The Evolution of the Yacht Race.

The Extreme Sailing Series has always delivered a great product to a specificly targeted market in Europe. In 2010, OC Thirdpole experimented with an Asian series to ‘test the waters’ in emerging markets and there has always been a sense that the tour for Extreme 40 catamarans could be a global offer.

In 2011, the Extreme series will visit not just Europe, S.E. Asia and the Middle East, it will also add a round in Turkey and the USA.

10 teams have already signed up to the series, but others may find some good arguments in the markets to go back to prospective sponsors, because the price tag of around £750,000 will be similar to the price for 5 European markets.

OC Thirdpole put on a good show in Estoril last night, but they missed one trick. As the team line ups were revealed at the end of the presentation, one skipper stood out. Torvar Mirsky, will helm one of the two Oman Sail boats in 2011. Torvar is not just a great sailor, he has the potential to bring a new audience to the sport. The young Australian already has a substantial, ’Facebook Generation’ fanbase and a large proportion of them are women.

This is Real Sailing – ISAF says so.

One of the criticisms levelled at the Extreme Sailing Series in the past is that the cocktail of entertainment, commercialism and sailing somehow detracts from the competitive nature of the event. Despite the fact that the event attracts top professionals from all disciplines, there are some irregular formats that would have some old-style sailing folk shaking their heads.

Those people aren’t really OC’s market, but the first person on stage for the 2011 Extreme Sailing Series launch was Secretary General of ISAF – Jerome Pels. It was win-win politics. ISAF get to look like they care about something other than the Olympics and are behind one-on-one drag race sailing, and OC get to position the Extreme Sailing Series as proper sailing.

The Extreme Sailing Series Global.

OC have made some strategic decisions about which markets to take the Extreme Sailing Series to in 2011. Like F1, there will be a European series within the worldwide calendar, but also like F1, the emerging markets are cities and countries where the tourism authorities ‘get it’. Turkey especially is a very savvy choice for a sailing event. When asked about the factors considered when choosing a venue, OC Thirdpole Chairman Mark Turner said:

There needs to be wind and weather and a stadium, but there also needs to be an engaged host venue.

Curious perhaps that Cowes, UK is still on the list of host cities for 2011.

The 9 race calendar will be.

1. Act 1: 22-24 February, Muscat, Oman (20-21 ‘open-water’ racing*)
2. Act 2: 15-17 April, China (13-14 ‘open-water’ racing)
3. Act 3: 27-29 May, Istanbul, Turkey (25-26 ‘open-water’ racing)
4. Act 4: 30 June – 4 July, Boston, USA (all days public event)
5. Act 5: 6-12 August, Cowes, UK (all days public event)
6. Act 6: 16-18 September, Trapani, Italy (14-15 ‘open-water’ racing)
7. Act 7: 30 September – 2 October, Nice, France (28-29 ‘open-water’ racing)
8. Act 8: 12-16 October, Almeria, Spain (all days public event)
9. Act 9: 9-11 December, Singapore (7-8 ‘open-water’ racing)

Turner has positioned the Extreme Sailing Series as unashamedly commercial. The teams have to justify their campaigns to sponsors, and the events have to make the numbers work. The objective is to make the Extreme Sailing seris the gateway to sailing for new brands and new venues.

Video interviews and more analysis will follow next week after the World Yacht Racing Forum, meanwhile there is a video replay of the 2011 launch here…

La Solitaire du Figaro has announced a new course in 2011 that will include Ireland as a non-french stop. The event will also benefit from a three year sailing sponsorship deal with Eric Bompard Cashmere.

Francis Morel, General Director of the Figaro Group said:

“Mr Bompard showed particular interest in strengthening this relationship last year into today’s announced partnership that we are so pleased to announce. We are very happy that Eric Bompard Cashmere is consolidating its commitment to the Figaro Group by becoming, as well as a faithful advertiser, also as the main partner of La Solitaire. The Figaro Group shall be proud to display the colours of the new partnership as of the summer of 2011.”

