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Volvo Ocean Race The Guide PDF
Volvo Ocean Race The Guide PDF
Pain.
Gain. Glory.
Inside the world’s
premier ocean race
€12
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Offshore Drama
Knut Frostad
Published by Volvo Ocean Race, S.L.U. Edificio Antigua Estación Marítima, Muelle n°10 de Levante, Puerto de Alicante, 03001 Alicante, Spain
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Translation Miriam Torres, Lenaïc Blériot, Coralie Rassinoux, Teodora Lasarova
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Published October 2011.
The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
Dan Armstrong
Offshore Drama
The best
line up
No quarter asked, no quarter given.
A fierce race is in store from
beginning to end for the
fleet in the Volvo Ocean
Race 2011-12.
Racing me want to
come back. It
was such an
”
• First time entry experience.
• First time UAE stopover IAN WALKER
CHRIS CAMERON
Spain/New Zealand
Groupama sailing
team
“ This is a
huge challenge
”
for me.
FRANCK CAMMAS
YVAN ZEDDA
France
USA
The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
”
the race.
MIKE SANDERSON
• China debut
• New resort stopover
• Build on China/Ireland links
China
”
things.
8 • Home port start IKER MARTÍNEZ
Spain
Game On!
The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
The world
is the race
Alicante Cape Town
Estimated Arrival - 25 Nov 2011
track
Leg Start 5 Nov 2011 11 Dec 2011
Atlantic Ocean
Alicante
10
Abu Dhabi
Sanya
Pirates to the
left and pirates
to the right
After the
Doldrums
skirt the high and
head for Table WHALES
Southern Ocean
Mountain
ALBATROSS WHALES
13 Jan 2012 18 Feb 2012 17 Mar 2012 21 Apr 2012 19 May 2012 9 Jun 2012 30 Jun 2012 7 Jul 2012
14 Jan 2012 19 Feb 2012 18 Mar 2012 22 Apr 2012 20 May 2012 10 Jun 2012 1 Jul 2012 -
Galway
Lorient
No big boost
from the Gulf
Stream Lisbon
11
Miami
Atlantic Ocean
Auckland Itajai
ROARING FORTIES
CAPE HORN
Cape Horn can be
Classic charge FURIOUS FIFTIES fearsome
through the
Southern Ocean – ANTARCTICA
beware ice ALBATROSS
The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
”
The course sets an intriguing mixture 12 hours.
of sailing conditions and challenges for TOM ADDIS
navigators. These include fast, heavy weather
running in the Southern Ocean, nail biting
light airs and thunderstorms in the Doldrums,
plus tricky tidal conditions along the
European coastline.
WORDS: VINCENT GEAKE
Techi-talk
12 Trade Winds
In the tropics north and south of the equator lie zones of high
pressure broken up by the continents. The wind in the high
pressure systems is light, but with stronger, steadier trade winds,
Doldrums typically 12-25 knots, blowing around the outside.
The high pressure systems oscillate back and
Between the tropical trade wind belts lies the forth over periods of weeks, moving the
Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), bands of trade winds with them.
or Doldrums, where the winds are very L Polar Front L
The navigators need to anticipate
fickle. Large areas of calm alternate the position of these highs and put
with low pressure troughs and themselves in the strong wind
vigorous cells, which can build H Horse Latitudes H
bands.
into tropical storms, cyclones
and hurricanes, bringing strong
L Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (Doldrums) L
winds and thunderstorms. The
Westerlies
wind is dominated by clouds, Trade Winds
which bring local calms and North and south of the high
H H
gusts lasting for hours, shooting pressure lie bands of low
one boat forward and leaving Westerly Storm Track pressure containing individual
another becalmed. depressions. Warm and cold fronts
L L
Within these zones, coastlines move quickly across the oceans,
Polar Easterlies
and islands have two effects on the bringing strong fluctuating winds from
wind. First, high mountainous areas can a mainly southwest to northwest direction.
leave large wind shadows with lighter winds L = Low Pressure H = High Pressure These depressions can build into storms
and funnels of stronger wind sea breezes. Second, with winds up to 40 or 50 knots, particularly in the
as the land heats up and cools each day, the wind near the Roaring Forties and the Screaming Fifties in the Southern
shore builds and dies away. Ocean. Between the lows the wind can die to a calm.
The effect of the islands can be felt hundreds of miles Navigators will want to ‘hitch a lift’ on one of these systems and
away. Unless the wind offshore is light, navigators try to stay find the strong tail winds that give the famous high speed
well away. running conditions.
Offshore Drama
1
Challenge One
Alicante
Alicante to Cape Town
6,500 nm
Days at sea: 20
After the start, the teams must Through the northeast trade
negotiate the unpredictable winds of winds, everyone will be trying to
the Mediterranean before breaking work their way west to cross the
out through the Straits of Gibraltar Doldrums belt at its narrowest
into the Atlantic. There they need point and to connect with the
to hook into the northeast trade South Atlantic trade winds
winds to speed south towards the near the Brazilian coast. Luck
equator. This will provide the first could also play a part in
tactical challenge. Should they push deciding who breaks free first,
west for better wind or head south but the crews will be
Cape Town
in the wind they have to make miles concentrating hard on every cloud
towards the finish? Jules Salter, that passes to take advantage of the
navigator for Abu Dhabi Ocean best wind and avoid the calms.
Racing, expects a bit of drag racing
here as this is a chance for everyone Having picked up the south Atlantic trade winds near the Brazilian coast, the direct course
to look at the performance of their to Cape Town leads through light airs in the centre of the South Atlantic high pressure zone and
own boat and compare it with the almost certainly the navigators will advise sailing a longer route south along the coast before
competition. turning east for South Africa. This could be the big decision and the one that decides the
finishing positions for the leg. How many extra miles dare they afford to sail in order to pick up
the stronger winds?
”
13
2
Pirate Zone
Cape Town to Abu Dhabi
5,430 nm Abu Dhabi
Days at sea: 20
3
The dreaded Malacca Strait
Abu Dhabi to Sanya
4,600 nm Abu Dhabi
Sanya
Days at sea: 21
14
”
4
Tactically Testing Sanya
Sanya to Auckland
5,220 nm
Days at sea: 21
This, the third of the new legs, is
another where there is precious little
previous data available. It starts in trade
winds and the normal route passes
through the light fickle winds of the
Doldrum belt at its widest.
This track has the added wind
Auckland
disturbance from the islands of the west
Pacific and even passes close to
Papua New Guinea. Once the teams
have picked up the trade winds around The first week reaching to the So better winds lie further to the
New Hebrides and New Caledonia, Philippines is a straight line, but can east and the leg should be long enough
they then face the final challenge of the produce severe conditions for the to claw back the extra miles sailed to
approach to New Zealand. boats, and skippers cannot afford to reach them, but as Abu Dhabi Ocean
‘Dry racing’ the course on computer damage sails this early in the leg. Racing’s Ian Walker points out: “It is
this year, PUMA Ocean Racing’s Tom At the Philippines the key decision difficult to continue to squeeze east
Addis reckons this leg could be tactically is when to turn right and head south for hard on the wind when other boats are
the most difficult. “Passing lanes open the long leg down to Auckland. reaching off down the track to leeward.”
up but you need to commit east or west Will Oxley says there is typically more
much sooner,” he says. wind to the east, but further to sail.
Offshore Drama
5
Infamous Cape Horn
Auckland to Itajaí
6,705 nm
Days at sea: 17
Auckland Itajai
Like the first leg, this is a classic The Great Circle route goes
round the world leg taking the boats past 60 degrees south, and, although
south from Auckland through the thrill the sailing will be fast and furious,
of the Southern Ocean. those leaving it late to turn north will pay for
Deciding when to abandon the it with a slow vicious slog back to the Horn. Who will pass outside the Falkland Islands
Southern Ocean and sail most quickly The safety waypoints set at around after rounding Cape Horn? It’s a key decision,
back up to Cape Horn will be hard. 58 degrees south will reduce the risk of but improved weather forecasts now allow
Then there will be an energy-sapping encounters with icebergs and growlers (the navigators to look further ahead and simply
beat up the coast to Brazil. The key bits that break off the ‘mother’ iceberg), but factor in the Falklands as an obstruction in a
decisions to Cape Horn will be how still provide the chance to gain in the fast longer game plan. Tom Addis thinks the main
sharply off course to head south from conditions in the south. Oxley says: “The challenge will be the high pressures coming
New Zealand, but picking the right time weather routing software we use does not off the River Plate. “Do you try to get round the
to hitch a ride on the strong westerlies, deal well with ice gates and many hours will front or cut up behind?” he asks. The passing
and then when to turn north to reach inevitably be spent deciding just how we lanes will therefore be harder to find and the
the Cape. get back up to them.” fleet will stay closer together.
”
15
6
Random Luck Miami
Itajaí to Miami
3,590 nm
Days at sea: 14
By Brazil, it will be clear who is the Rounding Recife, the current and wind
fastest, and the leaderboard could be follow west along the Brazilian coast, but
starting to open out. Skippers with slower the stronger north Atlantic trade winds are
boats or with fewer points will be looking north across the Doldrums. The second
hard for options to separate from the fleet decision of the leg is when to pick a slot
and take risks for faster sailing conditions in the Doldrums and head sharply north
elsewhere. This leg should provide several into the new wind. Itajai
opportunities. Here we will see separation in the fleet
Heading north from Itajaí, the course combined with random luck around the
follows the Brazilian coast, but how far will towering clouds. Tom Addis thinks this leg
the teams sail offshore? The trade winds will be more of a drag race for boat speed
GUSTAV MORIN/ERICSSON 3/VOLVO OCEAN RACE
are less reliable here – convective clouds and warns: “It will be hard to find passing
constantly disrupt the wind and, from time lanes after the Doldrums.”
to time, low pressure extends from the
shore, killing the coastal wind. Evidence
from earlier races supports the long held Then it’s north past the Caribbean island chain to the Bahamas, where
rule: “Less than 50 miles inshore or more there are no passing lanes, but the final challenge of the leg can come in
than 500 offshore”, providing a good light airs. Do not misjudge the crossing of the Gulf Stream running north at
opportunity to split. five knots between the Bahamas and Miami.
The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
7
Gulf Stream Drama Lisbon
Miami to Lisbon
3,590 nm Miami
Days at sea: 11
16
8-9
Calms and Gales
Lisbon - Lorient - Galway Galway
1,940nm - 485nm Lorient
Days at sea: 7 - 2
Lisbon
Two sprint legs complete The weather conditions for
the course, and with few points these legs could be from calms
remaining to be won, skippers will to gales. Tom Addis points out
start to focus on beating specific that each of these legs “fits within
boats above and below them on a single forecast period” and
the leaderboard. Some boats will therefore he expects that boats will
have damaged or missing sails, start with fully, pre-prepared race
which will restrict their tactical plans.
options, and will be raced in very Roger Badham points to an The second leg along
different configurations. unusual factor in the first sprint the French and Irish coasts
The first sprint is an ocean leg and the probability that it will will put continuous demands
running west from Lisbon into the effectively restart in light airs on the navigators, as the
Azores high, turning round the around the Azores before racing challenges of tides and
Azores island of São Miguel, then back to France. “It will be critical windshifts on the headlands
north east back out of the high for navigators to call the laylines cause rapidly changing
to Lorient. The second sprint is on the right wind angles,” says conditions in which a well-
a coastal leg along the Brittany Andrew Cape explaining what sailed boat might wriggle away
coast, across the English Channel happens when sailing into such and change the result of the
and up the west coast of Ireland. light airs. whole year’s race.
Offshore Drama
T he increasing frequency of
accurate position reports on
the fleet has focused the skippers
another boat when wind conditions
vary significantly over a short
distance, for example in light airs near
to navigators. Each sail carried suits
different conditions and only allows
the boat to sail in a narrow wind
on their short-term gains and losses, coastlines, or around clouds in the angle to achieve best speed.
and is leading them to treat each leg Doldrums, expect to see rapid place Without a range of overlapping
as a rolling six-hour race. Boat speed changes in these areas. sail choices, navigators must now
has become key to this as skippers When the straight line between compromise their ideal routes to take
focus on beating competitors by two points leads through a light wind account of the specific sails onboard,
sailing faster in the same water, area, navigators will have to decide and the individual sail inventory on
rather than by sailing a quicker route how much extra distance to sail each boat will introduce an element
in different water. Badham points around that area to pick up stronger of luck. Expect to see some unusual
out how recent races have been won winds. routes forced on navigators by sail
by the fastest boat, and, as Andrew All navigators acknowledge the inventory or damage and expect to
Cape wryly put it: “If you want to be a stress of losing miles as the six- see boats diverging unwillingly at
good navigator, sail on a fast boat!” hourly boat position reports come in. times due to different sail availability.
With increasing weather forecast Investing in a longer, better course, If it becomes clear that some
accuracy delivered as digital data requires huge certainty from the boats are short of speed, then they
to software packages, navigators navigator and the trust of his skipper will have to change tactics and seek
tend to pick similar quick routes to commit to these plans. opportunities to exploit different wind
and sail more as a fleet, with a few The latest sail limitations have conditions, especially later in the
exceptions. It is difficult to cover severely reduced the options open race.
Five ContiNenTs
Four Oceans
39,270nm
One Wild
RICK DEPPE/PUMA OCEAN RACING/VOLVO OCEAN RACE
AdventurE
T sun sets, a tod lights shir
“Arguably the world’s most exciting new tourism hotspot” Travel Weekly UK Magazine. www.visitabudhabi.ae
d t wonder begi.
