Happy Birthday to a team institution

Tony Rae or ‘Trae’ as he’s known to most is somewhat of an institution at Emirates Team New Zealand. His first major offshore experience was with Sir Peter Blake aboard Lion New Zealand in 1985 and he went from there to be part of Blake’s winning crew aboard Steinlager 2 in 1989/90, and Grant Dalton’s victorious NZ Endeavour campaign in the 1993/4 race. On top of that Trae has been an integral part of five of New Zealand’s America’s Cup teams including winning the Cup twice in 1995 and 2000.

He may be the oldest guy aboard CAMPER (and the second oldest in the race) but he’s one of the fittest sailors in the race and plays a vital role onboard as driver, trimmer and medic, as well as being the life of the party ashore and an accomplished musician. So as today is Trae’s 51st birthday we thought it only appropriate to post this video from the team at Volvo Ocean Race having a chat to Trae about life after 50, fitness, and his future in the Volvo Ocean Race.