While not a sailing apparel company, Eric Bompard, CEO of Eric Bompard Cashmere sees the event as a great promotional platform:

“Following a wonderful season on La Soliaire last August with the Edic Bompard boat we studied with great care the proposal for to be the Figaro’s title partner for the next three years. We accepted this joint adventure with great enthusiasm thanks to the values that the event and our company share.”

The 2011 Solitaire du Figaro will consist of a 1,695 nautical mile ocean race. Perros-Guirec and the Brittany Region will be the host port for the start of the race, with pre-race activities taking place from 23-31 July.

Solitaire du Figaro 2011 Course & Calendar

• On 31 July competing solo skippers will embark on first leg of 320 nautical miles to Caen. Competitors will have to follow the British coastline before sailing down into the Bay of Seine.
• 7 August on leg two, 470 nautical miles, towards Dún Laoghaire, Ireland. : After leaving the Bay of Seine, a 40-mile or so run, the first obstacle of leg two will be rounding the Barfleur Point. It will be compulsory to leave the islands of Aurigny, Herm and Guernsey to starboard. The skippers will then cross the English Channel, 120 nautical miles to Land’s End. The last third of the course is a sail almost due North over 190 nautical miles to Dún Laoghaire harbour, southeast of Dublin.
• 14 August to legendary harbour of Les Sables d’Olonne. The third leg is long at 475 nautical miles, due south for over 300 nautical miles to Les Sables d’Olonne – home of the infamous Vendee Globe.
• Finally, to conclude the 42nd Solitaire du Figaro, the 430 mile long fourth leg which will take the Figaro Bénéteau 2s from Les Sables d’Olonne to Dieppe.
• The finish in Northern Normandy is expected on 24 August. The race will conclude with a traditional closing parade on Sunday 28 August.

More French Sailing News…

The World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) has announced a nine race calendar for 2011 with successful events like Match Cup Sweden and Monsoon Cup anchoring the tour as it searches for new venues around the world. The season will run from May to November. The sailing world championship is also looking for advisers to help new venues and events become established.

The calendar as announced does not include Vietnam or China, but  with the Tour actively seeking to add a further six new venues by 2013, more regattas may be annouced.

2011 ISAF MATCH RACING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

1. May 10 – 15 Match Race France Marseille, France 12 J80
2. May 24 – 29 Match Race Germany Langenargen, Germany 12 TBC
3. June 7 – 12 Korea Match Cup Gyeonggi, Korea 12 KM36
4. June 22 – 26 Portimao Portugal Match Cup Portimao, Portugal 12 SM40
5. July 4 – 10 Match Cup Sweden Marstrand, Sweden 12 DS37
6. August 24 – 28 Danish Open Bornholm, Denmark 12 DS37
7. Aug 30 – Sept 4 St Moritz Match Race St Moritz, Switzerland 12 Blu26
8. October 3 – 9 Argo Group Gold Cup Hamilton, Bermuda 24 IOD
9. Nov 22 – 27 Monsoon Cup K.Terengganu, Malaysia 12 F36

The World Match Racing Tour is currently engaged in conversations with a number of interested parties via a bidding process being run by Terry Newby and Regatta International. Part of this process is to provide new events with a specialist sailing advisor who can offer expert sailing experience and event management skills. This model has been used by the Monsoon Cup who have benefited from the guidance of Peter Gilmour over recent years.

WMRT Tour Director, Craig Mitchell said:

“The Tour is never standing still as we’re always looking to improve the experience for the teams, fans, media and public.”

All this news was buried in a press release about a new scoring system, which seems a little strange. Only the most hard-core ‘anorak fans’ really care about the point system. While it is important for the sailors whether or not the third place winner gets 19 points of 15 points is  not going to attract new fans or help sponsors in any way.

Nevertheless, the organisers have changed the rules saying:

“We feel that the current scoring system is a little top heavy with some teams that perform well being left behind on the leaderboard. Even though match racing is a winner takes all sport we hope that the new system will keep the championship podium open for as long as possible, providing drama and excitement until the final cross. ¹”

For the stats junkies, the new scoring system for the 2011 season is designed to give a more even spread for teams in the top ten and reward consistency.