When trying to describe a day in the life of a Volvo Ocean Race sailor, the
first thing that jumps into your mind is which day? The one where you sail
a measly 24 miles sweating as if you were living in a Swedish sauna, or
the day where you wonder when your kidneys are going to fall out of your
back as you career through the Southern Ocean?
Richard Mason picks the highs and lows from some typical days, where
the crew work a four-hour watch, followed by a two-hour standby watch
where they should be ready to spring into action should extra hands be
required, and finally a two-hour off watch where sleep is a welcome relief.
White peaks of foam mark the The next watch starts off cool, but, by
The galley and the toilet are normally
top of the wave in front of me before the end, I am looking for somewhere
very close, in fact on the old Volvo
we leap over it and crash down the on the deck safe enough to stand
Ocean 60s you could sit on the toilet
other side. It’s like driving in the Paris without burning my feet. We are drifting
and stir the dinner pot. Nice. Back then
Dakar race with no headlights, and a along trying to hop from the edge of
you had to be very careful to make sure
smashed windscreen. one cloud to the next, hoping not to
that dish brush did not get mixed up
Exhausted, I stagger down the be swallowed up by it, and that the
with the toilet brush. It is rumoured that
stairs, fall asleep instantly, only to breezes on the edge of it will slingshot
this happened on one boat. It doesn’t
waken in an hour, still fully dressed, us out of the Doldrums and back into
bear thinking about.
eyes glued shut with salt crystals. the trade winds.
Hearts and Minds
21
Half way through the watch brings the The result was horrendous. Diving for the weather. A quick glance at the radar
opportunity for a coffee to lift the spirits of side of the boat I spat the contents of my reveals a few clouds around; they can
the crew on deck. During the last race I mouth over the side. The crew was rolling have 50 knots on the edge of them!
found some proper ground coffee, a true around the deck in fits of laughter. I had On with the wet weather jacket
luxury, but absolutely useless on a Volvo boat made the coffee with salt water: possibly the that is soaking from the previous
Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race
unless you can invent a filter system. I took most disgusting thing ever served on a Volvo watch, and crawl into the dark cavern
my last clean shirt (NOT underpants), and boat! Not to be beaten, I returned to the in search of the galley and a hot cup
began to build in my mind what was going to galley and eventually produced something of coffee. I find the kettle is warm and
be the best coffee ever served. drinkable with fresh water, but to this day, I the bowman, my watch partner, braced
I stuck my head out the hatch to take have not been allowed to forget my coffee into the super-structure trying to get
orders, and severely talk up the process I skills. dressed. “Good to see you: put the
had developed to make what was going to kettle on, love!”
The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
Naked truth
behind body
22
odour and
breaking news colleague and even more rarely with a
journalist. I witnessed the hopes and
fears of grown men unfold before me.
It was always my intention to
Words: MARK COVELL, media crew member with
team russia in 2008-09 film and document everything that
happened on board, the good and
bad, the highs and the lows. I felt
A
that if you don’t document the bad
busy Volvo Ocean Race No smiling or data transfer capability of Inmarsat’s times, then the good times fall out of
crewman is totally focused on second takes for Fleet 500 satellite communications perspective. It was a concept that took
the MCM and his
pushing the boat to the max, with very to Volvo HQ. Enter the Media Crew a while for the crew to get used to.
camera.
little regard to anything outside that Member (MCM). I remember the first night of leg
mission. I blogged, filmed and one from Alicante to Cape Town in
Ask them to pick up a camera or photographed, cooked and hung on, 2008. The conditions were bad and
write a blog, and, on the whole, you’ll as my team did their thing all around we had already ripped a sail in half
only get footage from the Doldrums, me. and the next setback was discovering
while they wait frustratingly for the Sometimes I felt like I was a ghost we were sinking. These are two things
wind to occupy their hunger for speed or a hovering spirit moving around the that should be generally avoided on
again. crew, recording their story, unseen and your first day of the Volvo Ocean Race.
So the only way you’re going to ignored. Other times I felt like I was It was safe to say that the mood
get any footage from the heart of their personal scribe – as if they could of the crew was a little peeved. Like
the action is to make it someone’s not read or write and it was left to me eager worker ants, the crew moved
specific job to focus on nothing but to document their extraordinary story. quickly to detect and solve the
the onboard media, using an arsenal Very occasionally a crew member problem. After many attempts to patch
of specially adapted cameras and would divulge sentiments and feelings the punctured keel ram to no avail, I let
microphones, and the outstanding not normally discussed with a work slip that my dry bag was the biggest
Hearts and Minds
• M
ust be good with people with strange habits and
body odour issues
• W
orks well in both a cold, damp environment and
searing heat and humidity
• C
an hold a camera steady while travelling at speeds
of 30 knots from the inside of a washing machine
• M
ust have culinary skills that can turn bland into less
bland with only a small bottle of chilli sauce
• C
an type confidently while being launched off
large waves in the dark listening to carbon fibre
complaining of misuse in the work place
skittles. The crew’s frustration was • A
good understanding of videography, photography,
becoming painful. journalism, psychology, satellite communications and
Late one humid night, a cloud food re-hydration is essential
started to form in our path and the • T
imewasters and claustrophobic agoraphobics need
updraft of air began to fill our lifeless not apply
sails. As I filmed the unfolding action
I realised this could be my chance to Amazingly there is an exclusive bunch that have all of
get a natural shower and feel clean the above on their resumé, and I’m proud to be one
for the first time since leaving South of them. It was my job to be the voice of the Team
Africa. Russia crew on the last race so
As well as grabbing my video they could concentrate
camera in its waterproof case I put on the job in hand.
a small bar of soap in my pocket. I
filmed what I needed of the night
watch crew, changing sails as the
wind picked up. As one solid drop
of fresh rain fell on my grubby face, 23
I put down my camera, stood on the
aft deck and quickly stripped to my
birthday suit.
Mark Covell/Team Russia/Volvo Ocean race
It was now raining solidly,
flattening the sea and temporally
extinguishing the welcome wind. With
piece of rubberised cloth on the boat soap, razor and shampoo in hand I I blogged, I did what every good seaman
and may provide the perfect fix. quickly whipped up a total body lather should do and donned my life vest
As there is no place on the from tip to toe, worthy of any 1950’s filmed and and harness, attaching the crotch
boat that is safe from the ingress barber shop. I was now fully covered photographed, strap for good measure. Now please
of inquisitive salt water, I wasn’t in foaming olive soap, smelling like the don’t dwell on this in your mind’s eye,
best pleased to lose my only dry foothills of Tuscany in spring. What
cooked and but, just as I finished getting ready to
sanctuary. I reluctantly handed my dry bliss and satisfaction to feel clean hung on, as rinse off, the burly bow crew came aft
bag over. The problem solved and again. after reducing sail, to find me lathered
the gift appreciated, the crew/MCM I mused how funny I would look if
my team did up like a spring sheep before it is
relationship became a little stronger. the rain stopped. Just as if the Gods their thing all shorn, butt naked, my crotch strap
That relationship would be tested had heard my thoughts, the rain came pulled tight and a look of frustration
around me...
once again on leg two from Cape to an abrupt end. Like a practical joke, on my face. They looked at me as if
Town to Cochin in India. We had someone had turned the heavenly I witnessed they had just seen a kinky ghost with
been at sea for almost three weeks tap off. The rain ceased and the wind the hopes and behavioural problems.
and progress through the stop/start started, kicking us along faster and I knew I would push the limits of
thunderheads of the steamy equatorial faster. fears of grown trust between MCM and crew by
Indian Ocean was slow. I hadn’t Spray was now billowing out from men unfold exposing the naked truth, but I never
washed for weeks and I could smell both sides of the bow as we hurtled thought I would actually BE the naked
myself even when I held my nose. along in the flat water but for once before me. truth.
No matter how hard we tried to line there was nothing coming down the So, as I look back at the skills
up with one of the tropical anvil clouds decks. My only option was to scoop and attributes an MCM should have,
that dumped warm rain and solid some sea water from under the aft rail I guess I should add: ‘Must have a
winds, we seemed to fall between and douche myself down. But I wasn’t healthy sense of humour and a very
systems time and time again. Like going to lean over the stern, covered large dose of humility’, to the resumé.
a miniature bowling ball, we sailed in nothing but slippery soap suds in Oh yes, and a better knowledge of
down the ocean ally missing the windy the pitch black doing 25 knots. meteorology.
The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
Youth
inspires
the gnarly
veterans
The few round-the-world sailors
who enter the pantheon of the gods
of ocean racing have a common
trait: their passion for long-distance
Adam Minoprio is
CAMPER’s youngest
sailing began when they were
sailor.
young and it never ebbed.
Words: BRUCE MONTGOMERY
24
CHRIS CAMERON
Offshore Drama
The youngest sailor in each team (at start of race) MATT HUMPHRIES
Adil Khalid 23 years 1 month Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing
Adam Minoprio 26 years 5 months CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand
Rome Kirby 22 years 5 months PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG Propulsion
giving a chance for younger sailors to play a old boys and the young boys,” Humphries says.
central part. PUMA skipper Ken Read agrees.
In 2008-09 at least two crewmembers had “The under 30 rule helps bring the race
to be under 30. In this year’s race, under rule personally to the next generation of sailors
”
Youth, which have given the biggest opportunities.
Ian Walker
Dhabi’s identity for centuries. The you don’t gain the experience and so
thought of leading Abu Dhabi Ocean on. This rule helps give some of these
Racing into the UAE capital in January younger sailors a chance but it was
2012 will be amazing, especially if we the all-youth teams from many years
are in first place.” ago, such as ABN AMRO Two and
Ian Walker believes ocean racing is Dolphin and Youth, which have given
one sport where one tends to improve the biggest opportunities.”
with age and the under 30 rule goes Steve Hayles says the Volvo has
a long way to getting younger people given young sailors a grounding in
on boats. what he terms “an insular world”.
Sebastien Josse “Unfortunately it is a very circular “It’s like a global cottage industry,
leads a team of young problem: if you don’t have the incredibly small. The race gave us a
guns during the 2005- experience then you don’t get invited massive launch pad into that arena
06 race. to sail on the big boats, which means and gave us a good work ethic and
real understanding of what it meant to
be a professional sailor. If we all raced
round the world when we were 50 it
wouldn’t be the same thing. We need
brave young people.”
26
One of those ‘brave young
people’ is a New Zealander who
has the potential to become the next
Grant Dalton of round-the-world racing.
CAMPER with Emirates Team New
Zealand has recruited Adam Minoprio,
26, the 2010 world match racing
champion. He will be a helmsman and
a trimmer.
“My main responsibility will be
driving the boat fast,” he says. “I
know people onboard have done a lot
before, so I’m going to be like a big
sponge and learn as much as I can
from all the others onboard, who are
very experienced compared with me.”
Minoprio sees the under 30 rule
as vital.
“I think it’s probably the most
important rule, because the older and
more experienced guys have been
doing it since they were under 30
and they’re still doing it now. There
probably wouldn’t be that much
opportunity for people of my age to
©Oskar Kihlborg/Volvo Ocean Race
CAMPER with
Emirates
Team New
Zealand
WORDS: RIATH AL-SAMARRAI
28
Chris Nicholson
Skipper
CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand
NICO MARTINEZ
for walking away from the Volvo Ocean Race
and not looking back.
through a failed keel fairing. He jumped from his bunk Honest, Focussed, Passionate
into freezing waist-high water and what followed
became the stuff of legend.
The yacht’s electrical systems had been flooded
and, as fuses popped all around, the only hope of
activating and sustaining the emergency pumps was
to connect them directly to the submerged battery
terminal. Nicholson was zapped to the tune of 24
volts more than 20 times as he attempted to get the
pumps going. He succeeded and saved the boat,
earning the race’s Seamanship Award for his efforts.
Saving the yacht was beyond anyone in the
Atlantic a couple of months later and movistar, a title
contender on her day, was lost. “That whole situation
was pretty hard to deal with because effectively the
boat had the last word and it had beaten us, which for
anyone who knows me, losing isn’t something that I
enjoy,” Nicholson says.
His time on PUMA ended in an equally abrupt
manner and a first race win still eludes him. This time
he will chase it as a skipper.
