Rotterdam, The Netherlands (February 11, 2005) – The Volvo Ocean Race 2005-2006 announces that Rotterdam (NED), Portsmouth (UK) and Gothenburg (SWE) will be the last two stopover ports and the finish of this prestigious 31,250 nm competition. All three ports are steeped in maritime history and all nations have historic links with the event and its thirty-year history.
Glenn Bourke, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race joined Mayor Ivo Opstelten at the Royal Yacht and Rowing Club 'De Maas' in Rotterdam to announce that Portsmouth and Rotterdam, one of the largest commercial ports in the world, will be the final two stopover ports of the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-06 and that Gothenburg (pending final negotiations) will host the finish of the world's premier ocean race.
Portsmouth is famous as the home of the event at its inception in 1973 as The Whitbread Round the World Race. It hosted the starts and finishes of four races from 1973 to 1986. For 2006, it will be Portsmouth's popular Gunwharf Quays and the Historic Dockyards, which will be the venue for the Volvo Ocean Race village and racing fleet from May 23 rd to June 3rd. There will be a spectacular in-port race held in the Solent, the narrow stretch of water between the mainland and the Isle of Wight so famous for yacht racing, on May 29 th, when a huge fleet of spectator boats is expected.
After leaving Portsmouth on 3 June in a re-enactment of previous race starts, the fleet will race westwards down the English Channel and sail 1,500 nautical miles around Britain and Ireland to arrive in Rotterdam, the European Capital of Sport in 2005, on June 9 th.
Holland has fielded many boats in this ocean grand prix, including the winner in 1977-78 and 1981-82 - the legendary Cornelis (Connie) van Rietschoten. Connie won the race twice in his two Sparkman and Stephens designed boats of the same name, Flyer and through his talent and professionalism he set new standards in ocean racing.
The climax of the event will be the start of the nail-biting 500 miles to Gothenburg, Sweden on June 15 th. Gothenburg hosted one of the best stopovers during 2002 and it is of course the home of Volvo, making it a natural home for the finish on June 17th.
The Volvo Ocean Race, the world's premier round the world yacht race, starts in Galicia, Spain on November 5th 2005. From Spain the fleet will race to Cape Town, Melbourne, Wellington, Rio de Janeiro, Baltimore/ Annapolis, New York, Portsmouth, Rotterdam and finally ending at Gothenburg, Sweden.
Note:
Images and race track graphics can be downloaded from http://media.vemuk.com
The route around the world: dates and distances: Total distance 31,250 nm (nautical miles)
SANXENXO
In-port race 05-Nov-05
VIGO Leg 1 START 12-Nov-05
Distance 6,400 nm
CAPE TOWN
Leg 1 FINISH 04-Dec-05
In-port race 26-Dec-05
Leg 2 START 02-Jan-06
Distance 6,100 nm
MELBOURNE
Leg 2 FINISH 19-Jan-06
In-port race 04-Feb-06
Leg 3 START 12-Feb-06
Distance 1,450 nm
WELLINGTON (Pitstop)
Leg 3 FINISH 17-Feb-06
Leg 4 START19-Feb-06
Distance 6,700 nm
RIO DE JANEIRO
Leg 4 FINISH 13-Mar-06
In-port race 25-Mar-06
Leg 5 START 02-Apr-06
Distance 5,000 nm
BALTIMORE/ANNAPOLIS
Leg 5 FINISH 20-Apr-06
In-port race 29-Apr-06
Leg 6 START 07-May-06
Distance 400 nm
NEW YORK (Pitstop)
Leg 6 FINISH 09-May-06
Leg 7 START 11-May-06
Distance 3,200 nm
PORTSMOUTH
Leg 7 FINISH 23-May-06
In-port race 29-May-06
Leg 8 START 03-Jun-06
Distance 1,500 nm
ROTTERDAM
Leg 8 FINISH 09-Jun-06
In-port race 11-Jun-06
Leg 9 START 15-Jun-06
Distance 500 nm
GOTEBORG
Leg 9 FINISH 17-Jun-06
ABOUT THE VOLVO OCEAN RACE
The Volvo Ocean Race will start with an in port race in Sanxenxo, Galicia, on November 5, 2005. The start of leg one, the first offshore leg, will be from Vigo, Galicia, on November 12, 2005. The Volvo Ocean race is a round the world yacht race featuring nine offshore racing legs. The 2001-2002 Volvo Ocean Race achieved a cumulative audience of over 800 million viewers ranking it among the top international sporting events.
