AKZONOBEL CAPTAIN REINSTATED HOURS BEFORE STAGE 1 RACE

AkzoNobel dismissed its skipper Simeon Tienpont last week for breach of contract but the sailor contested the move. The case ended with Team AkzoNobel reinstating the disgruntled sailor just hours before the 2017/18 Volvo Ocean Race.

According to reports Tienpont was granted permission to lead the team on the morning of the stage 1 race. He eventually cast off from Alicante with a crew of seven members. The bulk of the experienced crew remained ashore so a shore team was put together and a sailor borrowed from another squad for the race. (more…)