The Pirates of the Caribbean crew officially announced

Paul Cayard, Skipper of The Black Pearl, the US boat competing in the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-06, has officially announced his crew. The Pirates of the Caribbean team is highly experienced, represents seven countries and contains four past winners of this race.

The Pirates of the Caribbean are:

Paul Cayard (USA) -Skipper; Julian 'Jules' Salter (UK) - Navigator; Freddie Loof (SWE) - Watch Captain; Rodney Ardern (NZ) -Watch Captain; Dirk de Ridder (NED) -Trimmer-Driver; Nigel King (UK) -Trimmer-Driver; Craig Satterthwaite (NZ) -Trimmer-Driver; Justin Ferris/Bowman (NZ) -Trimmer-Driver; Curtis Blewett (CAN) -Bowman; Jerry Kirby (USA) - Bowman Justin 'Juggy' Clougher (AUS) - Bowman.

"For this campaign, it was important to start with an experienced group," said Cayard. "We are the last team to hit the water so we don't have a lot of time to train. We will be counting on experience to help make up ground on all the other teams,"

Cumulatively, The Pirates of the Caribbean have enjoyed the kind of success that is rare in the Volvo Ocean Race. That success includes 12 campaigns between them and four wins (Paul Cayard, Curtis Blewett, Dirk De Ridder and Justin 'Juggy' Clougher). Additionally, Rodney Ardern is a veteran who has also participated three times.

Furthermore, the team has participated in 20 editions of the America's Cup and won three (Curtis Blewett, Rodney Ardern and Jerry Kirby), as well as three Louis Vuitton Cup wins. Paul Cayard and Jerry Kirby, both of the USA, have each participated five times in the America's Cup.

The 11 Pirates of the Caribbean have also taken part in six Olympic Games in different classes, including a bronze medal win for Freddy Loof, at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games in the Finn class.

Some of the crew will be rotating: Rodney Ardern and Curtis Blewett will be racing three legs (Vigo to Cape Town, Cape Town to Melbourne and Melbourne to Rio) as they have a previous commitment with Alinghi in the America's Cup. Curtis Blewett will be replaced by Jerry Kirby. The replacement for Ardern has not been finalised yet. Also, Nick Moloney is coaching the team and will act as backup navigator.

The entry of The Black Pearl is part of a unique marketing alliance between The Walt Disney Company and Volvo Ocean Race supporting the July 2006 feature film release of Walt Disney Pictures'/Jerry Bruckheimer Films' Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.

Who are the Pirates of the Caribbean?

Paul Cayard, American (1959) - Skipper. Paul Cayard was the first American skipper to win the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1998 on EF Language. He is a seven-time sailing world champion, a five-time America's Cup veteran and two-time Olympian. The Star World Championship in 1988 is his most treasured prize. His accolades include election to the Sailing World Hall of Fame in 2002 and Rolex Yachtsmen of the Year in 1998.

Curtis Blewett, Canadian (1972) - Bowman. This is Curtis' second experience in a round-the-world race: the first was onboard EF Language, winner of the Whitbread Round the World Race 1997-98, skippered by Paul Cayard. Subsequently, Blewett accompanied Cayard in the AmericaOne 2000 campaign (Louis Vuitton Cup finalist), then joined the Alinghi team in 2001 and won the 2003 America's Cup.

Dirk de Ridder, Dutch (1972) -Trimmer / Driver. Dirk won the last edition of the Volvo Ocean Race onboard Illbruck; he also participated in 1997-98, finishing second onboard Merit Cup. Previous to joining the Pirates of the Caribbean, Dirk had been an Oracle BMW Racing Team crewmember. Dirk was a top competitor in the Soling Class where he came 4th in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

Freddy Loof, Swedish (1969) - Watch Captain. Freddy Loof has a key role onboard The Black Pearl. This is the second time he has participated in the Volvo Ocean Race: he was onboard Amer Sports One in 2002, finishing third. His career has mainly been in the Finn and Star Class. He's currently number one in the Star Class World ranking, where he has remained since 2003. He was a bronze medallist at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Julian 'Jules' Salter, British (1968) - Navigator. Julian 'Jules' Salter has excellent technical knowledge of yachting including meteorology, instrument systems and racing software. He was the navigator of GBR Challenge in the 2003 America's Cup and in charge of the weather program as well. Jules is a member of the British Match Racing Elite Team.

Justin Paul Ferris, New Zealander (1975) - Bow / Trimmer / Driver. Justin is an all-round sailor and a great sail maker. The youngest of the Pirates of the Caribbean crew, he has considerable experience in sail-making and sail design developed while working in top sail lofts since he was 16 years old in the Bay of Islands (NZ). Ferris was involved in the Illbruck Volvo Ocean Race winning campaign in 2001-02 as part of the shore team.

Justin 'Juggy' Clougher, Australian (1967) - Bowman. Clougher has an impressive background in ocean racing and his biggest moment was the victory of The Whitbread Round the World Race onboard EF Language in 1997-98, skippered by Paul Cayard. Furthermore, he sailed with 'his' Skipper on AmericaOne, a Louis Vuitton finalist in 2000.

Nigel King, British (1969) - Trimmer / Driver. King is an all-round sailor: he has amassed more than 50,000 offshore miles at numerous events around the world, including five trans-ocean crossings. He was a crewmember in the Volvo Ocean Race 2001-02 with Team News Corp (AUS).

Rodney Ardern, New Zealander (1970) - Watch Captain. Ardern has a key role in the Pirates of the Caribbean crew: having been involved in the Volvo Ocean Race three times in a row (Tokyo, Swedish Match, SEB), he's one of the most experienced sailors aboard. During his career Ardern has alternated round the world races and America's Cup campaigns, including: Team New Zealand -1992 (Louis Vuitton finalist), the TAG Heuer - 1995 (LVC semi-finalist), Nippon Challenge - 2000 (LVC semi-finalist) and Alinghi - 2003 (winner).

Jerry Kirby, American (1956) - Bowman. Kirby describes himself as 'the world's oldest bowman'. He won the America's Cup aboard Bill Kock's America3 who defeated Il Moro di Venezia skippered by Paul Cayard in a memorable America's Cup final in 1992. He took part in five AC campaigns and the 1997-98 Whitbread onboard Chessie Racing.

Craig Satterthwaite, New Zealander (1973) - Trimmer / Driver. Craig Satterthwaite is an all-round sailor, having built up his career in different sailing sectors. He sailed The Whitbread in 1997-98 onboard Swedish Match, then he was involved with Team New Zealand in the 2003 America's Cup campaign as a pitman and boat captain.