Volvo Ocean Race

Got his first contact with the race as shore crew for Ericsson in 2008-09 and joined Groupama after delivering Ericsson 4 to them as their training boat. Previously a member of the Emirates Team New Zealand sailing squad for the 2006-07 Louis Vuitton Series in New Zealand.

Caudrelier trained as an officer in the merchant navy and learned to sail by dead reckoning. Although competing in his first Volvo Ocean Race, he has an enviable trophy haul including wins in the 2004 Solitaire du Figaro, the 2009 Transat Jacques Vabre and the 2010 Tour of Spain.

Irishman Foxall is a fluent French speaker, based in Lorient, and brings a wealth of offshore experience to the team. Won the Barcelona World Race in 2007-08 and previously competed in the Volvo on Tyco in 2001-02 finishing fourth, Ericsson 2005-06 finishing fifth and Green Dragon in 2008-09 finishing fifth.

Making his Volvo Ocean race debut, Israel brings a diverse range of top flight experience including match racing, Tour de France, Louis Vuitton Series and Solitaire du Figaro. Sailed in the first leg before being replaced by Pages in Leg 2.

Krite is a priest as well as sailor, under-30 and member of the Ikea watch. Another veteran of the Ericsson 3 team that finished fourth last time, Krite also competed in the 2007 America’s Cup as part of the Swedish Victory Challenge.

Part of the Ericsson 3 crew which finished fourth in the 2008-09 race, Stromberg was also a member of BMW Oracle Racing’s sail-making team at the 2006-07 America’s Cup. When on board alongside fellow Swede Martin Krite, fellow crew members refer to them as the Ikea watch.

A master sailmaker, Harmer sailed with Brunel in the 2005-06 race finishing seventh and on Green Dragon in the 2008-09 race finishing fifth. Harmer was based in the UK but the change of focus has brought a lot of benefits, he says, including cheese, coffee and the chance to learn a new language.

One of the biggest names in offshore racing, Coville won the Jules Verne Trophy in 2010 and the 1999 Transat Jacques Vabre. He also twice represented his country at the America’s Cup. Has Volvo Ocean Race experience dating back to 2001-02, when he sailed with Knut Frostad on djuice.

Making his Volvo Ocean Race debut, Riou is an accomplished offshore sailor in his own right and won the Mini Fastnet in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Was nominated for the Inmarsat MCM award for his work documenting the first leg.

The most senior member of the crew, Jacques holds the Jules Verne Trophy with Groupama, and also competed in the Whitbread with Eric Tabarly in 1993.

A veteran of many offshore campaigns, Nélias previously competed in the Volvo Ocean Race in 2009-10 with Green Dragon, taking part in the Stockholm In-Port Race and on leg 10 from Stockholm to St. Petersburg.