team AkzoNobel is a Volvo Ocean 65 yacht.

[1][2] On October 13, the day before the first scoring race, it was announced that, due to a breach of contract by his company, STEAM Racing, Tienpont's contract as skipper was terminated by Team AkzoNobel.

[5] Watch captain Brad Jackson was promoted to skipper in the place of Tienpont.

[6] Two hours before the start of leg 1, Tienpont was re-instated by an arbitration panel.

[7] As a result, Jackson, Jules Salter, Joca Signorini and Rome Kirby opted not to sail in leg 1 of the race.