Blair Tuke goes MAPFRE Volvo
The 27-year old sailor from New Zealand will be one of the trimmers/helmsmen in the crew led by Basque skipper Xabi Fernandez. Tuke will join the team in Sanxenxo (Pontevedra) next week.
The name of the second under-30 sailor to join MAPFRE has been confirmed, as the team prepare for their challenge to win the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18, the round-the-world race, which leaves from Alicante on 22nd October. New-Zealand sailor Blair Tuke will join the crew, skippered by Xabi Fernandez, next week.
Following his recent victory in the America’s Cup in Bermuda, Tuke is due to arrive in Spain next week to join the rest of the Spanish team at their base in Sanxenxo, in the Rías Baixas region of Galicia.
Coincidentally Xabi and Blair share a number of similarities in their sporting careers. Both have victories in Olympic sailing. Xabi’s class has always been the 49er, where Tuke also has a gold and silver medal, as well as various world championships to his name.
MAPFRE crew confirmed to date
Xabi Fernandez (ESP), Skipper
Pablo Arrarte (ESP), Watch captain
Rob Greenhalgh (GBR), Watch captain
Ñeti Cuervas-Mons (ESP), Bowman and boat captain
*Willy Altadill (ESP), trimmer/bowman
*Blair Tuke (NZL), trimmer/helmsman
* Under-30 crew member
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