Magnus Olsson 1949-2013

The world of sailing is a sadder place following the sudden death of Sweden's Magnus Olsson at the age of 64.

I first came across Magnus and his infectious smile at the 1977 America's Cup in Newport, where he livened up proceedings considerably while crewing on the Pelle Petterson skippered Swedish 12Metre Sverige.

Olsson went on to compete in 6 Whitbread/Volvo ocean races, starting aboard Simon Le Bon's Drum in the 1985/6 Race. He was aboard The Card in 1989/90 when the ketch famously clipped and capsized a spectator boat during the restart at Auckland. He then raced full on with Lawrie Smith in 1993/4 aboard 2nd placed Intrum Justicia, and finally tasted victory with Paul Caryard on EF Language in the 1997/8 Whitbread.

Magnus Olsson's winning smile following EF Language's victory in the
Whitbread round the world race 1997/98. Photo: Bob Fisher/PPL

He finished 2nd again in the first Volvo Ocean Race in 2001/2 with Neal McDonald on Assa Abloy, but his most satisfying result came in 2008/9 when he took over as skipper aboard Ericsson 3 and led the fleet round Cape Horn to win this toughest leg by a 12 hour margin. The smile on Olsson's face then was as big as it had been when introduced to his new-born son after a long stay at sea during the 1989/90 Whitbread Race.

Magnus was in Spain training the Swedish all–girl SCA crew in preparation for the next Volvo Ocean Race when he suffered a stroke. Despite showing initial signs of recovery, his health deteriorated and he died in hospital with his family and friends by his side.

The Card, dismasted and tangled with the spectator boat at the re-start
of leg 4 in Auckland, Whitbread Round the World Race 1989-90. Photo: David Branigan / PPL

The demise of Magnus is a reminder to us all to live every day as our last - He certainly did!

A great loss, not just to his family, but to the whole sport

Barry Pickthall

2001 Sydney Hobart Race.. Hobart 29/12/01: The Swedish Volvo 60
Assa Abloy close to taking line honours at the finish in Hobart. Photo: Ian Mainsbridge/PPL

MAGNUS OLSSON - POTTED HISTORY

1949 - Born, January 4 in 1949 and grew up in Bromma, Stockholm
1985/86 - Whitbread Round the World Race, on DRUM
1989/90 - Whitbread Round the World Race, on THE CARD
1993/94 - Whitbread Round the World Race, on INTRUM JUSTITIA
1997/98 - Whitbread Round the World Race, on EF LANGUAGE
2001/02 - Volvo Ocean Race on ASSA ABLOY
2008/09 - Volvo Ocean Race on ERICSSON 3

The story of Magnus Olsson is told in the book Sailing Legends - the story of the world's greatest ocean race written by Bob Fisher and Barry Pickthall.

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