The three-time winner of the Volvo Ocean Race Brad Jackson has been announced as the patron of the Dutch team AkzoNobel for the 2017-18 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, which will travel 83,000 kilometres around the world

The three-time winner of the Volvo Ocean Race Brad Jackson has been announced as the patron of the Dutch team AkzoNobel for the 2017-18 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, which will travel 83,000 kilometres around the world. Jackson, born in Auckland (New Zealand) 49 years ago, will compete in his seventh Volvo Ocean Race after training the Swedish SCA team in the 2014-15 edition.

Jackson will assume the role of patron, and will maintain as his commitment as head of guard shared with the veteran of the Volvo Ocean Race (three editions behind his back) and winner of the 2008-09 edition, Joca Signorini (BRA). Jackson's appointment comes after the recent departure of Simeon Testipont (NED) from the team.

In addition to Signorini, Jackson's crew includes three-time participants of the Volvo Ocean Race and winner of the 2008-09 Jules Salter (GBR), the participant in 2005-06 Luke Molloy (AUS), the Brazilian Olympic gold medalist Martine Grael, the Danish match race expert Nicolai Sehested, the young and promising New Zealand regatist Brad Farry and the Bermudian Emily Nagel, 23, the youngest regatist in the present edition. This is the complete crew of the team AkzoNobel:

Brad Jackson (NZL) - pattern
Brad Farry (NZL) - bow, trimer
Martine Grael (BRA) - trimer
Luke Molloy (AUS) - cane, trimer
Emily Nagel (BER) - trimer
Jules Salter (GBR) - navigator
Nicolai Sehested (DEN) - captain of the ship, cane, trimer
Joca Signorini (BRA) - Head of Guard, Timonel, Trimer