São Paulo (SP) – “He can fix anything with a pocket knife and a role of tape,” says Santa Catarina sailor André Fonseca. The “MacGyver” in question is New Zealander Martin Carter, who has been confirmed this week as a crewmember of the Brasil 1 for the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race between Vigo, Spain and Cape Town, South Africa.

A character in an 1980s television series, MacGyver was a detective who could adapt any electrical appliance to blow up or fix any kind of equipment using only a pocket knife and some tape, just like Carter. He was responsible for the installation of all electrical and electronic wiring on the Brasil 1, and also knows how to fix any piece of equipment used onboard the 70-foot yacht.

A test of Carter’s expertise came during the Atlantic crossing, when a problem with the boat’s desalinator was discovered. “The problem turned out to be in the air supply. We fixed it with a an empty food jar, which until today still works as an air reservoir that makes the machine work normally,” remembers the sailor.

Skipper Torben Grael, two-time Olympic Star class champion, was very pleased to have finalized the crew that will compete in the first leg of the race. “Since we confirmed Damian Foxall’s participation on the team we knew that he wouldn’t compete in the first leg. We tested Carter during the crossing and he turned out to be an excellent sailor, in addition to knowing all the systems onboard. In the first leg, the ability to fix anything will be very useful,” explains Grael.

An engineer and former member of the merchant marine, Carter already took part in a Volvo Ocean Race. He was the chief engineer of the Tyco Team, which placed fourth in 2001-2002, but he only sailed during training sessions. In addition to this, he also coordinated all the electrical, electronic and hydraulic parts for the GBR Challenge, the English team that competed for a spot in the 2002 America’s Cup. He held the same position on Ellen McArthur’s team, the runner-up in the 2001 Vendée Globe, a solo round-the-world race.

With Carter’s participation confirmed, the Brasil 1 crew between Vigo and Cape Town will consist of Torben Grael (BRA), Marcelo Ferreira (BRA), Kiko Pellicano (BRA), André Fonseca (BRA), João Signorini (BRA), Roberto Bermudez (SPA), Stuart Wilson (NZL), Andy Meiklejohn (NZL), and Australian navigator Adrienne Cahalan. Norwegian Knut Frostad will only compete on the Brasil 1 during the South Seas leg between South Africa and Brazil. The first leg will start on November 12th. On the 5th of November, a week before the kick-off, the Volvo Ocean race will begin with a local race (an in-port race) in Sanxenxo, a city near Vigo.

The Brasil 1 is currently training in Cascais, Portugal. The team will remain in Portuguese waters until October 12th when they will depart for Vigo. In Spain, the sailors will have to complete a series of preparatory courses on topics like first-aid and learning how to use the media station, installed on all of the competing boats.

The Brasil 1 is sponsored by VIVO, Motorola, QUALCOMM, ThyssenKrupp, NIVEA Sun, Ágora Senior Corretora de Valores, the Brazilian Government through Apex (The Agency for the Promotion of Brazilian Exports), the Ministry of Industry, Development and Foreign Trade, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Minister of Sports, with special support from Varig Airlines.
The Brazilian crew will compete against six teams from five different countries: The Dutch boats ABN Amro 1 (skippered by Mike Sanderson/NZL) and the ABN Amro 2 (skippered by Sebastien Josse/FRA); The Swedish Ericsson Racing Team (skippered by Neil McDonald/ING); the American Pirates of the Caribbean (Paul Cayard/EUA); The Movistar (Bouwe Bekking/HOL) from Spain; and the Australian Premier Challenge (Grant Wharington/AUS).

The Volvo Ocean Race will take eight months to complete and competitors will sail 31,250 nautical miles, over 57,000 kilometers. The race will kick off on November 5th with an in-port race in Sanxenxo, Spain. The first leg will start from Vigo, also in Spain, on November 12th. The round-the-world race will then continue to Cape Town (South Africa), Melbourne (Australia), Wellington (New Zealand), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Baltimore, Annapolis and Nova York (USA), Portsmouth (UK), Rotterdam (Holland), and finally finish in Gothenburg, Sweden.