn’t be part of this set up if it wasn’t for the support and opportunities I’ve had through the Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme.”

Millar first came to John Merricks Sailing Trust (JMST) trustee Walker’s attention when he was the boat captain for the JMST-loaned Farr 45 John Merricks last year and impressed Walker with his attitude and ability both on and off the boat.

With the Volvo Ocean Race stipulating that each boat must have two sailors aged under 30 onboard during each leg, Millar is one of four sailors in the squad that meets that criteria.

Walker said: “I have been looking out for talented young Irish sailors to join the team for a while now. Scott is not only a good sailor but he is smart and has a great physique for sailing these boats.”

Millar, however, is not the only Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme sailor to be involved in Walker’s campaign. Newark-born Henry Foster, 22, is also part of Green Team’s 15-strong shoreside team helping to prepare the Reichel Pugh-designed boat, which arrived from China at the start of June.

Meanwhile also confirmed as part of Green Team are Barcelona World Race winner Damian Foxall (IRL) as watch leader and America’s Cup navigator Ian Moore (IRL), who was named as a member of Britain’s America’s Cup Team Origin challenger last year.

The Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme was launched in 2003 to provide the opportunity for talented young sailors aged between 16-24 to break into the world of keelboat sailing.

David Atkinson, RYA Racing Services Manager said: “This is a tremendous honour for the Programme. When the Programme was launched, one of its primary objectives was to have a sailor involved in a Volvo Ocean Race campaign.

“We said it would take five years for the Programme to gain the recognition and credibility amongst the high performance sailing fraternity that could enable a young sailor to be invited to join a Volvo Ocean Race campaign. Five years later and that aim is now close to being realised.”