Volvo Ocean Race: One Month to Go

Alicante, Spain (September 22, 2017) – It’s the toughest test of a team in professional sport. Winning the trophy has been an obsession for the world’s best sailors since 1973, and the source of countless news stories for over four decades.

And more importantly, it’s back…

“There’s nothing like it. It gets in your blood and you can’t get rid of it.”, Sir Peter Bake, Steinlager 2, 1989-90

The Volvo Ocean Race starts on October 22, 2017 and this edition looks like it could be the toughest yet. Seven teams are set to battle their way around the world, racing at breakneck speeds through the wildest oceans.

Make no mistake; this is a race like no other. There is no comfy hotel room to go back to at night, no hot fresh food, and no shower, in fact, there isn’t even a bed onboard. This is relentless, 24/7 racing.

And yet more of the world’s very best sailors have signed on for the challenge than ever before, from Olympic gold medalists like Xabi Fernández and Martine Grael, to America’s Cup winners Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, not to mention over a dozen previous race champions.

With exactly one month to go until the start from Alicante, Spain, we’ve got everything you need to follow the race and tell the epic story as it unfolds.

Race details – Race route – Facebook

2017-18 Edition: Entered Teams – Skippers
• Team AkzoNobel (NED), Simeon Tienpont (NED)
• Dongfeng Race Team (CHN), Charles Caudrelier (FRA)
• MAPFRE (ESP), Xabi Fernández (ESP)
• Vestas 11th Hour Racing (DEN/USA), Charlie Enright (USA)
• Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag (HKG), David Witt (AUS)
• Turn the Tide on Plastic (POR), Dee Caffari (GBR)
• Team Brunel (NED), Bouwe Bekking (NED)

Background: Racing the one design Volvo Ocean 65, the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race begins in Alicante, Spain on October 22 2017 with the final finish in The Hague, Netherlands on June 30 2018. In total, the 11-leg race will visit 12 cities in six continents: Alicante, Lisbon, Cape Town, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Auckland, Itajaí, Newport, Cardiff, Gothenburg, and The Hague. A maximum of eight teams will compete.

Source: Volvo Ocean Race