Volvo Ocean Race - A new challenge for skipper Chris Nicholson + Video

8:46 AM Fri 28 Oct 2011 GMT

'Camper - Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12' Chris Cameron/Camper 2011-12

Volvo Ocean Race starts tomorrow Saturday 29th October 2011 in Alicante, Spain. Chris Nicholson takes on a new challenge as skipper of Camper with Emirates Team New Zealand.

Arguably the most prolific sailing team in the world, Emirates Team New Zealand, Camper's partner in the Volvo Ocean Race, can boast a trophy haul that includes the America's Cup and many other high profile regatta wins.

In a surprise to some, the Kiwi squad have chosen an Australian, three-time Volvo Ocean Race competitor Chris Nicholson, to lead their first ever round the world race campaign.

Nicholson has adopted a collective team management approach, with co-skipper Stuart Bannatyne, navigator Will Oxley and co-navigator Andrew McLean making up his inner cabinet.

Aside from the intense professionalism and expertise which underpins any ETNZ campaign, Camper's greatest competitive advantage could well be the radical design of their new boat.

The product of a long-term relationship between the ETNZ's in-house team and designer Marcelino Bot?n, the Camper boat has turned heads for a number of reasons, not least of which being the positioning of the keel and dagger boards in front, rather than behind, the keel.

Also attracting much attention has been Camper's adjustable hydraulic forestay ram, the subject of an unsuccessful collective appeal by several teams who believed it to be outside the measurement rules and an unfair advantage.