The general opinion among all the members of the Ericsson Racing Team is that not only 'the climate' is a big difference compared to Sweden, the country of origin of many of them, but also the attention they receive both in Puerto Calero during working hours, and in any corner of Lanzarote during the course of their normal life outside the water, is always attentive and polite, which has allowed them to feel at home from day one.
The Ericsson sailing team will remain in Puerto Calero until the summer with the aim of continuing to prepare for its participation in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009. Their stay in Lanzarote will be extended specifically until the month of September, just before starting this important world-class sailing event in the waters of Alicante.
The start of the Volvo Ocean Race is scheduled for October 11 of this year, when the participating teams - so far there are 7 confirmed - begin their journey around the world to St. Petersburg, approximately on July 4, 2009. Until that moment, the eyes of the sailing world will be on the details and events that take place throughout the training sessions and then during the interoceanic crossings, so their stay in Puerto Calero has allowed Lanzarote and the Canary Islands to be placed on the world sailing map. According to the directors of Puerto Calero, the Ericsson Racing Team base in Lanzarote enhances the possibilities of our archipelago for the practice of nautical sports, thus beginning a process of consolidation as an international reference in the sector.
On the other hand, the arrival of the second boat for training took place these days; the Ericsson3, built especially for this team since the first had been the winner of the previous Volvo Ocean Race. The beginning of the solo work of the Nordic team, training separately from the team formed by sailors of other nationalities, means a step forward in the curve established in the project's learning plan.