CHRIS CAMERON
30
Stu Bannatyne WILL OXLEY Andrew McLean Mike Pammenter* Daryl Wislang*
Co-Skipper/Watch Leader Navigator Co-Navigator/Pitman Bowman/Boat Captain Bowman
Born: 20.04.71 Born: 22.04.65 Born: 09.06.79 Born: 03.11.83 Born: 20.05.81
Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: Australia Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: RSA Nationality: New Zealand
Achievements: Achievements: Achievements: Achievements: Achievements:
2008-09 Ericsson 4 2005-06 Brunel (navigator) 2008-09 Green Dragon 2008-09 Telefónica Black 2008-09 Telefónica Blue
2005-06 movistar
2001-02 illbruck
1997-98 Silk Cut
1993-94 NZ Endeavour
Tony Rae Roberto BermÚdez Rob Salthouse Adam Minoprio* Hamish Hooper
Helmsman/Trimmer Helmsman/Trimmer Helmsman/Trimmer Helmsman/Trimmer Media Crew Member
Born: 26.06.61 Born: 01.03.70 Born: 05.12.65 Born: 19.06.85 Born: 18.11.78
Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: ESP Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: New Zealand
Achievements: Achievements: Achievements: Newcomer Newcomer
1997-98 Innovation 2008-09 Delta Lloyd 2008-09 PUMA
Kvaerner 2005-06 Brasil 1 2001-02 Tyco
1993-94 NZ Endeavour 2001-02 Assa Abloy
1989-90 Steinlager 2 1993-94 Galicia ‘93
1985-86 Lion NZ Pescanova
* Under 30
ABU DHABI Ocean Racing
Abu Dhabi
Ocean Racing
WORDS: RIATH AL-SAMARRAI
31
Ian Walker
Skipper
The Volvo
volvooceanrace.com
Ocean Race Official Programme
H
THE STORY SO FAR
is memories of the last event are vivid. Many did not relent. He was made skipper of GBR Challenge Age: 41
are good, so good that he has been lured back for the 2002 America’s Cup and, having coached Shirley DOB: 25.02.70
for another lap, but he will never forget some of the Robertson’s Yngling crew to Olympic gold in the 2004 Family: Married to Lisa,
frustrations that accompanied his time as the skipper of Games, went on to win the 2006 TP52 world title as two daughters Emilia
Green Dragon. skipper of Patches. Walker’s reputation as one of the and Zoe
“It was pretty hard at times, I can tell you,” he says. sport’s finest strategic minds landed him the tactician role Nationality: GBR
The issue boils down to the uneasy union of onboard +39 for the 2007 America’s Cup, but then he Lives: Warsash,
competitive, successful men and a slow yacht. stumbled into the world of the Volvo Ocean Race. Southampton, UK
Walker’s crew was among the finest in the event, “I always had an interest in it,” he says. “A lot of my Whitbread/Volvo
involving race legends such as Neal McDonald, past friends, like Matt Humphries, Adrian Stead and Tim Achievements:
winners in Justin Slattery and Ian Moore, and respected Powell, had competed in it and it was in my mind to be Green Dragon 2008-09
offshore veterans like Tom Braidwood and Damian involved in some capacity.” Dislikes: Losing
Foxall. But their keel bulb was a tonne lighter than most, Favourite food: Thai
wrecking their chances in the reaching conditions that He had just finished another TP52 campaign Hobbies/pastimes: Golf,
dominated the course, and no amount of talent was going when he teamed up with his business partner Jamie Boag Tennis, West Ham
to win with that kind of restriction. They finished fifth. to co-ordinate Galway’s bid to be part of the 2008-09 Football Club
“All of those guys were used to winning and it’s a long race. Boag’s role was initially to look after the stopover Beach or winter holiday:
32 lap if the boat is not competitive,” Walker says. and Walker’s was to oversee the sailing operation. His Beach
Walker is not a man used to being on the outside intentions did not include leading the team. Music: The Killers
looking in. He started sailing at the age of eight in Mirror “We had planned on bringing in a big-name skipper Favourite animal/family
dinghies at Chipstead Sailing Club in Kent, England. His but we were up against it from the start financially,” pet: Toby (Labrador)
family were not keen sailors but the sport came naturally Walker says. “At one point we actually approached Chris Good at: Organising
to Walker and by 16 he was a national champion. He has Nicholson (the skipper of CAMPER for this race). But Bad at: Relaxing
rarely been out of contention since. without proper funding in place we couldn’t attract a top I can’t get through the
After graduating from Cambridge University with a skipper. day without: Checking
degree in geography, his attentions turned to the 1996 “Eventually the penny dropped.” my email
Olympics. Walker and his 470 partner John Merricks Walker could skipper the boat himself. But the money I wish people would be:
provided one of the few highlights of a disappointing problem was not about to go away. more understanding of
Games for Team GB by claiming a silver medal and much “I had barely been in one of these boats before the others
was expected of their future. The following year they were race, or crossed the equator, or gone to the Southern One day I would like to:
leading after seven races at the Melges 24 European Ocean, so those opening legs were an eye-opener,” he See West Ham win the
Championships in Italy when tragedy struck. They had says. “There were a lot of gnarly days where I was hanging Premier League
been travelling to dinner with other team members when on and wondering just how we were going to cope when
the vehicle overturned. Merricks was killed.
It was an awful time, but a second tragedy was
5
about to have a profound effect on Walker’s career. Glyn
things you may not know about Ian Walker...
Charles, the skipper of Britain’s Star team, had been
racing in the Sydney-Hobart Race in December 2008
when he was washed overboard by a freak wave. It was He is a two-time Olympic silver medalist
the second disaster to strike Team GB in little over a
He won his second Olympic silver medal
year. But something amazing came out of adversity when
Walker called Mark Covell, Charles’s sailing partner, to
with Mark Covell
offer his support. The pair spoke a few more times before
He was named skipper of Britain’s
agreeing to team up in the Star for a late assault on the
Sydney Olympics. In one of the most remarkable stories
America’s Cup effort in 2000
ABU DHABI OCEAN RACING
it got dark. I was lucky I had great guys onboard.” This time, he is after more than memories.
Walker’s crew went on to take third in leg eight, but it “I want to win this,” he says.
was the result of the previous leg into their home port that The team’s boat, Azzam, was late on the water relative
has become part of the race’s folklore. to other teams, but the preparation and research and
It was a downwind blast and, after flogging the boat design work has been far smoother than he thought
far harder than is healthy, Walker’s crew arrived in third. possible and Walker has a good feeling about the yacht
It was after 4am when they docked but more than 3,000 and personnel. “We had a great winter’s training in Abu
screaming people turned up and generated one of the Dhabi and we have a really good set-up moving forward.
most stirring atmospheres in the race’s history. “We are not as far down the road as a team like
“Memories like that made me want to come back,” Groupama, but we are going out there to do well. I really
Walker says. “Unlike other events, the Volvo Ocean Race want to give it a go. It is going to be great to welcome the
is the one where every team has its story. It was such an world to Abu Dhabi in January and we want to at least be
experience.” standing on the podium at the final prizegiving.”
33
Jules Salter Craig Satterthwaite Robert Greenhalgh Justin Ferris Simon Fisher
Navigator Watch Leader Watch Leader Helmsman/Trimmer Helmsman/Trimmer
Born: 18.12.68 Born: 23.09.73 Born: 17.08.77 Born: 12.05.75 Born: 20.01.78
Nationality: Great Britain Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: Great Britain Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: Great Britain
Achievements: Achievements: Achievements: Achievements: Achievements:
2008-09 Ericsson 4 2008-09 PUMA 2008-09 PUMA 2008-09 PUMA 2008-09 Telefónica Blue
2005-06 Pirates of the 2005-06 Pirates of the 2005-06 ABN AMRO One 2005-06 Pirates of the 2005-06 ABN AMRO Two
Caribbean Caribbean Caribbean
1997-98 Swedish Match
Justin Slattery Wade Morgan* Adil Khalid* Andrew Lewis* Nick Dana
Bowman Bowman Helmsman/Trimmer Helmsman/Trimmer Media Crew Member
Born: 08.07.74 Born: 05.03.81 Born: 08.10.88 Born: 23.07.82 Born: 06.02.86
Nationality: Ireland Nationality: Australia Nationality: UAE Nationality: USA Nationality: USA
ABU DHABI OCEAN RACING
* Under 30
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Team
Telefónica
WORDS: RIATH AL-SAMARRAI
34
Iker Martínez
Skipper
Team Telefónica
Age: 33
DOB: 16.06.77
34th birthday. Fernández had fallen to 19th in the world. “Injuries are the
Family: Wife Barbara,
“But I did start young,” Martínez laughs. He was just hardest part of this sport, for me,” says Martínez.
one son
“three or four” when he took his first trips on a cruising They bounced back in some style, taking the top rank
Nationality: ESP
boat with his family. on the podium and heading off to Athens to chase their
Lives: Santander, Spain
“I just enjoyed sailing as a child,” he says. “I liked fate.
Whitbread/Volvo
being on the water. I have always enjoyed the ocean, Having battled injuries for the better part of 18 months
achievements:
doing stuff on the water like surfing. and amid prolonged doubts over their participation,
2005-06 movistar
“Sailing was perfect. I liked racing, going against other Martínez and Fernández took the gold. “Incredible, that is
(inshore tactician)
kids. It could be technical and I liked that, figuring tactics all I can say,” Martínez says.
2008-09 Telefónica
out, working out how to win. I always felt like I was OK at It would mark a turning point in their careers. “Sailing
Blue
it.” is great because you have the opportunity to try many
Dislikes: people who
It’s a modest assessment. In 1993, as a 16-year- things in many boats,” Martínez says. “We both wanted to
don’t try their best or
old, he won his first national title in the Optimist and he try another side in big boats.”
make an effort
scooped Spanish youth golds in 1995 and 1996 in the
Favourite food: Spaghetti
Vaurien class. By the time he won the Basque Country THEIR CHANCE CAME when telecommunications giant
Hobbies/pastimes:
Championship in 1997 he was already considered one of movistar entered a yacht in the 2005-06 Volvo Ocean 35
cycling, surfing
the top sailing talents in the country. Race. The pair flew to Australia ahead of the race – the
Beach or winter holiday:
Then, in 1999, he made a decision that would add yacht was built in New South Wales – and were part of
Beach
several golden entries to his CV. He teamed up in the the crew that delivered the boat back to Spain.
Music: ACDC
49er with Xabi Fernández, a man from Guipúzcoa, Iker’s Unfortunately for Martínez, his involvement was only
Favourite animal/family
home province in the Basque Country. They had first met going to extend to the tactician role during inshore races.
pet: Albatross
as rivals in the Optimist and Vaurien classes but as team- “The skipper (Bouwe Bekking) wanted people with more
Good at: working hard
mates they were a natural fit. experience and I didn’t do the ocean legs. That was
Bad at: many things
The Spanish sailing authorities saw enough potential disappointing but I also think it helped me long-term.
I can’t get through the
in the young pair to include them in their plans for the I was able to watch closely from the side, see how
day without: snacking
Sydney Olympics of 2000, using Martínez and Fernández a big project like this works, and take that knowledge
on food
as sparring partners for their 49er entry. “We learned a forward.”
I wish people would be:
lot,” Martínez says. “We were always learning, trying to After the race, Martínez and Fernández, who had
nice
move forward.” sailed offshore onboard movistar, returned to the
One day I would like to:
It did not take long for them to live up to their Olympic circuit. Their preparations for the 2008
have more time for my
credentials. In a year from October 2000 they rose from Games had been interrupted by the Volvo Ocean
family
33rd in the ISAF (International Sailing Federation) world
rankings to fifth, collecting world and European silver
medals along the way. Soon the golds were rolling in,
starting with a win at the French Olympic sailing week in
April 2002, followed by their first world title in June and
European glory a month later.
5 things you may not know about Iker Martínez...
He loves surfing
Validation of the pairing, not that any was needed,
came with a dual nomination for the 2002 ISAF World He would like to buy a
Sailor of the Year award. “We always worked very hard,”
Ducati motorbike
Martínez says. “Our secret is not a big secret. We work
hard. Xabi is very driven, a very talented man. He was He treasures the watch his mother
great to have in the boat.” gave him for his 30th birthday
The following year saw them reach the top of the
rankings, but injuries were about to take a grip on the pair. He travelled around Lanzarote with his
wife and son in a 25-year old van
sunglasses constantly
The Volvo
volvooceanrace.com
Ocean Race Official Programme
Andrew Cape Xabier Fernández Pepe Ribes Neal McDonald Jordi Calafat
Navigator Helmsman/Trimmer Boat Captain Watch Leader Helmsman
Born: 28.06.62 Born: 18.10.65 Born: 19.06.71 Born: 22.07.63 Born: 24.06.68
Nationality: Australia Nationality: Spain Nationality: Spain Nationality: Great Britain Nationality: Spain
Achievements: Achievements: Achievements: Achievements: Achievements:
2008-09 PUMA 2008-09 Telefónica Blue 2008-09 Telefónica Blue 2008-09 Green Dragon 2008-09 Telefónica Blue
2005-06 movistar 2005-06 movistar 2005-06 Ericsson Racing
2005-06 Ericsson 2001-02 Amer Sports One Team
1997-98 Toshiba 2001-02 Assa Abloy
1993-94 Tokio 1997-98 Silk Cut
João Signorini Pablo Arrarte* Antonio Cuervas-Mons* Zane Gills* Diego Fructuoso
Watch Leader Helmsman Bowman Bowman Media Crew Member
Born: 22.07.77 Born: 11.11.80 Born: 22.12.81 Born: 03.03.83 Born: 06.10.81
Nationality: Brazil Nationality: Spain Nationality: Spain Nationality: Australia Nationality: Spain
Achievements: Achievements: Achievements: Newcomer Newcomer
2008-09 Ericsson 4 2008-09 Telefónica Blue 2008-09 Telefónica Black
2005-06 Brasil 1
* Under 30
Team Sanya
Team Sanya
WORDS: RIATH AL-SAMARRAI
37
Mike Sanderson
IAN ROMAN/VOLVO OCEAN RACE
Skipper
The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
IAN ROMAN
when you consider the impact Mike Sanderson
had the last time he enterered this race.
