# Team Russia > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Team_Russia > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Team_Russia.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Russia > Source revision: 1304937456 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Team Russia** was the name of the [Russian](/source/Russian_Federation) backed entry in the [2008–09 Volvo Ocean Race](/source/2008%E2%80%9309_Volvo_Ocean_Race). Team Russia was founded by [Oleg Zherebtsov](/source/Oleg_Zherebtsov), the founder of the [Lenta](/source/Lenta_(retail)) hypermarket chain in [Russia](/source/Russia). [Zherebstov](/source/Oleg_Zherebtsov) met former [Olympic sailor](/source/Sailing_at_the_Summer_Olympics) and professional [skipper](/source/Skipper_(boating)), [Andreas Hanakamp](/source/Andreas_Hanakamp), by chance during a sailing holiday in [Croatia](/source/Croatia).[2] The [CEO](/source/CEO) of Team Russia is Michael Woods, who was director of Race Operations for the [2001-02](/source/2001%E2%80%9302_Volvo_Ocean_Race) race.[3] Their yacht, a second generation [Volvo Open 70](/source/Volvo_Open_70), was designed by British designer Rob Humphreys and built by Green Marine in [Lymington](/source/Lymington), [UK](/source/UK)[4] she was christened *Kosatka* (which is Russian for [orca](/source/Orca) or killer whale) at a ceremony at [Gunwharf Quays](/source/Gunwharf_Quays) Marina, [Portsmouth](/source/Portsmouth), UK on Monday June 16, 2008, by the boats [godmother](/source/Godparent) Birgitta Westerberg, co-founder (with [Oleg Zherebtsov](/source/Lenta_(retail))), of the Solntse (Sun) Foundation charity for sick and underprivileged children in [St Petersburg](/source/St_Petersburg), [Russia](/source/Russia).[5] Team Russia had to suspend racing upon arrival in [Singapore](/source/Singapore) at the end of Leg 3 due to "insufficient funds".[6] They officially withdrew from legs 4, 5, and 6 of the race, and whilst the team hoped to rejoin for the last legs of the race, this was not possible, however the team did sail Leg 10 beside the rest of the fleet to their hometown of [St Petersburg](/source/St_Petersburg).[7] ## Race team The race team consisted of some previous [Volvo Ocean Race](/source/Volvo_Ocean_Race) sailors, as well as some newcomers to the event.[8] Name Position Previous VOR Experience Mark Covell Media Crew Member Michael Joubert Bowman 1997-98 'BrunelSunergy', 2001-02 Assa Abloy, 2005-06 'movistar' Andreas Hanakamp Skipper (Newcomer) Wouter Verbraak Navigator 2001-02 Djuice Dragons Rodion Luka Helmsman (Newcomer) Oleg Zherebtsov Bowman 2 and Pit (Newcomer) Jeremy Elliott Trimmer and Sail Designer (Newcomer) Guillermo Altadil Watch leader 2001-02 Assa Abloy, 2005-06 'Ericsson' Nick Bubb Pitman (Newcomer) Stig Westergaard Watch Captain 2001-02 'Djuice Dragons' Ben Costello Trim / Helm Camron Wills Grinder and trimmer ## WDCS Partnership The [WDCS](/source/WDCS) were announced as the official partner for Team Russia.[9] Kosatka sailed under the logo ['We Sail For The Whale’](http://www.wdcs.org/wesailforthewhale/en/) which calls for the creation of twelve new [marine protected areas](/source/Marine_protected_areas) for [whales](/source/Whales) and [dolphins](/source/Dolphins) by 2012.[10] - For more information see: [WDCS#2008–09 Volvo Ocean Race](/source/WDCS#2008–09_Volvo_Ocean_Race) ## References 1. [Team Russia: Partners](http://www.teamrussia.org/en/partners/teamsuppliers/) 1. ["Volvo Ocean Race Official Press Information: Team Russia announces key crew members"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120302030759/http://press.volvooceanrace.com/?p=106). *press.volvooceanrace.com*. Archived from [the original](http://press.volvooceanrace.org/?p=106) on 2 March 2012. 1. [Team Russia: Profile, Michael Woods](http://www.teamrussia.org/en/team/profile/michael_woods/) 1. [Volvo Ocean Race Official Press Information: British design and British build team for Russian race entry](http://press.volvooceanrace.org/?p=67) 1. [SeaBreeze (au): Sailing: Team Russia names Volvo Open 70 Kosatka](http://www.seabreeze.com.au/News/Sailing/Team-Russia-names-Volvo-Open-70-Kosatka_1671363.aspx) 1. ["Volvo Ocean Race News: Team Russia Suspends Racing"](https://web.archive.org/web/20081226021656/http://www.volvooceanrace.org/news/article/2008/december/team-russia-suspends-racing/). Archived from [the original](http://www.volvooceanrace.org/news/article/2008/december/team-russia-suspends-racing/) on 2008-12-26. Retrieved 2008-12-29. 1. [Team Russia Email: 'Not Prepared To Sit And Do Nothing'](http://www.volvooceanrace.org/news/article/2008/december/TEAM-RUSSIA-EMAIL-SINGAPORE/) 1. [Team Russia: The Team](http://www.teamrussia.org/en/team/) 1. [TeamRussia.org Team Russia Announce Marine Environment Partnership - 10 Mar 2008](http://www.teamrussia.org/article.asp?id=13455) 1. [WDCS International - Volvo Ocean Race - We sail for the Whale](http://www.wdcs.org/wesailforthewhale/index.php) ## External links - [Team Russia](http://www.teamrussia.org/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080912234203/http://www.teamrussia.org/) 2008-09-12 at the Wayback Machine - [Volvo Ocean Race](http://www.volvooceanrace.org/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20091226131645/http://www.volvooceanrace.org/) 2009-12-26 at the Wayback Machine - [WDCS: We Sail For The Whale](http://www.wdcs.org/wesailforthewhale/en/) - [WDCS Homepage](http://www.wdcs.org/) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Team Russia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Russia) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Russia?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.