Hong Kong’s Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag gives David Witt the chance to tackle Volvo Ocean Race on his own terms
The Australia returns to the world-famous round-the-world epic 20 years after making his debut
David Witt made a promise to himself that his next Volvo Ocean Race experience would be on his own terms. That was in 1998 when he was part of the Norway’s Innovation Kvaerner team who finished fourth.
Now, 20 years later, 46-year-old Australian Witt is about to fulfil his dream as he skippers Hong Kong’s Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag in the 2017-2018 race with a crew who are not only physically prepared for the testing 45,000 nautical-mile race but who are also mentally fine-tuned for a nine-month journey in which personal relationships are just as important as sailing skills.
“I really enjoyed the race [with Kvaerner] and the competition and the sailing part of it, but I really didn’t enjoy the team environment,” said Witt.
Watch: Scallywag crew trains in Lisbon
“I mean we had Australians on there and we had Kiwis on there and this was back in 97. I’ve been brought up my whole life through team sports, rugby and all that sort of stuff and I think, not too much now but definitely back in those days, yachting was not really a, you know, a perfect team environment, some people were average, some were professionals, some were trying to stab each other in the backs and get ahead you know.
