Ericsson Racing Team appoints Kostecki & Kouyoumdjian

Juan Kouyoumdjian & John Kostecki have been announced as designer and skipper respectively for the Ericsson Racing Team Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09 campaign © Rick Tomlinson / www.rick-tomlinson.com

Two months ago, the Ericsson Racing Team was the first entry to officially announce its participation in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09. Today, the team is proud to announce the names of its new skipper and principal designer. John Kostecki (USA) will lead the sailing team, whilst Juan Kouyoumdjian (ARG) will design a boat to be built in Sweden next year.

The Ericsson Racing Team will participate for the second consecutive time in the world premiere Ocean Race. The last edition, concluded in fifth place, has been thoroughly debriefed, and with the appointment of skipper John Kostecki and designer Juan Kouyoumdjian the team believes they have a potent mix for building a strong and competitive team.

"We are delighted to welcome John and Juan to the Ericsson Racing Team", comments Richard Brisius, Managing Director, Ericsson Racing Team. "John is a truly professional skipper whose outstanding track record has earned him significant respect within the sailing world. John shares our vision and values for what is needed to be successful in the next VOR. Juan is a world class yacht designer with an unmatched experience in the VO70 Class. We have had great discussions with Juan, involving John and other members of the team, where the outcome was the decision to join forces with Juan K Yacht Design for the next VOR."

John Kostecki is universally recognized as one of the best sailors in the world. He is also a proven leader, who achieves results on the water and excels in developing winning projects.

Winner of the 2001-02 Volvo Ocean Race as skipper onboard Illbruck, Kostecki was part of the Ericsson Racing Team in 2005-06, competing as inshore races tactician before stepping in as skipper between Rio de Janeiro and Baltimore. He now joins the team as skipper and will play a key role in the team build up, its preparation, training and development throughout the race.

Juan Kouyoumdjian has achieved his greatest success in the last Volvo Ocean Race, designing the winning and fourth placed boat. Juan's yachts have won six out of nine offshore legs, and dominated the fleet in five out of seven in-port races. Born in 1971 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, "Juan K" has been involved in all sorts of projects during his career: the Admiral's Cup, TP 52's, IRC, the America's Cup. He will design the Ericsson yacht, and supervise its construction in Sweden, in a location yet to be determined.

The Ericsson Racing Team is an international sailing team based in Sweden. It is fully integrated in Ericsson, the world's leading telecommunications equipment supplier. The Volvo Ocean Race will be held in 2008-09. The race will start in the autumn 2008 in Alicante, Spain. The final course is not established yet, but it will take the competitors through a new route, via Asia.

The Ericsson Racing Team was the first entry to officially announce its participation in the next edition of the event, confirming its commitment to compete at the highest level of offshore sailing whilst using the race as a platform for its commercial activities. A strong commercial program will be run in parallel to the race, involving customers and employees all over the world.

Quotes:

Juan Kouyoumdjian (ARG), Ericsson Racing Team designer:
"I am very happy to join the Ericsson Racing Team, and to take part to another Volvo Ocean Race. As Ericsson's exclusive designer, I will be able to design a new boat, and follow its evolution throughout the event. This regatta has reached such a level of complexity that it is important to be entirely dedicated to one team in order to achieve the results we expect."

John Kostecki (USA), Ericsson Racing Team skipper:
"My goal is clear: I am working with Ericsson Racing Team to win the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race. I will give it my all. Ericsson have shown and proved their dedication to this event, and I am proud to join their effort towards winning the race."