• Points will be awarded down to 10th place rather than 8th at each stage, while the spread in points between each position will be reduced.
• The team’s best five events count towards their overall position plus the points from the season finale, the Monsoon Cup which carries points worth 1.5 times more.
• The winner of each stage will still win 25 points but the runner up and third place will now receive 22 and 19 respectively compared to the existing model of 20 and 15.

The World Match Racing Tour will have nine places available for Tour Card holders in 2011.who will be competing for a bonus prize fund which has been doubled to USD500,000. The top three teams in this year’s WMRT will be guaranteed access to a card – the winner will receive their card for free while the second and third place will be able to secure their cards for USD10,000 and USD20,000 respectively.

2010 has been a time of change in the world of yacht racing. In 2011, some Skippers who have competed in the World Match Racing Tour may be tempted elsewhere. At least two of the top stars of the Tour are committed to other projects. 2009 champion, Adam Minoprio has signed up to do the Volvo Ocean Race with the Camper project (backed by Team New Zealand). Ben Ainslie, who, like many sailors was using the WMRT for match race experience required for the America’s Cup, but with the withdrawal of TEAMORIGIN from that campaign will focus on the 2012 Olympics.

The tour then has come up with a rule to try and deal with the absence of Minoprio and Ainslie. Should any of the top three place finishers from 2010 choose not to take up a tour card. They will be able to transfer it to another top flight skipper, under the condition that the team taking it up consists of at least 60% of the same crew that won the Tour Card.

More World Match Racing Tour News…

Sailing would have a much easier time raising sponsorship if it got its collective calendar sorted out. If companies could plan their budgets knowing when and where races were going to be with a bit of notice, it would all be a lot simpler for everyone. Of course this is the kind of thing that a world governing body like ISAF should control. The sheriff should be able to tell the duelling cowboys which dates they could have so that the sport as a whole could make the most of the calendar.

That’s not going to happen anytime soon, but well done to the Audi Med Cup for getting their dates at least out in the public domain. The series, which seems to have survived the loss of some of the more well known America’s Cup teams will run 5 events throughout 2011. Markets visited include France, Italy, Portugal and Spain.

The 2011 Audi MedCup Circuit season will feature both the TP52 Series fleet and the exciting new S40 one-design class which has been attracting worldwide attention since it was announced as the Circuit’s second class from 2011 onwards.

The 2011 dates will be:

• Trophy 1 – Tuesday 17th – Sunday 22nd May
• Trophy 2 – Tuesday 14th – Sunday 19th June
• Trophy 3 – Tuesday 19th – Sunday 24th July
• Trophy 4 – Tuesday 23nd – Sunday 28th August
• Trophy 5 – Monday 12th – Saturday 17th September

The events will a nice short format with the TP52s starting racing Tuesday and finishing on Sunday. There will be a coastal race at each regatta, usually on the Friday. The S40 programme has to be confirmed but will maximise their racing time and they will not race coastal races.

Venue announcements for the 2011 Audi Med Cup will be made shortly. Ignacio Triay (ESP), Audi MedCup Circuit Director, explains:

“We are finalising negotiations with venues at the moment. The principles remain the same and we expect to be returning to a number of the venues that proved so successful in 2010. We are very conscious of delivering what the owners like and also what the preferences are for our sponsor Audi.”

“On the one hand, returning to successful, known venues makes a lot of sense for everyone involved, it allows continuity for everyone: it allows the cities to build on their successful formula, it streamlines logistics for organisers, teams and hosts. And we have built good data on weather reliability and wind patterns for efficient race management on the water. But on the other hand, we all like to visit new cities for different reasons, not least to introduce new challenges for the competitors, which they enjoy.”

More Audi Med Cup News …

Can professional teams race side by side with ‘Owner / Drivers’ in the same race and benefit both audiences? For sports that are more mainstream, owners are quite content to let their stars do the work, but in some sports like sailing and parts of motorsport (sports car racing), there is a well established tradition of owners competing at the highest level.

For a series like the Audi Med Cup, sports car racing is a great model for organising a championship. This is good news, because Audi are rather good at it. Audi has won the 24 hours of Le Mans 8 times out of the last 10 (9 if you count the Audi disguised as a Bentley). The format of Le Mans, and supporting races that use the same rules, puts 4 classes of car on the track at the same time. Million dollar budget teams race side by side with ‘privateers’, making the spectacle more exciting for fans.

