Joan Vila

Date of birth: 12 November 1961

In: Barcelona, Spain

Nationality: Spanish

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, Vila returns to the Volvo Ocean Race 15 years after his most recent appearance in 2001-02, when he won with illbruck. He is appeared in the America’s Cup more times than any other Spanish sailor (8) – and has won the trophy three times. Much has changed since he made his first Volvo Ocean Race appearance in 1989-90, 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