39
Aksel Magdahl Cameron Dunn Chris Main Richard Mason David Swete*
Navigator Watch Leader Watch Leader Helmsman/Trimmer Helmsman/Trimmer
Born: 06.03.79 Born: 20.09.72 Born: 02.10.74 Born: 28.06.74 Born: 17.11.83
Nationality: Norway Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: New Zealand
Achievements: Newcomer Achievements: Achievements: Newcomer
2008-09 Ericsson 3 2008-09 Green Dragon 2008-09 Ericsson 3
2005-06 Ericsson
2001-02 Assa Abloy
Teng Jiang He ‘Tiger’ Bert SchandevYhl* Andy Meiklejohn Ryan Houston* ANDRES SORIANO*
Trimmer/Grinder Bowman Bowman Trimmer Media Crew Member
Born: 21.07.74 Born: 01.05.83 Born: 13.09.75 Born: 13.09.75 Born: 26.03.86
Nationality: China Nationality: Belgium Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: Spain/USA
Newcomer Newcomer Achievements: Achievements: Newcomer
2005-06 Brasil 1 2008-09 Delta Lloyd
* Under 30
The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
PUMA Ocean
Racing powered
by BERG
40
Kenny Read
Skipper
DAVE KNEALE/VOLVO OCEAN RACE
PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG
DAN ARMSTRONG
goes over the multitude of achievements that crowd
his career.
impact on his career. His job was to sell sails, but part
He began sailing when he was
of the remit was to campaign a J24 and showcase
Parker Worthington/PUMA Ocean Racing
DAN ARMSTRONG
42
Tom Addis Ryan Godfrey* Kelvin Harrap Brad Jackson Rome Kirby*
Navigator Pitman Helmsman/Trimmer Watch Leader Helmsman/Trimmer
Born: 01.03.70 Born: 10.10.80 Born: 05.10.70 Born: 05.04.68 Born: 06.06.89
Nationality: Australia Nationality: Australia Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: USA
Achievements: Achievements: Achievements: Achievements: Newcomer
2008-09 Telefónica Blue 2008-09 Ericsson 4 1997-98 Toshiba 2008-09 Ericsson 4
1993-94 Tokio 2005-06 ABN AMRO One
2001-02 Tyco
1997-98 Merit Cup
1993-94 NZ Endeavour
Michi Mueller* Tony Mutter Casey Smith Jonathan Swain AMORY ROSS*
Bowman Watch Leader Bowman Helmsman/Trimmer/Medic Media Crew Member
Born: 31.01.83 Born: 17.01.60 Born: 12.10.78 Born: 28.01.67 Born: 29.06.84
Nationality: Germany Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: Australia Nationality: RSA Nationality: USA
Achievements: Achievements: Achievements: Achievements: Newcomer
2008-09 PUMA 2008-09 Ericsson 4 2008-09 PUMA 2008-09 Telefónica Blue
2005-06 ABN AMRO One 2005-06 movistar
2001-02 SEB 2001-02 Tyco
1997-98 Swedish Match 1997-98 Chessie Racing
* Under 30
ONLY THE BEST ON BOARD
SAILOR® FleetBroadband Series SAILOR® 6200 VHF Series SAILOR® SP3500 VHF Portable Series Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012 Race Course
thrane.com
The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
Groupama
sailing team
WORDS: RIATH AL-SAMARRAI
44
Franck Cammas
Skipper
Groupama sailing team
YVAN ZEDDA
that the man who has sailed this race before is far better
equipped than the man who hasn’t.
Yvan Zedda
46
Jean-Luc NÉlias Thomas Coville Brad Marsh* Martin Krite* Erwan Israel*
Navigator Helmsman/Trimmer Bowman Bowman Helmsman/Trimmer
Born: 08.06.62 Born: 10.05.68 Born: 03.09.83 Born: 08.12.80 Born: 14.10.80
Nationality: France Nationality: France Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: Sweden Nationality: France
Newcomer Achievements: Newcomer Achievements: Newcomer
2000-01 djuice 2008-09 Ericsson 3
Damien Foxall Charles Caudrelier Phil Harmer Martin Stromberg* Yann Riou
Helmsman/Trimmer Helmsman/Trimmer Helmsman/Trimmer/Pitman Helmsman/Trimmer Media Crew Member
Born: 07.03.69 Born: 26.02.74 Born: 26.06.79 Born: 03.04.82 Born: 20.02.74
Nationality: Ireland Nationality: France Nationality: Australia Nationality: Sweden Nationality: France
Achievements: Newcomer Achievements: Achievements: Newcomer
2008-09 Green Dragon 2008-09 Green Dragon 2008-09 Ericsson 3
2005-06 Ericsson 2005-06 Brunel
2001-02 Tyco
* Under 30
The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
Anatomy of a
Volvo Open 70
The Volvo Open 70 is designed to a
‘box’ rule to provide designers with
some latitude to vary beam and
displacement within a standard
length of 70.5ft (21.49m) and
total sail area of 8,771.7 sq ft
(814.92sq m). First introduced for
the 2005-06 Volvo Ocean Race,
these state-of-the-art carbon
fibre yachts are the world’s
fastest and most extreme racing
monohulls.
48
12
13
11
8 9
10
15 17
14 21 7
16 20 24
18 22 23 4
26 5
25 3
1 Bowsprit
27
2 Bow cavity hatch
3 Sink 17 Sheets and ropes
4 Head 18 Bunk
5 Galley 19 Sail bags
6 Retractable daggerboard 20 Navigation station
7 Dehydrated food storage 21 Media desk
8 Mainsail winches 22 Crew kit bag
9 Sail sheet tail stowage 23 Main engine
28
10 Winch grinder 24 Generator
11 Steering platform 25 Sleeping bag
12 Comms support frame 26 Fuel tank
13 Satellite communication dome 27 Hydraulic keel ram
14 Escape hatch 28 Canting keel
15 Aft water ballast tank 29 Watertight bulkhead
16 Aft bulkhead and watertight hatch 30 Watertight hatch
Offshore Drama
Sail plans
Full asymmetric
spinnaker
Upwind rig
49
Canting Keel
Volvo Ocean Race is co-owned by the Volvo Group and Volvo Cars. Volvo Group
The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
Brave crew
prepare for sail
change on
Groupama 4.
52
Offshore Drama
53
Yvan Zedda
The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
Battered bodies
battered minds
Years of research and months of preparation
go into making the crews fit to take on the
physical demands of racing powerful yachts,
24 hours a day, for weeks on end.
Words: DR. Pete Cunningham
54
Hearts and Minds
Maria Muina
knuckle down to some
serious yomping near their
training base in Lanzarote.
the outcome of the whole race, The usual stresses are touted:
bad food, terrible weather, and
AMRO One (2005-06) and
Ericsson 4 (2008-09) – pull a
action has to precious little sleep. The truth,
however, runs deeper. The entire
horizon job on the rest of the
fleet. Interestingly, neither team
be taken. race is won or lost before the changed a single sailor on the
first leg even starts, and that way round.
doesn’t stop with yacht and sail “The environment will always
design. Grizzled race veterans create stress,” says Maxi Tropé, a
point to pre-start teambuilding professional sports
and leadership as the factors that psychologist
separate winners from losers. who has
Everyone agrees prevention worked in
is better than cure, and all
sorts of tactics have been
tried and tested, from
preparing under the eye of
Special Forces in the military
to adventure training on skis or
climbing mountains.
56
Warning:
stress kills
Words: david schmidt
Hearts and Minds
the past with Volvo Ocean Race exercises, they’ll know about “Everyone’s expectations are team’s morale. While the Volvo
teams, including Knut Frostad’s and understand each other’s routed through him. No one else Ocean Race is for professionals
2001-02 Djuice Dragons unique characteristics. Without on the boat feels anywhere near only, inter-personal differences
campaign. this and under stress, morale the pressure that he does.” have led to sailors walking off
“How you deal with those and communication quickly Crews are split into sailors boats, being fired, or worse,
stresses impacts how a team break down. and afterguard, the skipper, the dragging the entire team down
handles the race. A better team navigator and the two watch with petty infighting.
will focus on the factors that bring THE OTHER IMPORTANT captains who are involved in “A lot of the time some guy will
them back into control. A worse reality, of course, is that a Volvo all major decisions. According grumble under his breath about
team will focus on the negatives – Ocean Race campaign is an to McKee, achieving the right someone else. Is that a fight
things they can’t control.” expensive, hyper-competitive power-sharing paradigm is one or is that just some guy being
Tropé points to a crew’s game. “Don’t ever under estimate of the hardest tasks facing any unhappy with someone else?”
psychological make-up as being the pressures that are on the skipper, as well as one of the asks McKee. “A good skipper
of utmost importance, especially skipper from everyone – the biggest keys to success. will take care of it, sometimes in
when a skipper is drawing up his sponsor, the designers and the “The best leaders empower a quiet way, sometimes in a more
roster. equipment suppliers,” advises their top guys to make decisions public way.”
While there’s little doubt that Jonathan McKee, mainsail and help them to feel they have Ultimately, it’s a skipper’s job
a highly introverted person, with a trimmer and inshore tactician authority,” he said. “The leaders to weigh the project’s goals and
strong need for personal space/ aboard PUMA’s Il Mostro through who struggle are those who ambitions against the realities of
time, would struggle with the the end of the first leg of the don’t allow their lieutenants the his team’s performance. While
pressures of the race and the 2008-09 edition. authority to make decisions.” surgical crew changes have been
environment of a carbon-fibre McKee left the boat after Not surprisingly, stressful seen to help both results and
raceboat, Tropé argues that when the first leg, despite the team’s times often provoke onboard morale, there’s little doubt that the
situations become really intense second-place finish in quibbles that, if left model set by ABN AMRO One
– say, surging through Southern Cape Town. While unchecked, can destroy a and Ericsson 4 is the way to go.
Ocean iceberg territory in the he was obviously Tropé again: “If you don’t
pitch black – that a person’s disappointed, his need to change someone, don’t
defence mechanisms come own experiences do it.”
into play. skippering boats
If the team has done allows him to see the
the proper pre-event big-picture pressures
57
team-building affecting each skipper.
The numbers
game
Keep it simple and keep it tense were
the two prime objectives of the
refinements to the scoring system for
the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12.
WORDS: JAMES BOYD
both expanded and rationalised. “Because of live television shore teams expended much
In 2008-09 there were 10 legs and the need to have a winner, effort ‘remoding’ their boats for
and seven in-port races. This time we decided to cut it back to one in-port races, removing all the
around there are nine legs, but in-port race, so that whoever wins unnecessary offshore
there will be in-port racing at all the race wins the day,” explains equipment, then changing them
the stopovers, including the start Lloyd. back afterwards ready for the
and the finish. The scoring has also next leg.
“The race will start and finish changed. Teams continue to For this race teams simply
with an in-port race,” confirms receive points equal to the won’t have time to do this: with
Jack Lloyd. “In Galway the fleet number of entries less the the exception of the start and
will be in port for a few days number of boats placed above finish ports, all of the other in-port
and then they will do an in-port them. So in the 2008 race where races are scheduled for the day
race to finish.” This is a first, as, there was a field of eight, a leg before the start of the next leg.
throughout the Volvo Ocean win would count eight points The new rules for the Volvo
Race’s 38-year history, the (with no weighting to differentiate Ocean Race emphasise this
event has always ended at the between the short and the long point. “What you race with in the
conclusion of the final offshore legs), while the in-ports and in-port race – apart from personal
leg. waypoint gates counted for half equipment and water and food,
The format of the in-port this, or four points for a win. etc – you must use again in the
races has been simplified, too. leg,” explains Jack Lloyd. “So if
Previously, on in-port race day, For 2011-12 all the legs carry you have a spinnaker take-down
two races were held and their a multiplication weighting of five system for instance, then it won’t
combined results gave each while all the in-ports are one. So, be something you take off after 59
team’s placing for the day, which to compare like for like, a leg win the in-port race – you’ll sail the
was then added to their overall in a field of eight this time would leg with it as well. Most of the
points tally. This time around score 40 points, while victory in teams are saying they’ll be racing
there will be just one in-port an in-port would be eight. “It is a with their emergency steering
race and this will be about one bit easier to understand,” states gear as well because they won’t
hour long as, on this occasion, Lloyd. be able to get it on board and
each in-port race is due to be But a factor the teams will stowed in any sort of reasonable
broadcast live. have taken into account in their time for the leg start.”
preparation for the race, and Crew changes for in-ports
in particular the design and have also been limited. In the
equipping of their boats, is the previous race an extra crewman
bias between the in-port races could be brought on for the
and the offshores. Last time the in-ports, most teams typically
in-port racing represented 20.6 choosing a beefy grinder to add
per cent of the total available muscle hoisting the sails.
points, whereas this time it This time, teams must stick
accounts for 18.2 per cent. with their 11-strong offshore
Given that one fifth of the complement, with the same
points were at stake, in the proviso from the last race that
last two Volvo Ocean Races of these all but one must have
sailed the previous leg or be
sailing the next.
Ian Roman/Volvo Ocean Race
The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
Onscreen
with both
mobiles and
computers.
Designed to make it.
No matter what.
www.volvoce.com
Watching over
the fleet:
the teams that
never sleep
The shore-based hub of the Volvo Ocean Race,
‘Race Control’ may sound rather grand and futuristic
to describe the organisational focal point of the
race. Yet this modern, purpose built, security locked,
technology base is just that, the nerve centre
of the 39,000-mile world tour.
WORDS: MATTHEW SHEAHAN
62
63
bedside manner, our staff need to understand the race, but feeds our online assets from Control. With so many different draws on its
in detail how a Volvo Open 70 campaign works race viewers to iPad and Android applications. resources, and given the level of expertise
in the heat of the competition. In many ways Thirdly, there is the support to the flow of within the glass walls, somehow ‘mission
it’s like running a family, you need to make sure information through the network. Some aspects control’ seems a better description.
MAKING THE
TOUGHEST RACE
IN THE WORLD
POSSIBLE.
∙∙∙∙∙∙∙
As Official Logistics Partner of the Volvo Ocean Race™, we have to
stay one step ahead. Prepping the harbours, moving life-critical supplies
and high tech sailing equipment across the world is a normal day for us.
