He is a very experienced, fast driver who has built up a comprehensive experience as Watch Captain, running the boat on deck, keeping it quick hour to hour, whose powerful physique and stamina ensure he is an early pick for any Volvo team. Robert Greenhalgh is one of the two Watch Captains on MAPFRE. This will be his fifth Volvo Ocean Race, the second with the Spanish team MAPFRE.
The Spanish team MAPFRE has announced today that Rob Greenhalgh will on the crew for the next Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18.
The Briton is the fourth sailor confirmed to date, joining Spaniards Xabi Fernández (skipper), Pablo Arrarte (Watch Captain) and Ñeti Cuervas-Mons (Bowman & Boat Captain). Together they already aggregate a total of 14 Volvo Ocean Races.
Greenhalgh (39) already knows first hand what it takes to win the crewed world round the world race. He won on his debut in the race; sailing the 2005-06 edition aboard the Dutch boat ABN AMRO ONE.
In the last race he sailed the same role on MAPFRE.
“Rob has a lot of experience. He has already won a Volvo Ocean Race, has been second in another one and has sailed with so many different people and in all types of boats. He is strong, determined and does not compromise. It is always good to have a sailor with the experience Rob has in an important position like watch captain,” says the Basque skipper Xabi Fernández.
His fifth Volvo Ocean Race!
The New Zealander Mike Sanderson called him in February 2004 to offer him a position on ABN AMRO ONE. With no experience in the Volvo Ocean Race but already one of the most accomplished skiff dinghy sailors in the world, the transition to ocean racing held few problems; his outstanding strengths were raw speed and personal stamina. And besides that he was a fast, intuitive learned when it came to assimilating the ocean racing skills.
Since winning with Sanderson and crew there have been three more ‘Volvos’ and one America’s Cup campaign. A lover of fishing in his spare time Greenhalgh adapted to the Latin tempo in 2014-15 while bringing certain Anglo Saxon coolness. But his key passion is his will to win. He embraces clear communication and an economy of language. He is very clear in his ideas and strong on organization.
“I think we have a good boat and we will have a good team. Although you really do not know until you get to Cape Town,” says the Briton.
13 years after that phone call from Mike Sanderson, here he is again; with a vast experience and an amazing resume spanning foiling Moths to Ocean Racing and everything in between. Rob Greenhalgh is ready to give his all on MAPFRE. Welcome back Rob!
ABOUT ROB
Position: Watch captain
Age: 39
DOB: 08/17/1977
Place of Birth: Brighton, Sussex, UK
Lives in: Hamble, Hampshire, UK
Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15. MAPFRE (4th)
Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (5th)
Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09. Puma (2nd)
Volvo Ocean Race 2005-06. ABN AMRO ONE (1st)
America’s Cup 2007. TEAMORIGIN
Extreme Sailing Series 2007. Basilica (1st)
Transatlantic record holder.
Sydney – Hobart 2016 (1st)
Moth European & British champion
