Carolijn Brouwer and Charles Caudrelier lucky to win
Immediately after the arrival of his AkzoNobel team in the Dutch home port of The Hague, Simeon Tienpont said it loud and clear: "She is the heroine!" Meant was his compatriot Carolijn Brouwer - the only Dutch woman who celebrated a double victory with her team that day, made the fans happy with it and made sailing history with it. And the woman who gave Tienpont a basket before the race but "had a good feeling" about Charles Caudrelier's offer.
A focused sailing sportswoman: Carolijn Brouwer
Made her compatriots in The Hague happy as the Dutch winner: Caroloijn Brouwer
As helmswoman and trimmer in Charles Caudrelier's hand-picked team, Carolijn Brouwer not only passed all the tests of this 13th edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, but also sailed all the stages on which her crew mates Marie Riou and Justine Mettraux alternated. Anyone who knows Brouwer knows that she doesn't shy away from challenges a millimeter. The Frenchman Charles Caudrelier must have instinctively known when recruiting his crew that this woman would suit his crew and his sailing style. Brouwer himself did not accept the first offer either. She accepted that from Caudrelier because - with two circumnavigations of the world and as an Olympic athlete - she thought carefully about which team she would be able to achieve her goal of achieving the first female victory in the Volvo Ocean Race.
In retrospect, it is even more interesting to hear what Carolin Brouwer said before the start of the final, all-important stage
Carolijn Brouwer
Arrived: After winning the Volvo Ocean Race, Carolijn Brouwer is the new figurehead of female sailing at eye level with men
The plan worked for Caudrelier as it did for Brouwer. Now, together with the entire Dongfeng Race Team, they are the heroes of international sailing. Before the race, he explained why Caudrelier brought Caro Brouwer into his team: "I chose her because she often defeated us in the last Volvo Ocean Race. She has a great Olympic past that I think a lot about Feel respect. That made her a quick helmswoman who knows how to position a boat. " Carolijn Brouwer, who was born in the university city of Leiden, is a professional and thoroughbred sailor, Olympian, world champion, circumnavigator, wife and mother, can do that too. The balancing act between job and private life was and is often stressful. But she is not deterred. Brouwer has completed her summit storm. She will continue her history in sailing.
Interview with a winner
Carolijn Brouwer at work