Volvo Ocean Race

07/10/2014 editor

Volvo Ocean Race Sets Sail This October

The Volvo Ocean Race is the leading round-the-world sailing race for teams, with a series of stops that give fans the chance to experience the In-Port Race series. It began life in 1973 and was then known as the Whitbread. Today it is sailing’s biggest offshore race and one of the most coveted prizes in the sport. It lasts for nearly nine months and is the longest sport event in the world and the 2014-2015 starts this October.

The Volvo Ocean Race will stop at 11 ports in 11 different countries and require the teams to cover 38,739 nautical miles. The race girdles the globe and pushes competitors to the limit. Those 11 ports are in spread across vast expanses of Ocean, starting in Europe and spread across Africa, Asia, Australasia and the Americas before finishing back in Europe – a truly global circumnavigation.

New for this edition is the one-design Volvo Ocean 65 racing yacht. Each of the seven boats in the fleet was built to a single, tightly controlled set of plans. As a result, the emphasis is on the skill, strategy and teamwork of the crews. The new Volvo Ocean 65 incorporates a series of innovations that, combined, make a boat not only fast through water, but also capable of withstanding the toughest conditions on the planet. Safety on the wind-powered vessels is also a priority, just as it has been for the Volvo companies since the very first car was manufactured in 1927.

Volvo, who are understandably excited about the race and had this to say, “At Volvo Cars, everything we do begins with people, from our commitment to safety to innovation. Through the Volvo Ocean Race we get an excellent opportunity to connect and build relationships with people around the world. The race itself is also an extraordinary human endeavour, requiring passion, focus, dedication, teamwork – the same emotions and traits reflected in the design of our vehicles,” said Håkan Samuelsson, President and CEO Volvo Car Group.

Lifestyle will be posting regular updates from the race as the teams reach their different stops so be sure to check back for the latest news from the Volvo Ocean Race.