Dongfeng's pattern, Charles Caudrelier, announces a world-class trio for the 2011-18 Volvo Ocean Race campaign

Jéémie Beyou, who comes from finishing third in the Vendée Globe, will change the navigation alone for the challenge for the toughest teams of the sport after it is announced its registration for the "Dongfeng" as part of a trio of world-sized regatists for the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18. Beyou joins two other regatists with an enormous ocean experience such as the New Zealanders Stu Bannatyne and Daryl Wislang to complete the first gang of crew that is added to the Chinese campaign, and that will carry out in the coming months an intense period of training and testing supervised by the patron Charles Caudrelier. Bannatyne, a veteran with seven editions of the Volvo Ocean Race and three victories behind his back, and Wislang, who has competed in three editions and raised the trophy with Abu Dhabi in 2014- 15, know all about what it means to be competitive in the greatest ocean challenge. But Beyou, at her 40s, three-fold winner of the Solitaire du Figaro and from Larmor-Plage in French Britain, is used to sailing around the world in her Open 60, Maitre Coq, and recognizes that life on board will be a very different experience for him. Caudrelier, who led the "Dongfeng Race Team" to the podium in 2014-15, believes that the great experience that Beyou, Wislang and Bannatyne bring will fit very well with the rest of the Chinese and international team to form a very powerful squadron... also revealed that Wisland will be head of guard in the Dongfeng... both Beyou and Bannatyne will sail during the race, and Bannatyne will probably be on board at the important stages of the South Ocean.

The team is currently installing at its permanent base in Lorient after collecting its recently remodeled Volvo Ocean 65 in Lisbon last week... in the coming weeks it is planned to confirm new crew...

Stuart Bannatyne (New Zealand)
Born 20 April 1971
He lives in Auckland (NZ).
7 Volvo Ocean Races and 3 with New Zealand Endeavour, Illbruck Challenge and Ericsson 4.
He's broken the speed record in 24 hours with a monotype five times.
Navigator of the Year in New Zealand in 2009
8 Fastnet, 3 Transpals and 11 Sydney Hobarts

Daryl Wislang (New Zealand)
Born on 20 May 1981
He lives in Wellington (NZ).
4 Volvo Ocean Races and winner in 2014 with Abu Dhabi
24-hour record with the Comanche in 2015 and Sydney Hobart winner

Jérémie Beyou (France)
Born on 26 June 1976 in Landidiriau (Finistère)
He lives in Larmor-Plage (France).
3rd in the Vendée Globe 2016 (IMOCA Maître CoQ)
Winner of the New York - Vendée (Les Sables d'Olonne)
3 wins in Solitaire du Figaro
2nd on the Rum Route 2014 (IMOCA Maître CoQ)
Winner of the Transat Jacques Verbe with Jean- Pierre Dick in 2011