From Alicante to Auckland and from Itajaí to Galway, DHL is truly part of an
epic global race across sea, land and air - and if we don’t win, no one else can.
www.dhl-brandworld.com
The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
Region
of Valencia
Beaches and coves, two great charm
s
ACCUSOFT INC.
CK.CO M
PATRY K KOSM IDER/S HUTTERSTO
V ast sandy beaches and remote coves, smart hotels or typical Spanish villas and plenty of
fashionable places to eat, the region of Valencia, and in particular, the port of Alicante, has it
all. Go exploring and you will find charming villages with enough culture and tradition to keep even
the most enthusiastic historian entranced. Not surprisingly, it is a region that now hosts almost 24 From 14 October to 5 November
million visitors each year. 2011, the city of Alicante will again
66
There are well over 100 km of beautiful beaches stretching from Castellón in the north to become the world’s sailing capital.
Benidorm and the Costa Blanca in the south. There are beaches for everyone and Alicante itself In 2008 Alicante first hosted
has seven: from the noisy and festive with large stretches of fine sand, to quiet and still stony coves the start of the world-renowned
Volvo Ocean Race. The start was an
with crystal clear water.
unprecedented success, both for the
Along with the history, the chance to see castles and climb mountains, the beaches are the
media and for the sport itself. It
main draw for millions who flock to the region in search of sun and sea. The regional government was frequently referred to as one of
– the Generalitat – is proudly keeping everything in the best condition possible. So there are the best starts in the history of the
sunshades and deckchairs, toilets and changing areas, as well as signs, ramps and access for competition, and the city of Alicante
people with reduced mobility. There are no showers on the beach, though, not here. Instead, was confirmed as start port for next
environmentally friendly footbaths are the norm, using treated seawater. Over 100 beaches on the three races. The city of Alicante is
Valencian coast have been awarded the blue flag, recognition from the European Union over quality also the home of the race and the
of water and sand as well as the services offered. race office is situated in the heart of
And the beaches are not just for sunbathing and swimming. Through its Department of the Puerto de Alicante.
For more information visit:
Tourism, Culture and Sport, the Generalitat has set aside separate areas for basketball, volleyball
www.alicantepuertodesalida.com.
and even football.
In the heart of the region, lies the city of Alicante. It has an exceptional climate that is
EDUARDO RIPOLL VIDAL
characterised by mild winters and hot summers, with an average annual temperature of over 18
degrees Celsius and around 3,000 hours of sunshine per year.
In Alicante, the Mediterranean is ever present, helping infuse the city with light. Its seafront,
stretching between El Postiguet beach and the western quay, from where you can enjoy a view of
the marina, is a must at any time of the year. Also along the seafront, and next to the Plaza del Mar
fountain, there is one of the city’s finest buildings: the Casa Carbonell, built between 1922 and
1925 by the architect Juan Vidal Ramos. The new raised promenade, that runs parallel to the sea
along the eastern quay, is a fantastic place from which to watch the Alicante In-Port Race and the
start of leg one of the Volvo Ocean Race.
The Explanada is one of the nicest promenades in Alicante. It is lined with four rows of
palm trees and its floor is paved with 6.6 million tricolour marble tiles forming a wave effect
mosaic. Other local parks and squares include Canalejas Park, at the end of the Explanada, with
spectacular lush vegetation including several hundred-year old rubber plants, the romantic Gabriel
Miró square, and La Ereta Park, built on the slopes of Mount Benacantil and overlooking the bay
and El Palmeral, on the outskirts of the city.
Pirates pepper
T hink of the Volvo Ocean Race
and you think of top professional
sailors on superfast racing yachts the crisis playbook
pitting their wits against each other
and some of the most extreme
conditions on the planet. Inherent
in the challenge is the continual
assessment of risk and danger set
The Volvo Ocean Race will travel around
against competitive performance but
that calculation is not all about the sea
an increasingly unstable world and
and the gear and the sailors. the security situation, particularly
At any one time there are
something like 45 different wars going as it relates to piracy, must be
on around the world. A large number
68
of countries are broadly unstable, factored in.
and there are plenty of nations whose
political and ideological outlooks WORDS: ED GORMAN
are not well disposed to the values
behind a race of this kind. There are
also many areas of the globe and of
the ocean that are poorly administered
and policed, places which present
their own obstacles to fast moving Is it a fishing to the race with the team examining a For the Volvo Ocean Race, the
racing machines trying to sail from boat or is it huge number of “what-if” scenarios. piracy issue comes into play on
something sinister?
one stopover port to the next, by day, As anyone who has looked at both the 5,430 nautical mile leg two
by night and by the shortest possible the race route will quickly realise, the from Cape Town to Abu Dhabi and
route. outstanding political and security in the early stages of the following
The Volvo race management team issue for this edition of the race is the 4,600-mile leg from Abu Dhabi to
looks at the course for 2011-12 in two question of Somalia and the piracy Sanya in China. The key player in this
ways. On one level it is an ocean race problem there, which has steadily tricky management challenge is race
track with dangers including extreme deteriorated since the last running of director Jack Lloyd. He is well aware
weather, protruding headlands or this classic three years ago. Since that Somalia is his headline concern
shoals and even icebergs in the then Somali pirates have hijacked but he makes the point that it is only
Southern Ocean. On another level it around 200 commercial ships in the one of a series of issues that he
is a race through the waters of scores Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. They regards as potentially ‘live’ during the
of nations each of which requires an have taken several private yachts, course of the 2011-12 race. “There
assessment of the potential impact on including that of the British couple is a significant number of risks we are
this unique sporting event. Paul and Rachel Chandler who were facing, not only Somalia,” he says.
While large parts of the course held for 388 days on the Somali
look harmless in this context, there mainland before being released. And AMONG THE OTHERS is Morocco
is always the danger that unforeseen they have begun operating farther at the start of leg one from Alicante to
trouble – a dismasting for example and farther from their bases – the Cape Town. In recent years Moroccan
– could require a crew to put into Chandlers, for example, were taken customs launches have made it their
port for repairs in a location that had about 700 miles off the Somali coast. business to stop racing yachts mid-
not been expected and is not ideal The combined efforts of various passage for lengthy checks.
from a security perspective. So there national and intra-national agencies In the run-up to the last race
has been an enormous amount of to stop them have so far failed to Ericsson was practising off the
contingency planning in the build-up eradicate the problem. Moroccan coast and was not only
Mission Control
and
To the teams, the shore crews,no e.”
their families: “Siya namkela nk
Welcome to
Cape Town
GREG BEADLE
The stopover is hosted by the City
ILVY NJIOKIKTJIEN
of Cape Town and The Western Cape
Government and staged at the V&A
Waterfront with support from the
T
National Port Authority, South African
Navy, Royal Cape Yacht Club, Cape
he port city of Cape Town, and the iconic landmark of Table Mountain and its ‘Africa Face’, Town Tourism and Cape Town Routes
have gazed over the Atlantic ocean and welcomed seafarers for as far back as man has Unlimited.
challenged the oceans. WORLDSPORT is the host port
Affectionately known as ‘The Tavern of the Seas’, Cape Town’s proud history with the Volvo organisation that pulls the key
Ocean Race started back in the early 1970s. stakeholders together and is the
70 turnkey operator of the Cape Town
Nineteen boats carrying 167 sailors left the Solent on September 8, 1973, and headed south
stopover.
for Cape Town. The city has upheld a wonderful relationship with the race ever since, offering
WORLDSPORT has a long and proud
crews and families the now famous hospitality, warmth, and, importantly, boat building, repair skills
history with sailing. It began its
and facilities which are equal to the very best in the world. affiliation with the sport by assisting
Cape Town is regarded as one of the most popular tourism destinations during the summer the Royal Cape Yacht Club to host what
months between November and March, when daily temperatures average between 24 and 27 was then the Whitbread Round the
degrees Celsius. The prevailing winds are from the south east, and usually provide ideal conditions World Yacht Race in 1997.
for the popular ‘Summer League’ sailing series in Table Bay. This initiation into the dynamic
The race village is situated in the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, which includes over 450 world of sailing was a baptism by
stores and more than 80 coffee shops, restaurants and pubs, all within the breathtaking setting fire which saw WORLDSPORT cut its
teeth to become rapidly recognised
of a dynamic working harbour. Highlights include an aquarium, helicopter charters, art and craft
as a world leader in managing ocean
markets, a world-class hotel and conference facilities.
race stopovers. This included multiple
When teams and their families require time away from the boat, Cape Town will spoil them for
editions of the Volvo Ocean Race, the
choice. The city offers a glimpse into the rainbow nation from its ancient pre-history, through the Heineken Cape to Rio, the BT Global
turbulent politics of the nation, to modern urban life, all mixed with the tastes, flavours and vibrant Challenge and the Hobie Cat World
colours of a wide mix of cultures. Championships.
Cable car rides will take you to the restaurant and summit of Table Mountain, or visit Robben
Island and the former prison of the world-renowned freedom fighter and former South African South Africa is proud to have two
President Nelson Mandela. Within 40 minutes, you can be visiting the quaint fishing towns of Fish sailors confirmed early as crew on the
Hoek and Simons Town, or take a drive to Cape Point Nature Reserve and gaze down onto the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race.
sheer cliffs overlooking False Bay, the home of the world’s highest Great White Shark population.
One to two hours’ drive will take you to the beautiful Stellenbosch wine region, where you can MICHAEL PAMMENTER is the bowman
sample some of the world’s finest wines in the comfort of exquisite Cape-Dutch architecture. Travel aboard CAMPER. Michael is a Durban-
through the beautiful ‘Overberg’ to reach the coastal town of Hermanus, and witness the world born sailor who was aboard Telefónica
famous ‘Whale Crier’ as he announces the arrival of the gentle giants, the Southern Right Whales Black during the last Volvo Ocean
Race.
that visit yearly.
Township tours are fast becoming some of the most popular activities among many visitors. It
JONO SWAIN is a helmsman/trimmer
is an experience that will open your eyes to the way the biggest portion of Cape Town’s population aboard PUMA Ocean Racing’s ‘Mar
live. Despite difficult circumstances and poor living conditions, you will experience the vibrancy and Mostro’. Jono is a veteran of four
spirit of the South African people. Volvo Ocean Races, and was last
aboard Telefónica Blue as a watch
For more information visit: www.tourismcapetown.co.za captain.
Glamour Ashore
SM AUTHORITY
Push the boat out in
Abu Dhabi
Weather gods:
moving away from the historical,
tougher routes through the Southern
Ocean. But the reality is we sailors
T
it can also play cruel tricks with the
Words: Suzanne McFadden he images conjured up of minds of navigators. Onboard the
round-the-world campaigns Volvo Open 70s, the navigators pluck
are of the boats blasting downwind their daily weather information from
on rollercoaster waves, white water cyberspace, received in the form of
lashing the decks, their sailors GRIB (gridded binary) files, which
cocooned in foul weather gear. store, transport and manipulate
All that may strike fear into the meteorological data.
hearts of armchair sailors but those But on the Equator, or anywhere
out on the ocean revel in the colossal there is little or no wind, the files fed
seas and howling gales. into onboard computers to guide the
The real dread for teams in the boats in the best direction cannot
Volvo Ocean Race is no wind at all. always be relied on to be honest.
In the 2011-12 edition of the “The weather models tend to
race, the course threads its way over be tricky in very light winds, so they
72 and under the Equator on frequent can tell you porkies,” says renowned
occasions – making the Doldrums, Australian sailing meteorologist Roger
and their coquettish wispy breezes, a ‘Clouds’ Badham.
recurring hazard for the race fleet. The only thing that equals the
“Most yachties would take wind trepidation of being parked up in no
over calms any day,” says Will Oxley, wind is crashing your way upwind.
the seasoned navigator onboard And this race route will send the fleet
CAMPER. “The calms are our enemy. upwind more often than any round-the-
“People talk about the race world race before it.
Clouds on the
horizon can bring local
calms and gusts which
can last for hours.
Mission Control
Jack Lloyd, race director, says the Once at sea, the cord is cut
CHRIS CAMERON
team will scrutinise computerised each one can work their magic with
weather models predicting what whatever is available.”
lies ahead and compare that with With the GRIB files onboard, the
traditional weather patterns there. The navigators run them through their own
knowledge gleaned gives the navigator computer programmes, which know
a good understanding of what will pan the boat’s performance. The GRIB is 73
out for the first three days at sea, and factored into the forecast – it doesn’t
a “vague understanding” of up to 10 make the call on its own.
days out. But even with the very latest in
“Sometimes the model can get digital technology, at the end of the “Sometimes the
the flavour of the weather for most of day the direction the boat takes model can get
the flavour of the
the leg. But it can also get it horribly still comes down to human decision.
weather for most of
wrong. You get good days and bad “It’s still a strategic game,” the leg. But it can
days,” Badham says. Badham says. also get it horribly
wrong. You get good
days and bad days,”
says Roger Badham
(above right).
no wind at all.
