Team SCA sets off on first transatlantic

Team SCA in Puerto Calero, Lanzarote © Rick Tomlinson / Team SCA

On Thursday, April 24, Team SCA set off on their first transatlantic passage, sailing from their training base in Lanzarote, Spain to Newport Rhode Island, USA. The 3750-nautical mile passage is due to take about twelve days. The team will be sailing to a waypoint east of the Caribbean so that the last few days will be sailed in similar waters to Leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Itajai, Brazil to Newport, USA.

"This transatlantic sail allows us to put into practice all of the hard work that we have done as Team SCA over the past few months. We now have the full team more or less in place, the crew has their roles onboard and their areas of responsibility, so this passage and the return will give the opportunity to test the crew and boat in conditions that are more realistic for the Race itself," commented Joca Signorini, Team SCA Coach from Lanzarote.

There will be twelve crew onboard, one more than is allowed during the actual race, as the team is also trailing Libby Greenhalgh (GBR). She will share navigational duties with Carolijn Brouwer (NED). Team SCA will also be trailing two OnBoard Reporters, Corinna Halloran (USA) from Lanzarote to Newport and Anna-Lena Elled (SWE) on the return, from Newport to Lanzarote.

"This is another important milestone in our project, and it comes at a very significant time for the team. Last Sunday we marked the anniversary of the death of our coach Magnus Olsson, so this offshore passage is a testament not only to his legacy but also to the eighteen-month training program from our base in Lanzarote," commented Richard Brisius, Managing Director, Team SCA.

The team, supported by leading global hygiene and forest products company SCA, is due to arrive into Newport on Tuesday May 6. The return passage, which will essentially be a dry run of the seventh leg of the Race, will take Team SCA back across the Atlantic to a waypoint off Lisbon, before they sail south to their Lanzarote base.

Team SCA Transatlantic Crew: (Lanzarote-Newport)

1. Sally Barkow (USA) - Helm / Trimmer
2. Carolijn Brouwer (NED) - Navigator / Helm
3. Dee Caffari (GBR) - Helm / Pit
4. Sophie Ciszek (AUS) - Bow
5. Sam Davies (GBR) - Watch Captain / Person In Charge
6. Abby Ehler (GBR) - Boat Captain/ Pit
7. Stacey Jackson (AUS) - Bow
8. Annie Lush (GBR) - Helm / Trimmer
9. Elodie-Jane Mettraux (SUI) - Helm / Trimmer
10. Justine Mettraux (SUI) - Helm / Trimmer
11. Liz Wardley (AUS) - Watch Captain

• Libby Greenhalgh (GBR) - Navigator (on trial)
• Corinna Halloran (USA) - Onboard Reporter (on trial)

www.teamsca.com