America's Sailing Stars Await Start of Volvo Around-the-World Race: International Fleet Manned by Two American Skippers and Other U.S. Crewmen and Women

    IRVINE, Calif.--(BW SportsWire)--Sept. 18, 2001--With only five days before its start, American men and women professional sailors are converging on Southampton, England for the first-leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. The nine-month epic is a multi-million dollar investment for competing teams and a 32,700-mile challenge for those sailors courageous enough to face the world's most dangerous seas in state-of-the-art 65 ft. racing sailboats. Among the fleet of international professionals are nine Americans, including skippers Lisa Charles McDonald (NAUTOR) and John Kostecki (ILLBRUCK).
    "This competition is unique to sports and to sailing itself. While there are breaks -- the race legs are hotly contested and each boat runs at maximum speed for the duration of each segment. That means 24-hour racing, regardless of weather, crew condition or other factors. This is team racing at its best that requires endurance and strength, with every leg counting as much as the next for the overall win. It's the Formula One championship of the yachting world," said Thomas Andersson, Executive Vice President, Marketing, Volvo Cars North America, LLC.
    Kostecki and Charles will be joined by other American sailors serving in various capacities and sprinkled throughout the fleet. "This race is a combination of brute force, stamina and endurance," said Charles, skipper of the all-female NAUTOR crew. "Every crew gets tired, so it's a matter of pacing yourself for each of the nine race legs and their individual demands on the boat and crew."

    AMERICAN COMPETITORS:

    John Kostecki / San Francisco, Calif. / ILLBRUCK: As skipper, Kostecki has overall responsibility including crew selection, the training program and race strategy. Kostecki is an Olympic silver medalist, two-time America's Cup tactician, 10-time world champion in a range of one-design classes and an established Whitbread veteran.

    Lisa Charles McDonald / Providence, R.I. / NAUTOR: Was part of the first full female entry in America's Cup 1995; and crewmember on the all-female EF Education during the Whitbread Round the World 97/98. For the Volvo Ocean Race, she will skipper the all-female crew of Amer Sports Too.

    Katie Pettibone / Port Huron, Mich. / NAUTOR: Will run the sail program and serve as a watch leader when racing. She will set up the boat and develop sails to capitalize on its performance potential.

    Peter Isler / San Diego, Calif. / News Corp.: Is a two-time America's Cup winning Navigator. He was also the top-ranked American on the professional match racing tour from 1987-1992.

    Mark Rudiger / Reno, Nev. / Assa Abloy: Navigator on the 97/98 Whitbread winner EL Language, Rudiger is a four-time winner of the TransPacific Race from Los Angeles to Honolulu.

    Peter Pendleton / Baltimore, Md. / NAUTOR: Is capable of maintaining rigging, deck systems, diesel engines, water ballast, electrical and hydraulic systems. He has won the Admirals Cup, IMS Worlds, IMS European, IMS 50 Worlds and China Coast Cup.

    Keith Kilpatrick / Houston, Texas / NAUTOR: Has sailed eight transpacific races, sailed on the winning boat twice in the Cape Town to Rio race and many other international regattas during his 20-year professional sailing career.

    Dee Smith / NAUTOR: Is a world-renowned tactician and skipper with more the 35 years racing experience. In addition to his skills as watch captain and tactician he is an experienced project manager, rigger, sail designer, sail maker and boat builder.

    Steve Gruver / Djuice: Has raced sailboats since he was ten. Most recently he was a pro sailor and trimmer aboard America True challenge for the America's Cup.

    The Volvo Ocean Race, formerly known as the Whitbread, is a highly regarded sports event in Europe and much of the world. Lesser known in the U.S., Volvo is nonetheless eager to raise American awareness for the race and its participants. Each crew will be in constant communications with global media and public audiences, including those in the United States with an interest in extreme sports. This isn't a sailing competition. It's a test of human spirit and technological achievement.