ANTIGUANICE YACHTING INSIDER NEWSLETTER

Photo by IAN ROMAN/Volvo Ocean Race.

Republished from volvooceanrace.com; written by Agathe Armand.

Shannon Falcone
Age: 32
Nationality: Antigua
Sailed the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09 (eight legs) and the 2011-12 edition (one leg) with PUMA Ocean Racing
Won the America’s Cup 2013 with Team Oracle USA

It has been over a month since you won the America’s Cup in San Francisco. What are your plans now?

“It’s still crazy to think about it really! It was only a month ago and it already seems a lifetime ago. Since our defending campaign was a success, Team Oracle still dictate where the future of the event goes. I think they are going to take time over the winter to really scope and understand what they want to do next. Who knows how far the next Cup is! I think it’s going to be a pretty long campaign considering that the Olympics are in 2016 and the event usually wants to put itself in a separate year to other big global events.”

So you have the time to enter the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15?

“Definitely! I’ve done two Volvo Ocean Races but for short periods of time only. I haven’t technically done the Volvo because I haven’t rounded the Cape Horn so definitely, I have to make sure I do that! I’m keeping my eyes and ears open and I’m following very closely all the developments.

“Now that the Volvo Ocean Race has gone one-design, it’s more in my favour because it’s a much smaller time requirement to be involved for a full campaign. If you have the right group of guys, you can pretty much come in last minute and do just a little bit of sailing. You don’t have to do the months and months of testing and developing beforehand.

“I’ve also had a son this year and I’ve always thought the Volvo was a great race to take the family on. They go around the world and see new places – it’s a travelling circus. Nowadays, you sort of lose that; you jump on a plane and sail. To go round the world at the pace of sailing sort of slows everything down, even though they are super-fast boats.”

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