The 10 most impactful youngsters in Volvo Ocean Race history

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Sam Greenfield/Dongfeng Race Team/Volvo Ocean Race

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Patrick Anderson/Volvo Ocean Race

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Pienkawa Archive

Age is just a number, right? Well, yes – according to some of the sailors who’ve tackled the world’s toughest ocean test. Here, we look back at some of the most iconic young sailors in the race’s four-and-a-half decade history.

Age is just a number, right? Well, yes – according to some of the sailors who’ve tackled the world’s toughest ocean test. They say ‘if you’re good enough, you’re old enough’, and this lot certainly proved that. Here, we look back at some of the most iconic young sailors in the race’s four-and-a-half decade history.

Sir Peter Blake

When: 1973-74, Burton Cutter

Age: 24

He’s known now as one of the Race’s biggest legends, having competed five times and won once, leading Steinlager 2 to an unprecedented clean sweep of line, handicap and overall honours in 1989-90. But Blake made his first appearance in the race over a decade and a half earlier, as watch captain onboard Burton Cutter – leading them to a first leg win into Cape Town.

Liu Xue (‘Black’)

When: 2014-15, Dongfeng Race Team

Age: 21

Dongfeng’s Chinese star almost didn’t make it to the start line – quitting during training due to homesickness – and it was only some persuasion from team manager, Bruno Dubois, who convinced him to rejoin the troops a few months before the race began. He captured hearts across China, and went on to win the media war – ending the race as the most mentioned Chinese sailor online.

Lionel Péan

When: 1985-86, L’Esprit d’Equipe

Age: 29

The fourth edition was all about the story of an old boat – and the youngest winning skipper in the race’s history. With a crew of eight and a 58-foot boat, France’s Péan saw his team battle with UBS Switzerland all around the world, triumphing on overall handicap to scoop the trophy. A full 25 years later, Péan would once again skipper L’Esprit d’Equipe to victory in the first Legends Regatta and Renunion, complete with his original crew, on the eve of the race start in 2011-12 from Alicante.

Simon Le Bon

When: 1985-86, Drum

Age: 26

What do you do when you’re a global popstar looking to change your lifestyle? Well, you could ditch the microphone, and join a Whitbread Round the World Race (Volvo Ocean Race) campaign – at least that’s what Duran Duran’s frontman Simon Le Bon did during a band hiatus in the mid-80s. But the singer didn’t just hop on for the ride, he was determined to do the race as a full crewmember. “We work the same, sleep the same, eat the same, and that’s how Simon wants it,” said Drum skipper Skip Novak.

via The 10 most impactful youngsters in Volvo Ocean Race history| Volvo Ocean Race.