Portsmouth, England – 2 November 2009 – Eighty-eight men set off from beneath the ramparts of Alicante’s Castle of Santa Bárbara, but only 36 would journey the full 37,000 miles to finish in the White Nights of St Petersburg. Japan’s Black Tide, brutal weather, injuries, and even the credit crunch all took their toll. Read more…
The new look Volvo Open 70 Rule, published today along with the Notice of Race, confirm changes set to enhance the fleet racing in the 11th Volvo Ocean Race, which will start from its new home base of Alicante in Spain in the autumn of 2011. The changes come as a result of extensive analysis carried out over the past 12 months by the Rule Management Group led by technical expert Ken McAlpine (Volvo Open 70 Rule) and rules expert Bill Edgerton (Notice of Race) in consultation with previous competitors.
Italy is back in the world’s premier ocean race for the first time since Brooksfield entered the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1993-94. Italy’s Giovanni Soldini (43) has been named as the skipper of the Italia 70 team, which will race under the Italian flag with a fully Italian crew. Soldini has completed two single handed round the world races, and has made over 30 Atlantic crossings.
The dust is beginning to settle on the 2008-09 race but the debate over the shape of the future of the event continues – both internally and externally.
Knut Frostad, Volvo Ocean Race CEO, takes time out to reflect on the challenges and achievements of the ground-breaking 2008-09 race and provides an update of the outline plans for the next event.
The race has finished in a spectacular way, with another very close finish. With a first for the black boat and a third for us, a successful leg for the Telefónica team.
So…
I really don’t know what to say other than – ‘It’s over’. This unbelievable adventure of a lifetime is over. I can’t believe it. To be honest, I am a bit dazed right now.
It was an historic moment tonight in St Petersburg, Russia, when as the White Night turned to dawn the Volvo Ocean Race fleet, led by Telefónica Black in a thrilling climax, crossed the tenth and final finish line of this nine-month, 37,000 nm race around the world.
