Ericsson, the world’s leading telecommunications supplier, entered the 2005/06 Volvo Ocean Race, forming the Ericsson Racing Team. Ericsson Racing Team entered the Volvo Ocean Race again in 2008/09 with a two boat campaign consisting of one International and one Nordic Team. The International Team won the Volvo Ocean Race and the Nordic Team finished fourth.
The Volvo Ocean Race gave Ericsson and its partners an unrivalled opportunity to reach its customers around the world, as well as showcasing how its solutions can help them develop relationships with enterprises and consumers.

The boat – Volvo Open 70
Length overall: 21.5 m 70.5 ft
Beam: 4.7 - 5.7 m
Draft: 4.5 m
Mainsail area: 172 m2
Headsail: 140 m2
Spinnaker area: max 500 m2
Mast height: 31.5 m above water 103.3 ft above water
Weight: 12,500 to 14,000 kg 12.5 to 14 tons
Keel bulb: 4,500 kg min 4,5 tons min

A new design of boat was introduced for the 2005/06 event – the Volvo Open 70 – which was faster and more dynamic than its predecessor the VO60. The Ericsson yacht for the 2005/06 event was a standard Farr Design, built from a female mould with a single rudder and two asymmetric dagger boards. The two new yachts for the 2008/09 event were exclusively designed for Ericsson Racing Team by Argentinian Juan Kouymodjian. The innovative canting keels are instrumental to the performance of the new Volvo Open 70. Ericsson Racing Team 2008/09 also utilized the winning boat from the 2005/06 event, “ABN- AMRO” as a training and testing yacht.

For more information see www.ericssonracingteam.com