In early 1985, master painter and yachtsman Kjell-Rune Magdahl bought an Optimist dinghy for his son Aksel, who had just turned six. The hope was that little Aksel would develop an interest in boats and sailing, just like his dad. Kjell-Rune could never have guessed that 22 years later Aksel would face the challenge of his life as navigator for the Ericsson Racing Team.

But Aksel’s interest in boats almost never set sail. He sailed his Optimist at home off Tönsberg on the Oslofjord’s west coast, but at the age of 11, other interests, such as computers and football,took the upper hand.

“But there was always sailing talk around the kitchen table at home,” Aksel recalls. When he was 19, he rekindled his interest in regatta sailing after he completed his military service, not in the navy but with an assault team in the Norwegian cavalry. Aksel started studying economics at the BI Norwegian School of Management in Oslo but also became increasingly involved in sailing. His first project was a fast 43-footer that he sailed off the Norwegian coast. Then he had six months on a 47-foot cruising yacht that sailed between Oslo and the Mediterranean.

Back in Norway, Aksel helped start a new sailing project with an IMS boat; for a change, he had both sponsors and resources from local sailors. With his interest in IT, Aksel decided to invest a portion of the sponsorship money in computers and other technical equipment on board. Back then, some years ago, wireless screens and other advanced equipment in the cockpit were uncommon in northern Europe. Aksel became somewhat of a trailblazer, and many noticed his skills in sailing and advanced technology.

In early 2004, Aksel was contacted by Norwegian yachtsman Knut Frostad, who wanted to try Aksel out in the Team Academy trimaran project. Aksel spent three exciting years with Knut including competitively racing 60-foot trimarans in the Nokia Oops Cup around the Nordic region.

It was the same Knut Frostad who, in early 2007, told Aksel that he might be Anders Lewander’s and Magnus “Mange” Olsson’s first choice as navigator for Ericsson in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09. Mange and Aksel met in June, and a month later Aksel took part in a day’s sailing trial in the Baltic.

“Very few sailors turn down the chance to be part of a serious Volvo Ocean Race project,” Aksel says. “But that was not enough reason for me. I also have to be super-motivated, so it is of paramount importance that the project feels right. There are really good, talented people in the Ericsson Racing Team, and I like Anders Lewander’s leadership style. He gives me room to move, and I know he trusts me.” The navigator on a round-the-world yacht race has a demanding post. It means daring to take important strategic decisions, believing in them and gaining and keeping the crew’s confidence.

“The navigator’s role is difficult,” Aksel says. “Particularly in a round-the-world race, you sometimes have to make quick, decisive decisions. You don’t know if you were right until a week later. But I have confidence in myself, and I am not afraid to take responsibility.”

As a young navigator, Aksel has his own style. He enjoys it best up on deck, preferably beside the helmsman where he can play an active role, instead of sitting below deck and shouting out instructions.

But Aksel maintains a sense of humility ahead of his assignment. He knows the competitors have much experience and skill. He also knows it is impossible to be the smartest in the fleet during every minute of a round-the-world race.

His philosophy is not to take big risks but to be ready for changes, and to seize opportunities when they arise.

“But my main reason by far for being involved is my competitive instinct. More than anything else, I want to compete and push myself to do my absolute best in any situation,” Aksel says.