In some cases, the line between pro-team and extremely well funded private team is very fine – and this doesn’t seem to matter. Sailing should be able to manage a similar set of conditions.

The entry of  Niklas Zennstrom’s Rán team into the 2011 Audi Med Cup is good news for the monohull series. After announcing that Audi would continue to support the European tour for TP52 boats, the commitment of an owner like Zennstom gives confidence to teams and sponsors considering their plans for a future made slightly uncertain by America’s Cup manoeuvring.

Niklas and Catherine Zennstrom’s (SWE) Rán (GBR) sailing team, winners of the 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race and current MiniMaxi class world champions and class winners in the last Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race, have decided to make the ‘next logical step’ for them, to race next year’s Audi MedCup Circuit with a boat which starts building imminently at Green Marine in Lymington, England.

Their successful project is run by Tim Powell, who skippers Rán, and has many years experience of the MedCup Circuit as longtime co-helmsman/strategist on Cristabella (GBR).

Zennstrom, co-founder of Skype, will steer the boat. He has been a passionate owner-driver since returning to sailing as a boat owner in 2007, and in 2008 campaigned Rán, an IRC optimised TP52 (the former Patches) in a hot IRC TP52 fleet of six boats in UK and Irish waters.

The boat build will be project managed in England by Chris Hosking, whose TP52 track record includes three Artemis TP52’s, including the 2007 MedCup champion, and the 2006 Vrolijk designed TP52 Illbruck.

Niklas Zennstrom (SWE) owner-driver Rán (GBR):

“I think it is a natural progression for us, we have been watching the Circuit and it seems to be very competitive and very well managed, and seems to be the best thing to do if you want to get more high level racing in. It is a big challenge.”

“It is primarily my wish to get into this fleet, we have discussed it and initially we thought about getting into the fleet in 2012, but we decided that 2011 is more attractive with the Cup teams disappearing. Watching from outside this year, the media coverage it enjoys shows how competitive it is. Full on Cup teams make it difficult to do well, so with some disappearing it can be easier for a team like us to be more competitive.”

“The thing that maybe characterises us as a team is that alongside myself and my wife we don’t have so many so called ‘superstars’, we work very well as a team, and together we just hate losing.”

“It is about winning. Winning as a team is a great thing. It is the whole thing about it that I love, from the planning. I am excited about building a new boat now. We have been good with the MiniMaxi 72 footer, building a very competitive, well built boat, setting up the programme. But in IRC there is so much flexibility. In the TP52 there are very small changes, so that is a very different thing.”

“I am very confident with our team. I don’t have any illusions. I am going into this realising that it will be a learning experience. We are up against full pro teams. We will do our best, but it is going to be hard to do very well.”

Nacho Postigo (ESP), technical director Audi MedCup Circuit:

“ We are very pleased with Rán joining the Audi MedCup Circuit. The team is relatively new but they have done so well and sailed at such a high level, it will be a very interesting new team to join the Circuit. The other two exciting and encouraging things for me are that Niklas is planning to steer his own boat, and this is the first time that we have seen an owner attracted to the Audi MedCup Circuit having had experience of owning and campaigning an IRC moded TP52, and we hope this will encourage more to do the same. I think he will find this challenging at the beginning, but he looks like the kind of person who enjoys a challenge.”

The entry of Rán into the Audi Med Cup silences rumours that Zennstrom will back an America’s Cup campaign any time soon.

More Audi Med Cup News…

With the recent announcement, not only of a new boat rule for the America’s Cup, but also a youth series in a smaller multi-hull, the World Yacht Racing Forum (WYRF) should be an interesting place to be this December. The event will take place on 14-15 December in its new venue of Estoril, Portugal, and organisers have announced a line up of speakers not just from sailing, but around the professional sporting world.

While the event is called a forum, previous editions have featured one-way keynote presentations to the audience. Based on feedback from participants, this year’s schedule will feature a more interactive panel style format. Panel sessions will focus on building value in the sport of sailing from a commercial perspective, learning from other sports and developing new media technology.

