Joan Vila

Date of birth: 12 November 1961

In: Barcelona, Spain

Legs sailed in this edition: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
In-Port Races: Alicante, Lisbon, Cape Town, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Auckland, Itajaí, Newport, Cardiff, Gothenburg, The Hague

Something about him you don't know: Joan is a coffee lover – but he doesn't drink it onboard, he eats the granules straight from the packet.

Who he is: Considered one of the world’s best navigators, Joan returns to the Volvo Ocean Race after a 15-year absence to add yet another notch to his already impressive sailing career, which includes Olympic Games participations and a Volvo Ocean Race win. He is the Spanish sailor with the most America's Cup participations in history – and has won the trophy three times. Much has changed since Joan last raced this event with Illbruck Challenge in 2001-02, but one thing remains: an obsession to win the Volvo Ocean Race trophy.

Previous Volvo Ocean Race:
2001-02 Illbruck Challenge
1997-98 Chessie Racing
1993-94 Galicia-Pescanova
1989-90 Fortuna Extra Lights