BY JULIE ASH
New Zealander Rodney Keenan was a late edition to Team SEB for the second leg of the round-the-world race, which started in Cape Town this morning.
Keenan joined Sweden's SEB just two days before the start of the leg.
"It's still a bit of a shock really," he said. "Since I was young, watching Lion New Zealand, I have wanted to get involved. But I thought that everyone had their teams, so never expected to be here."
Keenan, a trimmer, replaces Santiago Lange, who has returned to Argentina.
"Over the last few years I have raced a fair amount on both V60s and larger racing yachts," Keenan said. "I have sailed with, and against, many of these crew members and I am very happy to have the chance to sail with such a qualified team."
The 28-year-old Keenan is the sixth New Zealander in SEB's crew of 12. The others are Rodney Ardern, Scott Beavis, Gareth Cooke, Tony Mutter and David Rolfe. SEB finished sixth in the first leg.
All but two of the eight boats in the race have made one or two crew changes. Only Amer Sports One and Tyco remain unchanged.
For the past 10 years, Keenan has worked as a professional sailor, competing in various big-boat regattas around the world. This year, he has raced in the Key West Race Week, the China Coast Cup and the Auckland-Fiji Race. Onboard the Swedish boat Nicorette, he has also done the Gotland Runt and the Fastnet Races this year.
SEB skipper Gunnar Krantz said Keenan brought a lot of strength to the grinders, which would be important in the Southern Ocean.
"Rodney is part of the Kiwi sailing community which have always proven themselves competent and reliable in these around-the-planet circumstances.
"Judging from his offshore racing experience, Rodney will fit right in with us in Team SEB," said Krantz.
The fleet are expected in Sydney around December 4.
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from Sport
The external factors in Fox's tilt in unusual event
Fox will partner a fellow Presidents Cup hopeful in an unusual tournament.