Yachting: Kiwified Chinese entry has strong NZ influence

Kiwi Mike Sanderson will skipper the Chinese-backed Team Sanya challenge in the Volvo Ocean Race. Photo / Supplied by Volvo Ocean Race

If the legendary Claytons drink was still around, it seems a fair bet they would be approaching Mike Sanderson about a sponsorship deal.

Sanderson skippers the Team Sanya challenge in the Volvo Ocean Race, which starts this weekend. It is Chinese backed and funded but essentially appears to be the 'Kiwi team you have when you are not having a Kiwi team'.

Seven of the 10 sailing team are New Zealanders, a greater number than on Camper, the Emirates Team New Zealand entry into the event. "There is certainly a strong New Zealand flavour," says Sanderson, "but that is not a coincidence. We are 'Kiwified' in everything that we do. We had an extremely limited build-up and so I had to do it how I know how to do it."

Not that Sanderson is promoting his team as a de facto New Zealand challenge.

"We will leave that to Camper," says Sanderson, who raced under Grant Dalton on two previous round the world races. "Dalts and I are great mates and he runs an amazing programme; we look over the fence (into their compound) with a little envy." After leaving the ill-fated America's Cup Team Origin in 2010, Sanderson had no intention of racing in this edition of the round the world race but was approached by a Chinese consortium. It was backed by Volvo Construction, who have a large presence in China. After the city of Sanya was confirmed as a stopover, a local team was considered the best way to promote the race in the middle kingdom.

"I thought the opportunity to ignite China into sailing was too good to miss," says Sanderson. "They have already demonstrated their potential in many other sports."

Interest seems high. There were 95 Chinese journalists in Alicante for the start as well as a typically vast delegation of mayors and government officials from various provinces. There is one Chinese sailor on board, Teng Jiang He, nicknamed Tiger by the crew.

With their entry confirmed late in the piece, Sanya faced a race just to get to the start line. They had about half the preparation time of most other campaigns, which also necessitated the purchase of an old boat (Telefonica Blue) from the previous edition of the race rather than designing and constructing their own.

"We are the only team not using a new boat," says Sanderson, "and we had about half the budget of the other teams. We might be just a click off the pace but I am not writing us off. Funny things happen at sea and we will be ready to capitalise on any mistakes. The boat is looking great and we feel ready."

Team Sanya will probably lack the power to keep pace with the newer boats but will count on the element of surprise when the conditions get flukey, as well as trying to rack up points during the in-port contests.

Sanderson certainly has the pedigree. He was trimmer on the winning New Zealand Endeavour boat in 1993-94, then watch captain on Merit Cup which finished second in 1997-98. The 40-year-old helmed ABN Amro One to a decisive victory (they won all but two of the legs) in the 2005-06 edition, making him the only competing skipper with his name already on the trophy.

As he heads off on his fourth 'lap of the world', he says the fear factor remains as strong as ever. "Sure, you know what to expect but it doesn't make it any easier," says Sanderson. "Fear is necessary otherwise you would be reckless. Often the fear comes after the fact - which works quite well. Something happens and you are completely caught up in it; it is only afterwards where you think, 'Shit, that was close'."

Sanderson admits that this type of ocean racing offers the best and the absolute worst that sailing has to offer.

"It's like going through a carwash with all the windows down then driving round in that car, full of water, day and night, with the same clothes on for six weeks. It sounds pretty horrendous but as sailors we are great at forgetting things."

When he does encounter the inevitable hard times, Sanderson can count on plenty of support and understanding from home. Wife Emma Richards became the youngest person to complete the Around Alone race in 2004 (now renamed the Velux Five Oceans race), completing a solo circumnavigation of the globe in an open 60.

"She understands what I am going through," laughs Sanderson, "so probably doesn't worry as much as others would."