Confirmed speakers include brand and marketing experts such as:

• Richard Moore , CEO of brand agency Capitalize
• Steve Madincea, CEO of PRISM
• Toby Shaw, Head of Sponsorship Sony Europe
• Karin Bäcklund, Director, Global Sponsorship and Brand Partnership, Volvo Car Corporation
• Stewart Hosford, CEO Hugo Boss Sailing
• Michael Masquelier, President of IMG Media
• Maria Ferreras, You Tube, Head of Partnerships, Southern Europe, Middle East & Africa
• Lars Haue-Pederson, Director, TSE Consulting
• Pierre Ducrey, Head of Sports Operations, International Olympic Committee
• Scott Macleod, CEO, F10 Marketing
• Isabelle Jahlan, Head of Sponsorship, Veolia

Day 1 of the Forum will focus on building investment into the sport with panel sessions including, “How can Sailing compete for sponsorship against mainstream sports?” Following a keynote address by Americas’Cup winner James Spithill, this session will be chaired by Richard Moore, CEO of brand agency Capitalize and panel members will include Karin Bäcklund, Director, Global Sponsorship and Brand Partnership, Volvo Car Corporation and Mark Turner, CEO, OC Group. Clifford Bloxham, Head of Athlete Representation at Octagon Marketing, will follow the session with a keynote address entitled “Growing the brand and profile of a sports personality”.

The schedule will then move to focus on the growth of some of sailing’s top events including the Volvo Ocean Race, World Match Racing Tour and America’s Cup, with speakers including CEO Knut Frostad [Volvo Ocean Race] and Jim O’Toole [WMRT]. Can these and other sailing events create brand partnerships? The audience will hear the opinions of sports marketing expert Steve Madincea, Founder & Group Managing Director of PRISM (WPP) and Stewart Hosford, CEO, Hugo Boss Sailing, in a panel coordinated by Scott Macleod, CEO of Force10 Marketing.

In the afternoon, Richard Simmonds, the event’s Chairman of Day 1, will lead a discussion on “How can Sailing provide a more dynamic and thrilling television presentation?” Michel Masquelier, President of IMG Media; Adam Binns, Director of Television for the Volvo Ocean Race; Marcus Hutchinson, Director of External Affairs, TEAMORIGIN, and Maria Ferreras, Head of Partnerships for You Tube Southern Europe, Middle East & Africa, will exchange views on the subject.

The second day will begin with a keynote address by Loïck Peyron, one of the sport’s most successful and respected offshore and multihull sailors. Later, OC Group CEO Mark Turner will chair a panel entitled “How can major cities and venues benefit from hosting sailing events?” Panellists Duarte Nobre Guedes, Presidente of Estoril Tourism, Lars Haue-Pederson, Director, TSE Consulting and Robert Datnow, Director of The Sports Consultancy.

The WYRF will then discuss the next Olympic Games, through an exclusive preview of the London 2012 Games followed by a TOPICAL debate about sailing’s future inclusion in the Olympic Games, with ISAF’s General Secretary Jerome Pels, Pierre Ducrey, Head of Sports Operations, International Olympic Committee and Sarah Treseder, CEO, Royal Yachting Association.

Sustainability and respect of the environment will be at the heart of Wednesday afternoon’s debates, through a session discussing whether the sport of sailing can be promoted as an environmentally friendly sport. This debate will include Conrad Humphreys, Vendee Globe Skipper and CEO of Sport Environment, Sam Davies, Female Solo Vendee Skipper, Isabelle Jahlan, Head of Sponsorship, Veolia and Andrew Pindar OBE, Board Director, Earth Watch.

The WYRF traditionally closes with a session about the America’s Cup. Last year saw a fascinating debate – and the first public meeting during years of bitter rivalry – between Alinghi’s Brad Butterworth and BMW ORACLE Racing’s Russell Coutts. A new era has now begun for sailing’s iconic event and this session will be a unique opportunity for the audience to learn more about the opportunities and expectations for the 34th America’s Cup.

The Forum will once again be held alongside the Yacht Racing Design & Technology Symposium, dedicated to professional designers, builders and suppliers of racing yachts, as well as the International Superyachts Coatings Conference. Over the last two years, the World Yacht Racing Forum has become a must-attend event for the yacht-racing industry. The two day conference will be held in the impressive Estoril Congress Center, within walking distance of the waterfront and local hotels.

