Ericsson Racing Team has signed 47 year-old Brazilian Torben Grael as skipper of one of the two Ericsson boats in the next Volvo Ocean Race:

“I look forward to do the race again and I am happy to join the very strong Ericsson Racing Team that seem to have a great team in place including designers, builders, shore and of course sailing crew,” said Torben.

With five Olympic medals, a third place in the latest Volvo Ocean Race and three America’s cup campaigns under his belt, Torben Grael is one of the world’s most respected sailors of today. Torben’s success on the water has made him one of the most well known and respected athletes in his home country as well as overseas.

“With Torben onboard our campaign will become even stronger. We have a great platform with an already strong team in place that can now focus on the year leading up to the start in Spain in October 2008,” said Brad Jackson, who alongside Stu Bannatyne, is watch captain on the international crew.

Since John Kostecki left the campaign for family reasons in August Richard Brisius, managing director at Ericsson Racing Team, has been looking for his successor: “Torben brings experience and world class track record,” said Brisius. “He joins a very strong team who are working at full speed in all aspects of the campaign. Together with our experienced watch captains, Stu Bannatyne and Brad Jackson, the international crew is almost complete and Torben will continue to build on the strong set up already established.”

At the same time, the Nordic crew, headed by Swedish skipper Anders Lewander has been strengthened with the recent announcement of the two Danish crew members Stefan Myrälf and Jens Dolmer.

Ericsson Racing Team will participate with two boats in the next Volvo Ocean Race. One will have an international crew and the other will be all Nordic. The two crews will be part of one same team and the two boats will compete on an equal basis. Both boats will be built by Killian Bushe next to Ericsson’s headquarters in Kista, Stockholm.