It all started 35 years ago during the fast and fantastic seventies. Over numerous ales and some extremely sea-worthy stories, members of the Royal Naval Sailing Association conceived and organized a first-ever worldwide ocean race. The fact that this global yacht race was to be sponsored by a London-based brewery company probably made it even more attractive to eager participants.
Time has passed, and what was once known as the Whitbread is now the Volvo Ocean Race. But the excitement continues with yachts and crews from a multitude of nations as they sail around the world, battling harsh elements for eight full months. The overall winner will be the team with the most points at the end of the race — meaning every day of each leg of the journey is key.
Innovation in safety and design has always separated Volvo from the rest. And the approach to this race is nothing different. A brand-new boat design was ushered into the 2005-2006 event when skippers, boat designers, sail and rig manufacturers, syndicate heads and representatives from the Volvo Ocean Race collaborated to produce a 70’ monohull race boat, the Volvo Open70 (or VO70). And needless to say, records were broken. No small accomplishment in a contest where mental and physical endurance are pushed to the limit, competition is fierce and survival is never assured over 31,350 miles.
For 2008-2009 the stakes are higher than ever before. For the first time in Volvo Ocean Race history, substantial changes are being introduced with visits to new ports along a new route that includes stopovers in the Middle East, India and Asia. The race will start in Alicante, Spain on October 11, 2008, and continue to Cape Town, Singapore, Rio De Janeiro, Boston and Gothenburg (the site of Volvo headquarters), just to name a few of the stops. The race will come to a finish June 27, 2009, in St. Petersburg, Russia. Which leaves plenty of time for ups, downs, and storms created by both nature and human emotion.
The Volvo Ocean Race is extreme and inspiring. And you’ll have access to the technology you need to experience the race as it happens. At www.VolvoOceanRace.tv, you can view ongoing documentaries following what happens from beginning to end with these high-tech yachts and their hardy crews.
The site will also broadcast live coverage of the in-port races; daily reports and press conferences; as well as race- time audio clips and video shots straight from the yachts giving you that “you are there” feel. Count on the Volvo Ocean Race team to bring you technology-based communications to keep you connected – by land and by sea.
Click here for schedule and race map.
Click here for videos and footage of the race.
