VOR update 27

Galway Man, Frankie Leonard, Appointed as Media Crew Member to Team Sanya

Team Sanya announce media crew member - TEAM SANYA announced today the selection of Frankie Leonard, from Galway, Ireland, as their media crew member who will join the sailing team as they travel around the world competing in The 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race.

Frankie, who comes from Galway which is the finish port for the Volvo Ocean Race, made an immediate impact on the other Team Sanya team members when he joined the group for the delivery trip of their new boat from Spain to
the UK.

Enda O'Coineen, Chairman of Let's Do It Global, said, "Team Sanya are working in close partnership with us as we are the organizers of the Volvo Ocean Race Finish in Galway. Under the 'Discover Ireland. Com' brand, Lets Do It Global are a team support partner and are delighted with the appointment in that we will assist in building a strong link with Team Sanya."

"The Volvo Ocean Race is the most historic offshore regatta in world sailing, it is considered by many to be the 'Everest of Sailing'. It is a huge deal that this race is coming back to Ireland and that the final stopover will be in Galway, my hometown. I am extremely proud to be an Irishman onboard Team Sanya and it will be a proud day when we sail back into Galway Bay having completed the 39,000 nautical miles." said Frankie Leonard, Team
Sanya Media Crew Member.

The 2011-2012 Volvo Ocean Race stops in ten ports around the globe, leaving Alicante in Spain in October, travelling to Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, Sanya in China, Auckland NZ, Itajai in Brazil, Miami, Lisbon, Lorient and finally Galway.

Fintan Healy, CEO of Let's Do It Global, said "last race, over 640,000 people visited Galway during the Race Festival. It is still the largest festival that has been held in the country. Galway hosting final destination will ensure that the world's media will descend upon the city and with the partnership with Team Sanya and Frankie Leonard's appointment as Media Crew Member, we look forward to the Irish public supporting and engaging with Team Sanya to make the final destination the race finish one of the best yet."