A COOK JOINS THE PLASTIC FIGHT

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ianca Cook – eldest daughter of Yachting Developments’ founders Ian and Blanche Cook – has been selected as the 10th crewmember on board Clean Seas – Turn the Tide on Plastic, racing in the Volvo Ocean Race later this year.

Bianca (28), joins skipper Dee Caffari’s mixed and youth-focused campaign after successful trials, just 44 days ahead of the start of the race. Bianca has significant experience offshore, accumulating over 70,000 offshore miles in the last few years, most recently as second mate on board the superyacht Hetairos.

For Bianca, this is a lifetime opportunity to put her sailing skills to the test in one of the toughest and most respected sailing races in the world.

“I’ve grown up watching the Volvo Ocean Race teams and I can’t believe that I’ll get to be one of those sailors,” she says. “To be given this chance and to have earned my place is a dream come true.”

Her parents have always encouraged their daughters, Bianca and Paige, to challenge themselves with whatever they do in life, and this latest achievement by Bianca is no exception.

“We are excited and proud of the prospect of one of our daughters pushing a yacht to its limit in the oceans of the world,” say the couple. “We have huge confidence in Bianca’s sailing ability, as well as that of Dee and her fellow crew, and know that they have what it takes to safely compete in one of the great sailing challenges.”

Bianca joins a multinational squad led by Dee Caffari (GBR) and featuring Australia’s Liz Wardley and Lucas Chapman; Italy’s Francesca Clapcich; Britons Bleddyn Mon and Henry Bomby, Portuguese sailors Frederico Pinheiro de Melo and Bernardo Freitas and Irish Olympic medallist, Annalise Murphy.

The team are currently making their final preparations in Cascais, Portugal. All boats had to head to the Volvo Ocean Race Boatyard in Lisbon by 18 September 2017 for final maintenance checks ahead of a non-scoring Prologue stage from Lisbon to Alicante ahead of the start of the 83,000km race.