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The Spanish boat skippered by Iker Martínez will have Spaniard "Ñeti" Cuervas-Mons and Australia's Zane Gills onboard

Team Telefónica, the Spanish team set to compete in the upcoming Volvo Ocean Race, has officially unveiled her completed crew today with the announcement of two Under-30 crew members. They are Spaniard Antonio Cuervas-Mons and Australian Zane Gills and they will be the Telefónica bowmen.

Under-30 sailor with round the world experience

Antonio Cuervas-Mons (Santander, 12/22/1981), set out in the sport at the Real Club Marítimo de Santander, is making a return to the Spanish team in what will be his second round the world regatta following their 2008-2009 debut.

With experience in dinghy sailing, the Olympic classes and cruiser and ocean sailing, for "Ñeti" the Volvo Ocean Race is special because "it is a long-standing reference for offshore sailing. It's a regatta with so much history and any sailor can take it on, and of course, win it."  

As he did in the previous edition, the Spaniard will be carrying out the role of bowman, a role "Ñeti" knows very well indeed, which requires incredible physical strength and agility. "Telefónica" skipper, Iker Martínez, highlights that "'Ñeti' is really strong and he has very good aerobic qualities, as well as good knowledge of all other areas of the boat."

Round the world debut for Zane Gills

Originally from the Australian island of Tasmania, this will be Zane Gills' (3/3/1983) first Volvo Ocean Race. It's a challenge he is taking on "with a lot of enthusiasm and focus, and a bit of excitement, but I am basically trying to focus a lot on just doing the best that we can and hopefully winning the race."

At 28 years old, his experience on big boats spans across regattas such as the ever-challenging Sydney-Hobart, which he has raced in four times, the Middle Sea Race and the Fastnet Race, an offshore racing institution, which he competed in on three occasions, breaking the regatta's monohull record on board the Maxi "ICAP Leopard" in 2007.

"I think it's a very important step in my career. I've always been focussed on trying to do the Volvo race and it has been an aim of mine since I was a boy," he admits. It's a double debut for Zane Gills, who is joining a Spanish team for the first time, which he sees as a very good thing: "Sailing with the Spanish team is very, very good for me, because the Spanish have always been quite competitive in sailing and especially in the last editions of the Volvo Ocean Race they have always been one of the teams to beat, so I'm quite happy to be sailing with one of the better teams."

Iker Martínez also said "as well as being a bowman alongside Ñeti, Zane has sail-making knowledge." The Aussie is also one of the sail experts on board, and as he explains that means: "repairing, servicing, looking after all of the sails when we are racing, as well as on shore."

"Telefónica" continues the second phase of training at the Canary island of Lanzarote, where the team arrived on May 20th and will remain until approximately the end of August.

Crew on "Telefónica":

Iker Martínez (ESP), skipper.

Andrew Cape (AUS), navigator.

Neal McDonald (GBR), watch captain.

Joao Signorini “Joca” (BRA), watch captain.

Jordi Calafat (ESP), helmsman & sail coordinator.

Xabi Fernández (ESP), trimmer.

Pepe Ribes (ESP), boat captain.

Pablo Arrarte (ESP), helmsman.

Antonio Cuervas-Mons “Ñeti” (ESP), bowman.

Zane Gills (AUS), bowman.

Diego Fructuoso (ESP), media crew member.

To watch a video about Zane Gills and Antonio "Ñeti" Cuervas-Mons: http://youtu.be/Ke-0Q6RCvIM