The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
ALL PHOTOS: AAD DESIGN
ence
Paradise for a unique sailing experi
Sanya
S ome say that sailing is like life – you’ll experience both peace and waves in it. Some say
sailing is a wonderful way to get a wider view on the world and challenge all kinds of
boundaries. Essentially, sailing represents a new life concept – think health, think green, think
Sanya is proud to have its own team
fashion – that’s highly valued in China. Now, more and more Chinese people are interested in it.
entered in the race. Mike Sanderson,
Sailing is unique for its charm and is a popular sport in costal cities, including Qingdao, Sanya, twice winner of the Volvo Ocean
74
Xiamen and Rizhao. Race and one of the world’s most
The Beijing Olympic Games sailing events held in Qingdao in 2008 attracted a large number respected sailors, will lead a
of sailing enthusiasts and that has helped the city adopt a sailing atmosphere. In southern China, professional team which includes
many top sailors from different national sailing clubs assembled in Xiamen to participate in the several local Chinese sailors.
annual China Club Cup regatta, an event which highlights the level of interest in sailing in China. Sanderson is eager to win the
And now, the Volvo Ocean Race, the most prestigious of them all, will be back in China again. event again and this time with a
In February 2012, the third leg of the race arrives in Sanya, China. As the only tropical coastal partly Chinese crew. A worldwide
recruitment programme to find and
tourist city in China, Sanya has sunshine, sea, beaches, a beautiful climate, forests, animals, hot
select Chinese crewmembers was
springs, caves and a pastoral and ethnic scene.
conducted.
Unique Sanya is a pearl on the global race’s stopover necklace. For the teams, it’s their ‘home’ Mike Sanderson and the crew of
in Asia and for the Chinese public, it’s their chance to be involved with the Volvo Ocean Race. ‘Sanya’ will spread the spirit of the
Sanya Serenity Marina, a specially built complex combining professional sailing sports and Volvo Ocean Race and the retreat of
leisure culture, will be completed in time to host the Volvo Ocean Race when it arrives from Abu Sanya all over the world.
Dhabi. Sanya Serenity Marina is a good way of returning to nature. People who want to enjoy back-
to-nature holidays feel a sense of return here.
While fierce competition can be watched on the water, in one sense, just being a spectator is
not enough any longer because sailing is something that really must be experienced.
The Volvo Ocean Race will arrive in Sanya during the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival,
which is when the official opening ceremony will be held. During the stopover, there will also be the
Spring Festival and Valentine’s Day. It is mid season for tourism here. Everyone who visits Sanya
at this time will enjoy the Beach Festival, sailing games, cultural activities, a fireworks show, an
evening party and a light show.
The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
Someone
else’s
playground
Did it have a black back? Was it one colour
overall? Was it an albatross?
76
A lbatrosses are huge seabirds,
some have a wingspan of 12
feet and telling one from another, even
the fishing fleets themselves can avert a
disaster and save these birds for future
generations.
Albatross Task Force members
(ATMs) currently work in South African,
Chilean and Brazilian waters explaining
for experts, can be hard. Looking for “One of my most memorable the safer fishing methods to the
the colour of its back, and whether it’s moments was sitting eyeball to eyeball fishermen and ship’s captains. They
the same colour overall or different on with a Wandering Albatross chick on also spend time on board the ships
top from underneath, is a good starting the remote Atlantic Islands of South themselves actively instructing in the
point. Georgia,” says veteran broadcaster and operation of these methods.
When one glides into view, this year’s naturalist, Sir David Attenborough. “The results obtained through our
Volvo Ocean Race crews will once again Around 100,000 albatrosses each work in Brazil have shown that pelagic
be reaching for their pocket guides and year – approximately one every five longline fishing gear sinks significantly
telling the world that they have spotted minutes – drown when snatching bait faster if the weight is placed closer
a Light-mantled Sooty Albatross or a from hooks suspended on fishing lines to the hook, and that this simple gear
Black-Browed albatross, or, the best of up to 130km long. As longline fishing modification leads to significantly fewer
and rarest of them all, the Amsterdam methods differ depending on the target seabird attacks on baited hooks,” says
Albatross. fish, different ways of keeping the birds Global Seabird Co-ordinator Dr Ben
Since their discovery by early sailors, away have been developed. Sullivan.
the albatross has been an inspiration to Trailing streamers or ‘tori’ lines from “During five commercial fishing trips
people at sea. The ease with which they the stern of the fishing boat scares in a known by-catch hotspot over the
cross the oceans has made them the the birds away, and setting the lines at peak period of seabird abundance,
envy of every mariner, both young and night, when the birds are less active, we recorded zero by-catch, which is a
ancient. is effective, but doesn’t suit all longline fantastic result,” he adds.
The 22 species of albatross fisheries. Even setting the lines under
that live out at sea have thrived for water by passing them through large Three races ago, in 2005-06,
thousands of years, thanks to a clean tubes prevents access to the bait as it the Volvo Ocean Race teamed up with
marine environment, plentiful food enters the water and weighting the lines the Save the Albatross Campaign to
and safe, protected breeding places. to make them sink more quickly has the help raise awareness of the plight of the
Now there are terrible pressures on same effect. albatross.
this globetrotting seabird, and their While many of the solutions may be Continuing its support in 2008-09,
populations are declining. Seventeen of quick and easy, teaching the fishermen the race was able to donate enough
the species are under threat of extinction, to use these practices takes time and money raised by players of the Volvo
a great concern to everyone. money. The Albatross Task Force Ocean Race game (page 60), to employ
Modern fishing techniques have was established six years ago using two ATMs. The current race will continue
had a direct impact on their numbers, dedicated professionals who work in the to support the Save the Albatross
and only a swift and concerted effort world’s by-catch hotspots, where the Campaign with funds raised from the
by conservationists, governments and majestic seabirds are in most danger. game and this year the event also has
Marine Messenger
W isdom is the new mascot for the Volvo Ocean Race and Wisdom’s Ocean Zone
will be his home in each port. His logo will appear on the sails of the boats used
for the children’s Try Sailing as well as on flags and banners. “Keep the ocean’s clean” is the
message Wisdom will be spreading, and it will be reflected throughout the environmental
and school programmes in each port. There will also be a special Albatross game played
by the children visiting the event.
Wisdom will also have a real-life presence in the race villages through a costume worn
by volunteers. He will bring excitement to children who will be able to ask him questions
about his life on the ocean and have their photographs taken with him. Not only that, you
can buy a soft toy version of Wisdom and some of the proceeds will also be donated to the
Save the Albatross Campaign.
77
else’s playground. Albatrosses are the environment and the increased human
ultimate ocean wanderers,” he says. pressures placed on 70 per cent of
Another man who is concerned with our planet.
OPMENT The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
SM, EVENTS AND ECONOMIC DEVEL
ALL PHOTOS: AUCKL AND TOURI
I
The history and the authenticity of
the race, the human adventure, the
t’s back! The Volvo Ocean Race returns to the City of Sails for the first time in a decade and
effort, the desire to improve and the
a huge 10-day party will welcome the boats, the crews, the race organisers and international teamwork fit the Camper values. This
visitors. round-the-world race will be, without
Auckland Viaduct Basin will be transformed into a vibrant race village for the stopover with a doubt, a strong source of inspiration
the new Viaduct Events Centre acting as Race HQ. Latitude Island will be the entertainment hub for the future of a brand that walks
78
with a packed programme of events on the big stage, large screens to watch the on-the-water with imagination.
action, live music, fireworks and lots more. And there’ll be a top quality range of stalls, public For Camper it is a privilege to
eateries and family activities in Gateway Plaza. take its first steps in the Volvo
Visitors to Pit Lane, in front of the Viaduct Events Centre, can see the Volvo Open 70 fleet Ocean Race with Emirates Team New
Zealand, undoubtedly one of the most
up close and watch the teams prepare for the next leg. The interactive Volvo Ocean Race
prestigious professional sailing teams
Experience Zone offers unique insight into life on board during the race with the adrenaline-filled
in the world. Collectively the CAMPER
simulator, the grinding challenge and a chance to race mini Volvo Open 70s. team, which is being run by Emirates
Team New Zealand, brings a wealth of
www.volvooceanraceauckland.com to keep up to date with the Auckland stopover party. experience to the race.
I
Team members have between
magine a vibrant, urban culture where everyone lives within half an hour of beautiful secluded them three Olympic campaigns,
beaches, hiking trails and a dozen enchanted holiday islands. Add a sunny climate, a 17 America’s Cups, 22 Volvo/
background rhythm of Polynesian culture and a passion for outstanding food, wine and shopping Whitbread races and numerous world
championship titles.
and you’re beginning to get the picture of Auckland – a destination consistently ranked in the top
five global lifestyle cities.
Auckland feels like the sailing capital of the world: host of two America’s Cups, home to
an unrivalled number of yachties, and the geography and climate for perfect sailing. The great
bars, restaurants and atmosphere will even keep landlubbers happy, as will March 2012’s other
sports: cricket, triathlon, rugby and even a 70,000-strong fun run.
The central city of Auckland looks out to the spectacular Hauraki Gulf, with more than 50
islands. Within easy reach is Waiheke with fabulous beaches, Pacific Rim dining and numerous
wineries. On volcanic Rangitoto Island a one-hour hike to the summit rewards you with
breathtaking views of Auckland’s harbour and skyline.
The city itself is modern and lively; the biggest in New Zealand and the largest Polynesian city
in the world. It boasts the tallest tower in the southern hemisphere – the Sky Tower, and a range
of leading family attractions. Auckland also provides a huge choice of dining experiences and
distinctive Pacific Rim-style cuisine, with more than 1,000 restaurants in the region.
The Auckland isthmus sits between the pohutukawa-lined shores of the Pacific Ocean, and
the contrasting and wildly rugged black-sand beaches of the Tasman Sea. The pohutukawa tree,
with its distinctive red or yellow flowers, is regarded as a predictor of summer weather to come.
T he only South American city to host a major ocean sailing event is ready to welcome tourists
and crews from all over the world when the Volvo Ocean Race stops at Itajaí, on Brazil’s
southern coast, in April 2012.
The flourishing city in the state of Santa Catarina, set within a fully developed tourist centre,
offers a high level of infrastructure to complement a uniquely Brazilian way of life. On the streets it
79
is easy to see the European influence, mainly from Germany and Portugal, but the beach and sun,
the traditional Brazilian trademark, give a special touch to the city.
Itajaí has many cultural attractions and beaches that contrast perfectly to the urban rhythm,
and the port of Itajaí’s fast pace. Located in a landscape surrounded by a beautiful coast, the city
Volvo fleet comes to Itajaí has welcomed many cruise ships in the last few years.
From Auckland, after rounding Itajaí belongs to a region called Green Coast and Sea, that also includes the cities of
notorious Cape Horn, Itajaí becomes Balneário Camboriú, Balneário Piçarras, Bombinhas, Ilhota, Itapema, Luís Alves, Navegantes,
the third Brazilian port after Rio de Penha and Porto Belo.
Janeiro and São Sebastião to host the Santa Catarina’s north coast is simply lovely. Balneário Camboriú is one of the most visited
round the world race. cities in Brazil. It is considered the centre of Santa Catarina’s tourism and home of the third
The famous Brazilian welcome will
largest nightclub in the world, the Green Valley. Balneário Piçarras is charming and the visitors
be more than special here in Itajaí
love the fascinating coastal views. In Bombinhas, tourists will discover the meaning of the title
as the city celebrates with the crews
‘Santa Catarina’s rare jewel’. During the autumn, the landscape shines and the water stays warm,
one of the most testing legs of this
exhausting race. so it’s the perfect time and place for diving.
In Camboriú, nature and country style bring moments of relaxation and peace. Ilhota is known
as the beachwear and lingerie town in Santa Catarina. For those who love the air, Itapema is
JOAO SCHARF
known for skies full of ultra light planes. Comfort, peace and the simple way of life transform Luis
Alves into one of the best places to rest. This city is also known as one of the Brazilian Cachaça
towns. Cachaça is the most popular distilled beverage in Brazil, made from fermented sugar
cane. Navegantes has clear beaches for adventure sports and Penha – the city of Beto Carrero
World, the fifth largest theme park in the world – brings recreation, beaches, gastronomy and a
fishing village atmosphere. Charming landscapes and seductive beaches in a bay full of eccentric
beauty are what you find in Porto Belo.
Boating, jet skiing, indoor kart races, tracks and waterfalls are some choices for the family or
adventurers. The region has over 80 beaches to suit different kinds of people. It is easy to find
AUREO BERGER
quiet water for swimming and wild beaches for sports like sailing, surfing and bodyboarding. The
weather is mild and diverse, usually hot and humid, without a dry season.
Welcome to Itajaí!
Discover COSTA VERDE & MAR.
One of the fastest growing regions of Brazil.
A land of opportunities, entertainment and
attractions.
Str ateg ically lo cate d, both the por t of It aj aí a nd reg i o n o f fe r a g re at oppor tu ni t y
for d if f erent i ndustri es inter este d in i nv es ti n g i n Braz i l . Natu re bl en ds th e r i c h
At lantic Rainf o rest and exot ic beac hes t o c rea te rel ax i n g s c e ner y exc el l ent
for w atersp o rts and sai li ng enthu s ias t s. A r ic h c ul t ura l di ve rs i ty, m oder n th em e
park s and excit ing nightli fe, wit h s om e of t he bes t c l u bs i n th e w orl d, m ake
this reg ion a top touri sm desti nat ion i n th e c oun tr y.
83
handed a copy of the paper in the and there was no one to help us lug Grown up and looking “Even though you can
main street and there was my baby the cases up the station stairs. back: Lynda Rae with now communicate with your man during
19-year old daughter
on the front page!” I thought at the time I must be a leg via email, you tend not tell them
Annaleisha.