More details and registraion at  www.worldyachtracingforum.com

Antigua Sailing Week has had a rough time over the last couple of years. The popular event that draws participants from around the world was hit harder than most by the global financial crisis, but organisers have a plan to change the format slightly to keep the regatta appealing to its target market.

Like many sailing events, that target market is sailors, and with a strong charter element, Antigua Sailing Week can afford to concentrate on those taking part and not have to worry too much about spectators.

The 44th Antigua Sailing Week will include some changes. A newly formed Regatta Organising Committee (ROC) will be responsible solely for racing and race organisation and they have looked at formats used at different regattas around the world to finalise a new racing programme. These include varying course lengths to suit the large variety of yachts that enter the Regatta each year.

Kathy Lammers, Chairman of the ROC commented:

“The new Regatta Organising Committee is very aware of how important it is to provide competitive, exciting and fair racing with excellent courses and management. Times are changing and so are the expectations of sailors for world-class sailing events. We have therefore had extensive consultations in recent weeks with past participants of Antigua Sailing Week which have contributed significantly to our event planning for Sailing Week 2011. We think the sailors will be very pleased come April with the many changes we have planned for the Regatta.”

The Ocean Series will also have some changes on offer for 2011. The Guadeloupe Race will remain as a feeder race to Antigua Sailing Week but will not be part of the Ocean Series. The Redonda Race will not be returning but the Series will see the addition of courses suitable for the ocean going and high performance yachts that are expected to participate in the event.

The main focus for 2011 is on providing a variety of race courses suitable for all competitors whilst maintaining a high standard of race management. New in the 2011 Notice of Race is provision for entry using CSA and/or IRC rating systems.

Efforts are also being concentrated on ensuring that there is a good fleet of cruising and charter boats and, subject to demand, Antigua Sailing Week may lay on courses and events for the IMOCA 60s and Class 40s that will be in the Caribbean following the finish of the Route de Rhum earlier in the season in neighbouring Guadeloupe.

The new Chairman of Sailing Week, Ian Fraser, commented,

“Feedback has been enormous and positive, and we are gratified by the goodwill that exists for Antigua Sailing Week and the desire of yachtsmen worldwide to come to Antigua to enjoy all that we have to offer. What is clear is that the racing has to be challenging but also that Antigua Sailing Week is about having fun both on and off the water.”

More Antigua Sailing Week News…

Premium Margaret River winery, Leeuwin Estate have announced a partnership with the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships, extending their use of sailing as a mechanism to promote their products.

Leeuwin Estate Founder and Chairman Mr Denis Horgan is excited about the new partnership.

“Given our strong positioning in the global marketplace, we are delighted to have joined forces with Perth 2011, which truly is a world-class international sporting Event. Teaming with an Olympic qualifying Event of the international calibre of the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships, complements our brand profile across Australia and internationally. Leeuwin Estate has enjoyed a previous association with sailing through our activities with the America’s Cup when it was held in Fremantle and our sponsorship of the sail training ship, The Leeuwin.”

“This is a great opportunity to retain our connection with the international sailing community. We plan to have a signature Perth 2011 wine available promoting our association with the World Championships, but this is just one element of what we have planned for the next two years.”

Acting Event Director Darren Beazley commented

“I am delighted that Denis Horgan and the dedicated team at Leeuwin Estate have signed on as the official wine partner to the World Championships. Leeuwin Estate is synonymous with Western Australia and is internationally renowned for producing wines that rank alongside the world’s finest, whilst also being recognised as a leader in wine tourism. Leeuwin’s quality products, combined with their well-established reputation in the wine and tourism industries, provided a perfect match to align with the World Championships, to be staged in Perth in December 2011.”

The Volvo Ocean Race stopover ports are known, and now, so too are is the format and the race course. The offshore racing will be complemented by in-port races for the benefit of spectators and VIP guests, allowing sponsors to leverage their investment to the widest audience. As one sponsor said last year at the World Yacht Racing Forum “the business is done in the hospitality tent, not in the boat.”

