A rose by any other name …

When Scuttlebutt was launched in 1997, the publication was pure hobby but its growth soon launched an enterprise. However, when it didn’t start with a website, the best available option by 2002 was sailingscuttlebutt.com.

Today, a search for available domains precedes naming a business, or in this instance, the most notable crewed round the world race.

What began as the Whitbread Round the World Race from 1973 to 2001) has been known more recently as the Volvo Ocean Race (2001-2019). However, Volvo has now transferred ownership to a new group which has given the race a new name.

Going forward, the offshore classic is to be known as The Ocean Race with the next edition in 2021. The new home for online event information is … drum roll… TheOceanRace.com

Plans for the next race are well underway and a collaboration with the IMOCA Open 60 class means two types of boat will compete in the next race – the high-tech, foiling IMOCA 60s, and the one-design VO65s that produced such intensely close racing last time out.

Organizers report that teams are already showing enthusiasm with strong interest and demand in both classes. The Notice of Race was published in December and the official entry period is now open.

The race course is not yet confirmed but the 2021-22 edition will begin from Alicante, Spain in the autumn of 2021 and will finish in Europe in early summer 2022. The host city procurement process for stopovers is underway and the full route is expected to be announced this summer.

In the meantime, ownership group expect to introduce its new brand identity in March along with more updates about the next race, including team, partner and sustainability program news