The only time Kathy Salthouse having a far worse time than Rob about any dramas, as you always
ever doubted her decision to follow could ever have during the race. think they have enough going on.
her husband Rob (a crew member I also thought once we got to La You really have to suck it up and deal
on Tyco in 2001-02 and today Rochelle I would spend the rest of with it by yourself.”
with CAMPER with Emirates New my life there, because I couldn’t face It’s a life less ordinary, but these
Zealand) around the world was the trip back.” race wives and partners all agree
when she found herself stranded on But it was a fleeting misgiving. there is nothing like the thrill of being
a platform with three children under Kathy now looks back at her first there when their guys come into port.
10 and surrounded by 11 suitcases, Volvo Ocean Race as being the Nicki Dalton: “I don’t have
having just missed the Paris to La most amazing experience. any regrets at all. I wouldn’t have
Rochelle train. “As a family, it is real bonding remembered anything at all
Kathy: “We had just arrived in stuff. There is you and your little unit from being at home, but I do
Paris after a flight from the United on this great adventure. We have remember so much from just being
States. Some of the suitcases were had our best family times following on the circuit.
full of correspondence school books the race.” “If you have a choice, go!”
The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
Beyond water
Miami
INFINITY2/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
ABSTR AND
T he place to ‘Sea and Be-Scene’ in May 2012 is Miami, Florida, USA, during the Volvo
Ocean Race’s only North American stopover. After the race finish, the fleet will parade
through the international Port of Miami to the race village in Bicentennial Park in Downtown
Miami. To celebrate their festive arrival, Miami will host the Volvo Ocean Race Miami: Beyond The Americans
Water Festival, filling the international race village with culture, arts, music, food and interactivity
84 Throughout Volvo Ocean Race history,
during the 14-day event.
America has fielded 10 sailing entries,
The Beyond Water Festival will feature dynamic entertainment with international performance with 94 U.S. athletes competing.
partners and, throughout the entire two-week stretch, interactive pavilions and wrap-around Paul Cayard/EF Language in 1997-98,
events will complement the public’s enjoyment of racing amidst the sheer power of the Volvo and John Kostecki/illbruck Challenge
Open 70s. in 2001-02 are both winners of the
Filling the dance card at the festival will be a series of youth sailing regattas, including event.
an Optimist Nationals and Collegiate Nationals competition. A multitude of aquatic activities PUMA’s Mar Mostro is America’s
is scheduled to include water sports exhibitions, sail boarding, kite sailing, wakeboarding, entry this time with a boat built in the
community cardboard-canoe racing and the eagerly awaited classic steamboat races. With U.S. and a team led by an American.
Designed by Juan Yacht Designs and
Miami’s proximity to unparalleled entertainment attractions, guests can also take in a day at Walt
built at New England Boatworks in
Disney World Resorts, dive in the famous Florida Keys Aquatic Preserve, and shop and dine in
Portsmouth, R.I., PUMA’s Mar Mostro
Downtown Miami and along Miami Beach’s Ocean Drive. will be skippered by Ken Read, who
A renowned championship-event city, Miami’s perennial glamour, excitement, sun and was at the helm of PUMA’s Il Mostro
beaches are heightened by hosting NFL Super Bowls, the Sony Ericsson International Tennis as it finished second in the previous
Tournament, MTV Music Awards, Billboard Latin Music Awards and premiere motorsports edition of the race in 2008-09.
championships, including NASCAR and IndyCar. Next up on the docket is a year-round regatta In addition to Read, American
schedule of 50-plus races building on the rich history of sailing in the South Florida community. sailors on PUMA’s Mar Mostro include
The Port of Miami – recognised as the ‘cruise capital’ of the world in welcoming more than Rome Kirby and Arden Oksanen. At 22
3.5 million passengers annually – will mark the entrance point for the Volvo Ocean Race fleet. years old, Kirby is the youngest sailor
in the race and truly gives an accurate
The largest container port in the State of Florida, the port is currently working on significant
meaning to the term ‘natural-born
infrastructure improvements that include deepening the harbour and constructing a $1billion
sailor’. He has been sailing since the
tunnel that will provide direct access to the interstate highway system. age of three and has competed in the
In conjunction with the festival, the Volvo Ocean Race Academy will provide activities for junior circuit in his Volvo veteran
young visitors. The academy will partner with local Miami sailing associations to increase interest father Jerry’s footsteps.
in youth sailing, provide participation opportunities for people with disabilities, and to promote Oksanen will be the media
the preservation of our most precious resource, water. crewmember on the PUMA Mar
Mostro, documenting the team’s
www.volvooceanracemiami.org life throughout the competition.
An award-winning documentary
filmmaker, Oksanen has more than
14 years of experience in producing,
directing, shooting and editing action
sports films.
VIEW THE ONLY NORTH AMERICAN STOPOVER OF THE
2011-2012 VOLVO OCEAN RACE FROM MARQUIS RESIDENCES. myPad
Oral representations cannot be relied upon as correctly stating representations of the owner. For correct representations, reference should be made to the documents required by section 718.503, Florida Statutes,
to be furnished by the owner to a buyer or lessee. Not an offer where prohibited by state statutes. Model furniture not included in asking price. *Financing available for well-qualified buyers.
LGD Communications, Miami.
The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
DAN ARMSTRONG
A perfect mixture of
sails and sales
It’s the car you
drive. The shoes
I f it weren’t for sponsorships, the race
wouldn’t be going anywhere, let alone all the
way around the world. Volvo. PUMA. Camper.
Groupama. Telefónica. Even exotic locales are
you wear. The parts getting into the action, like Abu Dhabi and Sanya
in China, both of which are backing a team and
you buy for your hosting a stopover. where tactics and skills combined with teamwork
See the big picture? Sponsorships bring in and courage creates a winning formula. The
boat. The Volvo big money to sailing, the kind that’s needed to differences, well, that would be the icebergs and
Ocean Race is build the boats, pay the crews and designers, and
help with the logistics of getting around the world
wet clothes.”
There you have it. The guys getting splashed
powered by far one leg at a time.
Ken Read, who’s giving the Volvo another
on deck in the frozen ocean wouldn’t be getting
the adventure of a lifetime without the executives
more than the go as skipper of PUMA’s Mar Mostro, has run sitting safe and warm behind desks.
companies before. To him, heading up a sailing The Volvo Ocean Race has done well to grab
86 sleek, high-tech venture is the same as running a business. In this a significant piece of the global sponsorship
case, it’s all about giving value to the sponsors. pie. It is the premier round-the-world race and
boats that race on It’s just that sailing around the world comes with generates tremendous interest, whether it’s fans
87
The number of people from many countries who Persson said the race, which drew four
saw sailing for the first time during the stopovers million visitors to the stopovers last time, takes
is just off the charts. It’s immeasurable. It’s why 35th place on the SportsPro Magazine list of
we need more sponsors like this in our sport, the commercially most valuable properties in
because that’s the way to make it grow,” he adds. the world of professional sports. “It is the only
Say no more. Across the pond, Camper is corporate event that makes it onto the list. That
a family-owned company from Mallorca, Spain, says a lot”.
which is collaborating with Emirates Team New “The Volvo Ocean Race engages people on
Zealand to manage its first Volvo Ocean Race so many different levels and reaches billions of
campaign. readers, listeners and viewers all over the world,”
“Being that we are from an island, our brand Persson said. “Being a part of it is about sending
has been influenced from the start from the a confident message to a truly global audience
sea that surrounds us,” says Dalia Saliamonas, that you are about competing hard as a team and,
Volvo Ocean Race project director for Camper. if skilled enough, about winning.”
“Nautical sports are not new to Camper,” she “It also builds business for the company
said. “So, while the Volvo Ocean Race is our in the long term and that is important for both
biggest activation until now, and the most global, companies”, explained Stefan Jacoby. He pointed
we are following a tradition that began quite out that the event provides an unparalleled brand
a while back and is a natural for a brand like and marketing platform. “The extreme nature of
Camper, coming from Mallorca and true to our the race and the focus on human drama lends
roots and relationship with the sea.” itself well to association marketing, which is
The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
Lars Ardarve
”
committed colleagues.
Stefan Jacoby
CEO, Volvo Car Corporation
important in developing the perception of the solid brand awareness globally whilst also
Volvo Cars brand,” serving as an inspiration to the local
The same holds true for PUMA, sailing community, which we believe
acknowledged chief marketing officer Antonio will help create future sailing
Bertone. “It’s hard to ever quantify what makes heroes from the emirate,” said
sense. It was the global reach of the race that His Excellency Mubarak Al
really intrigued us, and it has a lot to do with each Muhairi, director general of
of the stopovers. The sponsorship wouldn’t have Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.
been nearly as effective if the markets didn’t fit. It “Our ultimate business aim
88 is key for us to be in each of the stopovers and is to press the case for Abu
to really engage the consumers – we get a lot of Dhabi as a winter sailing
feedback and response.” destination. On a social
Bertone said companies can hedge their bets level, we want to build a much
where consumer interest is. “Or, you try to create greater sailing following within
interest the way we do with Formula 1 in Europe the local community so that
– we’re trying to create a market because we felt the benefits of the sport –
the field was uncluttered.” which are both physical
Abu Dhabi has both an entry, Azzam, with its well-being and strength
striking graphics of a falcon, and a stopover. of character – are
“Having a team – Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing available to our
– competing in this Everest of sailing gives us residents.”
”
be the icebergs and wet clothes.
Olof Persson
CEO, Volvo AB
The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
Shining city
Lisbon
P ortugal combines a long and historical nautical tradition with over 800 kilometres of
coastline, numerous rivers and lakes and excellent weather conditions. All that has helped
the country establish itself as one of the major centres for sea related sports events throughout the year.
After Expo 98, Tennis Masters Cup Lisbon 2000, Euro 2004 and the Dakar departures in
2006, 2007 and 2008, the transatlantic stage of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 once again
90
brings Portugal to the forefront in the hosting of first class world sports events.
As one of the host ports, Lisbon is a multi-faceted shining city. The almost constant presence of
sunshine and the Tagus River transform the Portuguese capital into a mirror of a thousand colours,
which highlight the city’s unique architecture and natural beauty.
There are so many things to see and do in Lisbon that all visitors will have access to a wide
array of different experiences.
Lisbon’s Tagus riverfront is dedicated to leisure activities and links the cultural and historic Walk through Lisbon, a city with
zone of Belém with the modern area of the Parque das Nações. The city also has extensive a history that spans thousands of
beaches, ideal for sunbathing or water sports, fields and farms used for breeding horses and years, to find streets filled with
heritage, monuments and traditional
bulls, monuments classified as UNESCO World Heritage sites, and picturesque rural landscapes.
neighbourhoods where the city
The World Heritage site of Sintra is one of Portugal’s most luxurious and romantic towns and has
first developed and can still be
served as a great source of inspiration for poets and writers.
experienced in a historic way.
It is more than appropriate that the Volvo Ocean Race fleet should sail into Lisbon in 2012.
After all, this is the city from where Vasco da Gama began his voyage to India in 1497 and a city
that would later become the European hub of commerce between Africa, India, the Far East and
Brazil, trading everything from spices to art. The city has a long sailing history, while Cascais, some
30 kilometres west of Lisbon, has hosted some of the world’s largest sailing regattas and was also
where the Pirates of the Caribbean entry in the 2005-06 race pulled in for emergency repairs after
being damaged on the first night out of Vigo.
“It is very important to have Lisbon as a city in our stopovers,” Knut Frostad, CEO of Volvo
Ocean Race, said when Lisbon’s place among the host ports was confirmed. “It has excellent
conditions for practice sailing and the in-port race will certainly be spectacular. After the rigours of
crossing the Atlantic, it will be a pleasure to arrive in the Portuguese capital.”
In the exhibition area of the race village, situated at the Doca de Pedrouços, there will be
promotional tents, stands, plus hospitality areas where race partners and sponsors will be able to
engage with all stakeholders and entertain their own guests.
On 10 June, the boats will leave Lisbon for the short sprint to Lorient in France, with the fleet
rounding the Portuguese Azores islands, a magnificent tourist destination known for its high quality
services related to nautical and leisure activities.
Lorient
FANCH GALIVEL
YVAN ZEDDA
W
after one of the most famous French
ith more than 200,000 inhabitants, Lorient is the third largest city in Brittany, with skippers and the museum retraces
an identity built around its marine heritage. The city is located in a well-preserved his adventures around the world
region, surrounded by beautiful landmarks and filled with history. The landscapes consist and the way in which he helped to
of beaches, well-known islands such as Groix and Belle Ile, mystic forests such as Merlin’s develop the sport of sailing.
Brocéliande and many rivers and valleys. Between land and sea, Lorient has also developed a The innovations visible on his
94
dynamic economy while preserving its past. Pen Duick series of boats were
The city was created in 1666 when the East India Company, founded by Colbert, set up revolutions at the time and you can
now see them at the pontoons in
by the sea in a place that would be named L’Orient. Since then, the town has always been
front of the museum.
involved with shipbuilding. Besides its naval activities, Lorient has a very important Celtic
heritage that is highlighted each year with the Interceltic Festival.
YVAN ZEDDA
This event gathers bands from all over Europe and more than 800,000 visitors for two
weeks in August. The city is now a popular holiday destination in the western part of France.
A centre of excellence in the naval field, Lorient and its suburbs boast marinas and
commercial harbours and the city is one of the most important fishing ports in France.
