DHL gives its overall 2012 VOR Shore Crew Award to Team Sanya

According to DHL, there are far bigger shore crews with much larger budgets, but none were more effective than Team Sanya throughout the nine months of the race.

Jean-Claude Delen, chief executive officer Benelux/France DHL Global Forwarding, said the team’s initiative to host base parties played a very important role in making the race stronger overall.

DHL initiated the Shore Crew award to recognise the behind-the-scenes efforts of the teams’ shore crews, which include boat builders, sail makers and others, to make the competing yachts as competitive and seaworthy as technically possible.

Tem Sanya also won Shore Crew trophies for Legs 1 and 8.

DHL’s support of Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012 included transportation of high-end gear for the crews and haulage of Race Village pavilions for visitors to the ten stopover locations along the 72,000-kilometer route, as well as short-term supply of spare parts in case of an emergency.