The course and dates for the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 have now been officially announced. The racing format and stopover schedule features a number of innovations the most notable sees the event conclude with an In-Port race in the finish port of Galway. Importantly for sponsors and the media, the race will visit eight stopover ports on five continents and race through four oceans, in under nine months. This makes the Volvo Ocean Race one of the only truly global sailing properties with a physical footprint in the worlds largest and emerging markets.

Volvo Ocean Race CEO Knut Frostad said there were two clear aims.

“Firstly we have reduced the time the teams are onshore and the time they have between the In-Port and the Leg Start. Traditionally the teams would change their yachts from an offshore sailing mode to an inshore racing one and back again for the Leg start. By bringing the two events together we lower the costs to them and their sponsors. We have also achieved more time for the shore crews to work on the yachts and subsequently the sailors get more time off.

“Secondly we can entertain the local public with the spectacle that is the Volvo Ocean Race on the water, for a long weekend of great racing and thrilling viewing. We hope by providing the local spectators with this on-the-water display, we will increase the public’s awareness and passion for the sport of sailing.”

The format of the stopovers goes like this:

• The Pro-Am races will be first on the agenda for the weekend, where the power of the Volvo Open 70s are showcased to the public and race guests.
• The second day sees the Volvo Ocean Race teams battle it out in two In-Port races, which count to their overall points tally. The short course of the In-Port races and the proximity to the stopover harbours and beaches, will allow the public to watch the racing up close.
• The finale to the long weekend is the Leg start.

The start and finish ports also have a revamped schedule. Alicante will have a week of festivals between the In-Port and Pro-Am race weekend and the start of Leg One to Cape Town. Galway will be the first finish city in the event’s history to stage an inshore race after the final leg.

There will be no scoring gates in this edition of the race but the fleet will still pass round some famous islands. On Leg One the fleet will pass the island of Fernando de Noronha, 200 nautical miles off the Brazilian coast as the first proper rounding mark of the race.

Due to increasing pirate attacks and hijacking off the coast of Somalia, the fleet will sail around an exclusion zone, which will be added to this area nearer race time.

On Leg Eight from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France the fleet heads offshore again for a 1,940-nautical mile leg, rounding the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores before heading back towards the northwest coast of France. The Fastnet Rock is the last landmark the sailors will catch sight of before their final sprint up the west coast of Ireland to Galway.

The Volvo Open 70′s will cover over 39,270 nautical miles racing around the globe.

Official Schedule – PDF

The Volvo Ocean Race route slow reveal continues, with the latest port being ‘officially’ announced by the organisers. While many have known that the city of Itajaí, in Brazil’s southern state of Santa Catarina, would be the stopover for a few days, the non-embargoed news was confirmed today.

It was no surprise that Brazil, which has welcomed the fleet on six previous occasions dating back to 1973-74 when Rio De Janeiro began its long association with the race, would play host once again to the round the world race, though three countries and eight cities bid for the opportunity to host the 2011-12 fleet.

Knut Frostad, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race, and a team member of the 2005-06 Brasil 1 project, said:

“We are pleased to confirm Itajaí’s inclusion in our race around the world. After rounding Cape Horn, our racing teams will truly appreciate the warm welcome that Brazil is famous for, and it will be the perfect place for the crews to regain their strength after such a testing leg in the southern ocean.”

Acknowledging that winning a stop on the Volvo Ocean Race is about more than just sailing. Santa Catarina, which has received a clutch of national awards for the best tourist destination in Brazil, will use the race to demonstrate its ability to organise large-scale events.

Frostad added:

“The proposal from Itajaí also had strong and positive support from local, regional and central government. This was a key consideration. Itajaí has a strong reputation for boat building. It is important for the sailors who have been through the southern ocean on a very long leg to Brazil to know that support is in place. Itajaí has a great venue which can be transformed into an excellent Race Village for us. And, it’s a beautiful place. I am confident the sailors, sponsors, media, guests and international visitors coming to Itajai for the stopover will have a great experience.”

The American stop has already been leaked, but the Volvo Ocean Race organisers will wait until they have milked all the media they can out of this announcement before officially revealing the next stop.