Abn Amro Capital Markets

Abn Amro Capital Markets

Abn Amro Capital Markets

In the 2005-06 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, ABN AMRO ONE, fondly named "Black Betty" secured her position as event winner a full two legs prior to its conclusion and now returns to her Dutch roots for an encore. However, it was an Irishman, Ger O'Rouke, who rescued her from retirement and his own team who gave "Betty" a re-fit suitable for a second go-around.

Working Together To Grow The Sport Of Sailing

Ger O'Rouke, CEO of Chieftain Group, an Ireland-based provider of industrial and engineering support service has a lengthy career in sailing under Chieftain Racing. During the team's four year campaign, won 90% of the races they participated in. In 2007, Ger and his team were the only ones to successfully beat ABN AMRO ONE during Antigua Race Week.

After a proper celebration of the team's success Ger inquired of then skipper, Mike Sanderson if he might have a closer look of "Black Betty" and even thought,"...the next boat might be a V70, but looking at Mike's crew, I also realised I probably wouldn't be able to afford it." A fully professional sailing team is the same as a fully employed small business.

Dutch Save The Day And Begin a Legacy

May of 2008, Ger learned that "Black Betty", then owned by Team Ericsson as a training boat, was for sale. One does not just buy a V70, though by coincidence, Ger had sold his last boat and was in a position to afford the old girl. Furthermore, doing the Volvo Ocean Race had been a dream of Ger's. Actually doing the race came down to the eleventh hour and was a direct result of her prior performance under Dutch support and the hard work of Chieftain Racing Team who "...sometimes worked up to ten hours a day, seven days a week to get the job done," adds Ger.