Britain’s Annie Lush will compete in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 as part of Team Brunel.
The British sailor is back and ready for her second consecutive Volvo Ocean Race following a campaign with Team SCA last edition – and her new skipper Bouwe Bekking is very pleased he could add this former Olympic sailor to his team.
“I think all the sailors know how complete she is,” he said. “Annie has twelve years of Olympic sailing experience and a Volvo Ocean Race under her belt, so she is a fantastic addition to our team.
“The way she just established herself with the guys and the way the guys have embraced her is marvellous. We’re all really happy that she is part of Team Brunel right now.”
Annie is delighted to return to the race following her debut campaign with the all-female Team SCA last time out.
“We were the first girls in the race after a long time,” she explains. “The goal wasn’t to be an all–female team but it was our way in to the race. With the rule changes for this edition, encouraging mixed teams, it brings up new opportunities. So when I heard the most experienced Volvo Ocean Race sailor (Bekking) would be returning to the race, he was an obvious person to call.
Bekking made no secret of his resistance to taking women onboard in the past, but the eight-time Volvo Ocean Race obsessive admits that his mind has been changed.
“Yes my mind has changed – I’ve learned there is no difference between a male or female, we are all team members on the same level,” he confirms.
“We select the best sailors. Annie is one of these and on top of that she is having a great personality.”
Lush is the eighth selected sailor for Team Brunel in 2017-18 following the signings of Carlo Huisman (NED), Kyle Langford (AUS), Juanpa Marcos (ARG), Alberto Bolzan (ITA), Maciel Cicchetti (ARG), Peter Burling (NZL) by skipper Bekking (NED).
