Abu Dhabi Seamanship Award for Volvo Ocean Race Leg 7
by Volvo Ocean Race media 10 Jun 2012 12:15 BST
9-10 June 2012
PUMA’s Jono Swain takes the Abu Dhabi Seamanship Award for his onboard medical heroics during leg 7 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 © Ian Roman / Volvo Ocean Race
PUMA's helmsman/trimmer Jonathan Swain
took home the Abu Dhabi Seamanship Award for the Volvo Ocean Race Leg 7 for
his on-board first-aid efforts during the gruelling, round the world yacht
race known as the ‘Everest of Sailing’.
Swain scooped the award - which is given by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture
Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) to sailors and teams who demonstrate acts of
bravery and valour – for dealing with PUMA’s Media Crew Member (MCM) Amory
Ross’ dislocated shoulder and watch captain Tony Mutter’s severely sprained
ankle during the leg.
Swain received the award from Emirati Adil Khalid, a crew member of the TCA
Abu Dhabi-backed Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing at a private ceremony in Lisbon,
Portugal, the eighth race stopover when he paid tribute to the support he
received from onshore medics.
"It came as a big surprise to be nominated and it's an honour to win," Swain
said. "I've learned a lot about being a medic over the five races I've done,
and I've only got the doctors to thank."
Swain previously tended to a series of nasty injuries in the southern ocean
on Leg 5, after calling on expert advice from PUMA and Volvo Ocean Race
onshore doctors by telephone.
Back then, Swain had to deal with a painful back injury to bowman Casey
Smith, Thomas Johanson’s excruciating dislocated shoulder, as well as
treating a debilitating infection to his own elbow.
All three casualties were eventually able to return to the watch system to
help PUMA snatch its first leg win of the current edition of the race.
No doubt calling on his southern ocean experience, Swain popped Ross’
shoulder back into place on Leg 7 in a matter of minutes, allowing him to
return to his MCM duties virtually without missing a beat.
Likewise, following some expert ankle strapping and a dose of pain
medication administered by Swain, Mutter was able to rejoin the watch system
after just a day and a half in his bunk.
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing also picked up an impressive haul at the Leg 7 prize
giving, after a closely fought battle saw the outfit claim its maiden stage
win. In addition to picking up the trophy for the victory, the first by an
Arabian entry in the event’s 39-year history, the team’s MCM Nick Dana also
scooped the coveted Inmarsat MCM Award.
Dana’s top-notch multimedia coverage of Abu Dhabi’s first leg win –
including live video of the moment they crossed the Leg 7 finish line – gave
him the edge over fellow nominees CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand’s
Hamish Hooper and PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG’s Ross.