Lorient is also a centre for offshore racing, with many professional teams based at Keroman’s
old Second World War German submarine base. It has now been transformed to welcome
racing boats. In the ‘Sailing Valley’, from Vannes to Brest, over 90 companies work directly in
In June 2012 Lorient will host the
offshore racing. Volvo Ocean Race and its local hero,
Today more than 70 skippers from all classes of boat train and prepare their boats in Franck Cammas and his team on
Lorient. In less than 10 years, the town has become the European centre for offshore racing Groupama 4. The only French boat in
with renowned teams from France and abroad. Seven skippers out of 30 participants the race, she was christened at her
in the last Vendée Globe and 23 from the 80 sailors who took part in the last Route du base in Lorient on June 11, 2011.
Rhum (including Sidney Gavinet and his team Oman Sail) were based in Lorient. The city Pen Duick VI, Eric Tabarly’s
was also proud to have welcomed Ellen MacArthur when she was preparing for her solo monohull was next to her that day,
circumnavigation record on a multihull in 2005. providing an interesting parallel
between the brand new Volvo Open
Professional skippers like the environment and the proximity of all the specialised
70 and a boat that was built for the
companies: composites, sail making, rigging, electronics. Easy access to the harbour is
1973-74 Whitbread. Groupama Sailing
another important component. For all these reasons, the demand for berthing is very high Team is located in the Batiment des
in the area. Luckily, the local harbours can host 3,000 boats on their pontoons. Thanks to Défis (the challenges’ building),
this infrastructure, famous offshore sailors are based here all year long: Franck Cammas where the French team participating
(Groupama 4) and Alain Gautier since 1997, Armel le Cléac’h and Loïck Peyron (Banque in the America’s Cup was established
Populaire), Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac), Yann Elies (Generali) and Jérémie Beyou many years ago.
(Delta Dore). Today, 45 people work towards
one common goal: performance. A
For more information visit: www.volvooceanracelorient.com great example of Lorient’s know-
how in the nautical field lies in its
ambitions for the Volvo Ocean Races
2011-12 and beyond.
Feel the energy!
Come to Bretagne!
Visit Lorient for the 9th stage of the
www.invest-in-bretagne.org
www.volvooceanracelorient.com
© Création : www.pollenstudio.fr - Photo : E. Pain
The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
Voyage of discovery
Galway
FAILTE IRELAND
DEREK CULLEN FÁILTE IRELA ND
G alway is a city, a county and an experience to be savoured and remembered. The historic city
of the tribes dances to a beat uniquely its own. There is a certain chemistry and vibrancy to
this friendly university city which many delight in and few forget. Music, festivals, horse racing, pubs,
restaurants, shops, theatres, and most of all Galway people combine to create this atmospheric medieval
city of culture.
96
At the mouth of Galway Bay, the city is both picturesque and lively, with a wonderful avant-garde
culture and a fascinating mixture of locally owned specialty shops, often featuring locally made crafts.
A spectacularly beautiful county, it is a medley of contrasts – the wildest and remotest of countryside
teamed with one of Europe’s most vibrant and popular cities. Drawn as if by a magnet, visitors come again
and again, captivated by this most special of Irish counties.
As you would expect, Galway has a huge range of activities for the holidaymaker to enjoy. Golfers will
find themselves spoilt for choice between excellent links and parkland courses, the equal of any in the
world but without the sting of exorbitant green fees.
Horse riding and trekking is another popular way to unwind in this, the native county of the Connemara
pony. Walking trails to suit all tastes are available both around the city and in the countryside. Hill walkers
will find many fine routes in Connemara and the Twelve Pins.
In the heart of a contrasting landscape, where the mountains meet the sea, and green land surrounds
No one who was there will ever
the lakes, you will find one of Ireland’s most unusual regions. Connemara is a land both wild and tame.
forget the arrival of the Volvo Ocean
The Connemara Trail is not just for riders but for anyone who enjoys other activities in a peaceful Irish
Race fleet into Galway in 2009. This
atmosphere. time the city will also witness the
Our coastline lends itself to a variety of water sports. Fishing is always a popular option in Galway and winner of 2011-12 race receiving the
every visitor to the city will have visited the famous Salmon Weir Bridge. Coarse fishing, river angling and newly-designed trophy after what
sea angling are also available locally. will in effect be a double finish – the
The Claddagh (Irish: An Cladach, meaning, “a stoney beach”) is a beach area in the western part last ocean leg from its twinned city
of Galway. People have been gathering seafood and fishing from the area for millennia. Historically, its Lorient, and then the finale of an in-
existence has been recorded since the arrival of Christianity in the fifth century. It is one of the oldest port race to decide the final points.
former fishing villages in Ireland.
FAILTE IRELAND
Anyone who knows the song ‘Galway Bay’ will be familiar with the Claddagh, previously a fishing
village of thatched cottages, now an area just outside the city centre. Here is the birthplace of the world
famous Claddagh ring, a souvenir many bring home, just to keep a little piece of Galway with them always.
Eyre Square is the centrepiece to Galway City and was officially presented to the city in 1710 by
Mayor Edward Eyre, from whom it took its name. Originally surrounded with a wooden fence, it was
enclosed with iron railings in the late 1700s. These were removed in the 1960s, and subsequently
re-erected around St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church. In 1965, the square was officially renamed
“Kennedy Memorial Park” in honour of US President John F. Kennedy, who visited here shortly before his
assassination in 1963.
Academy
will take
thousands
afloat
Thousands of young people around
the globe will be able to experience
sailing for themselves as the Volvo
Ocean Race organises one of its
biggest ever youth programmes –
and youth can even extend to parents
and grandparents.
97
Matias Capizzano/capizzano.com
The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
girls leading up to a final. That should give the chance to go afloat and learn about an
race village visitors, fellow club members and environmental project.
families something to cheer. The Volvo Ocean Race has also bought six
“We believe this partnership will provide Ludic dinghies from France. These can take
the RS:X Class with a tremendous opportunity at least six children plus an instructor, or four
aimed at youth in the many developing adults plus an instructor and will be shipped in
countries where the Volvo has stopovers,” said two groups of three, leapfrogging each other
a spokesman for Neil Pryde. round the world.
“The RS:X Class takes great interest in So, book a place, grab a lifejacket, step
its worldwide youth training programmes and aboard and try a sport that has inspired
shares the philosophy with the Volvo Ocean explorers and athletes for hundreds
Race of encouraging young sailors of today to of years.
follow their dream and become the Volvo sailors
of tomorrow,” added Mike Dempsey, chairman
of the class association.
The race village schools programme will
invite local children to try sailing and will be
aimed at 10 to 11-year olds. They will be offered
99
The Volvo
volvooceanrace.com
Ocean Race Official Programme
100
Glamour Ashore
The roar
of the crowd
They came in their thousands to decision to make prizegiving
ceremonies a public affair. “They
– like everything else they will be
free of charge – and a warts-and-
stare in wonder in India and to roar used to be private, but they will
be open air and free of charge
all insight into life onboard a Volvo
Open 70, which is where the
them home in Galway, while in this time,” Ola says. “The athletes Volvo Ocean Race Experience
will be going on stage to collect comes into its element. This is
Alicante they flocked to a new focal their awards and the public will be Patrik Larsson’s department,
there and part of it.” overseeing the corner of the race
point for the town. The race villages If the plan is to immerse the village devoted to sucking land-
are a very special meeting place. public into the race, then the
new stopover structure will help.
lubbers into the world of the Volvo
Ocean Race sailor.
Gone are the month-long breaks There is a 3D cinema, a
Words: Riath al-Samarrai between legs, replaced by a set, structure of nine 40ft shipping
T
two-week formula. Stopovers containers that will swamp viewers
imes have changed and the public, allowing fans to watch will commence with emotional with 10 minutes of thrilling clips
Volvo Ocean Race port master boat-builders and design arrivals as the sailors greet their from the race’s archives; there is
manager Ola Astradsson knows experts do their thing. The yachts families after a hard slog at sea a simulator designed to mimic the
it. “Four or five races ago, the themselves will be closer to hand and the prizegiving ceremony violent motion of a carbon fibre
situation with stopovers was very, too, with access granted to the will take place on the second racing yacht on the charge; then
very different,” he says. “Back pontoons. “People will be able to Thursday. A pro-am race will be there’s the bouncy castle for kids
then it was all about berths for reach out and touch the boats,” held the following day and then and a grinding challenge that
101
the boats and not much else. You Ola says. on Saturday points will be up replicates the lactic-acid agony of
would call around the marinas Most impressive will be the for grabs in the in-port races. hoisting sails.
maybe a month in advance of an racing itself. As part of far- On Sunday afternoon, the fleet “We want to give the public an
arrival and ask if they could hold reaching changes to the structure will wave goodbye and, amid an idea of what life is like on these
10 boats.” of the stopovers, the in-port races atmosphere of expectation and boats,” Patrik says. “Our intention
Today, Ola’s remit includes will be much closer to land. In apprehension, leave for the next is to show how extreme it can be.”
laying on stopovers with a little the 2008-09 edition, when Team leg. “By making things more In between the big occasions
more pizzazz. In short, there will Russia collided with Team Delta compact it sustains the excitement and sailing lessons, there will
be a lot more going on than the Lloyd in the opening in-port race and allows us to build up to the be regular performances and
gentle rocking of boats in a line. in Alicante, it was still too far climax of the leg start,” Ola says. entertainment. “In Miami and
At the 10 host ports around offshore for most naked eyes on Part of that effort will revolve Abu Dhabi we are lining up big
the world there will be concerts the beach. This time, the close- around developing knowledge of concerts,” Ola says. “In Miami
– Bryan Adams and UB40 raised quarter combat of the world’s the sport, enabling casual there will be a stage and an area
the curtain on the 2008-09 race fastest monohull yachts will be visitors to understand what for 25,000 people. They will be
at Alicante – exhibitions, rides and as near to the dock as is safely goes on when the sails big occasions.
fireworks on show for an audience possible. go up. On that “And each port will
that is estimated to be in excess “We want the race to be felt by score, there arrange performances
of four million people. the public,” Ola says. “This time will be and shows that fit their
For the ports, it is a major we really want to bring the race regular sailing culture. There is a lot
opportunity to gain global closer. The in-port races will not clinics and planned.”
exposure; for the organisation it be on a typical windward-leeward exhibitions Times really have
is a chance to spread the word. course; they will be configured changed.
For the public, it is a chance to so that the races will be closer
all photos: Rick Tomlinson/Dave Kneale/
are much closer to the action. The We really want to involve the
container parks – the equivalent public.”
of pit garages in Formula 1 – will This is also the chief
be opened for the first time to motivation behind the
The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
In the
making
Thirty-eight years and 10
rolls of honour for the race winners.
1973-74 27,000 nautical miles • 19 starters
BARRY PICKTHALL/PPL
Leg 1 Portsmouth to Cape Town Leg 2 Cape Town to Sydney Leg 3 Sydney to Rio de Janeiro
Sayula II
Leg 4 Rio de Janeiro to Portsmouth
102
1977-78 26,780 nautical miles • 15 starters
ALASTAIR BLACK/PPL
Leg 1 Portsmouth to Cape Town Leg 2 Cape Town to Auckland Leg 3 Auckland to Rio de Janeiro
Cornelis Van Rietschoten
Leg 4 Rio de Janeiro to Portsmouth
Leg 1 Portsmouth to Cape Town Leg 2 Cape Town to Auckland Leg 3 Auckland to Mar del Plata
Flyer
Leg 4 Mar del Plata to Portsmouth
Leg 1 Portsmouth to Cape Town Leg 2 Cape Town to Auckland Leg 3 Auckland to Punta del Este
L’Esprit D’Equipe
Leg 4 Punta del Este to Portsmouth
Success Breeds Success
Leg 1 Southampton to Punta del Este Leg 2 Punta Del Este to Fremantle Leg 3 Fremantle to Auckland
Steinlager 2 Leg 4 Auckland to Punta del Este Leg 5 Punta del Este to Fort Lauderdale Leg 6 Fort Lauderdale to Southampton
Leg 1 Southampton to Punta del Este Leg 2 Punta Del Este to Fremantle Leg 3 Fremantle to Auckland
Grant Dalton Ross Field
Leg 4 Auckland to Punta del Este Leg 5 Punta del Este to Fort Lauderdale Leg 6 Fort Lauderdale to Southampton
104
Race Sponsors
Race Suppliers
Ian Roman/Volvo Ocean Race
Official supplier of Official Supplier of Official Supplier of Official Supplier Official Supplier of
Footwear, Clothing and Marine Power Systems Information Technology Next Generation IP
Accessories Networks
Shaping the Future. Together.
The Volvo Ocean Race and BCG have partnered to
set the future course for the Race. Together we are
building the strategy for the Volvo Ocean Race to be
the undisputed leading global event in sailing and the
most attractive sailing event for sponsors, business
communities, spectators, and sailors. We at BCG
are inspired to collaborate with the toughest, most
global offshore race. The dedication of the teams and
individuals involved are of great inspiration to us all.
Official Management Consulting and Strategy Partner
to the Volvo Ocean Race.
Finally, a navigation system
without that annoying voice.
Always on course.
Portuguese Yacht Club Chronograph. Ref. 3902 : “Please make a U-turn if Mechanical IWC-manufactured movement (figure) |
possible.” The instruments used by sailors in the tradition of Vasco da Gama Flyback function | Automatic IWC
are less intrusive. One of the legends of navigation is the Portuguese
double-pawl winding system |
Yacht Club Chronograph. Its IWC-manufactured movement with fly-
Date display | Antireflective
back function and automatic double-pawl winding guarantees precise
landings. And even if you happen to head off in the wrong direction, sapphire glass | Sapphire-glass back
no one’s going to start nagging you. IWC. Engineered for men. cover | Water-resistant 6 bar | Stainless steel