ABU DHABI EYE UNEXPECTED CHANCE TO CATCH UP ON FLEET

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing were working to get their stricken boat back in the water and take advantage of an unexpected opportunity to make up ground on the four teams still racing in Leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race on Monday.

While Team Sanya were forced to look ahead to Cape Town because of the extent of the damage to the boat´s hull, there was still plenty at stake for Abu Dhabi, who were hoping to be back in the race within the next couple of days after their mast broke -- an experience described by young Emirati crewmember Adil Khalid as the scariest in his life.

CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand led the four-boat fleet out of the Mediterranean, through the Strait of Gibraltar to the Atlantic, followed by Team Telefónica, Groupama sailing team and PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG.

After being slammed around for that first 24 hours by winds up to 80 kph, they were hit by the opposite problem and the four boats were forced to go looking for wind to the west – a search that was proving tricky at 1300 UTC on Monday.

TEAM SANYA'S ENTRY IN THE VOLVO OCEAN RACE 2011-12 SUFFERS HULL DAMAGE & RETIRES FROM 1st LEG

Aksel Magdahl, navigator on board Team Sanya, reported at 0834 UTC Sunday, November 6 that they had suffered hull damage on the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, which began yesterday in Alicante.

Skipper Mike Sanderson has confirmed to Volvo Ocean Race control: "The situation is very much under control, everyone is obviously disappointed but in good spirits as all are safe on board.”

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s Azzam reported that she had suffered a broken mast and had suspended racing on the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, which began today in Alicante.Navigator Jules Salter told Volvo Ocean Race control that all the crew were unhurt and were attempting to recover what they could. "There is no panic on board and we're planning to motor back during the night before effecting repairs," he said. The boat was 30 nautical miles south of Cartagena on the Spanish coast. The wind was blowing 30 knots and the waves were around 3.5 metres.

VOLVO OCEAN RACE FLEET HEADING FOR FIRST NIGHT

The Volvo Ocean Race fleet is set for an early battering as the six teams head straight into what could be boat-breaking conditions on the first of nine ocean legs starting tomorrow.

The weather forecast is for winds of 25 knots just hours after the starting gun fires in Alicante, Spain at 1300 UTC (1400 local).

FIRST BLOOD TO ABU DHABI IN THRILLING VOLVO OCEAN RACE OPENER

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing delivered an early blow to their rivals picking up the first points of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 with a comprehensive win in the inaugural in-port race. Led by British skipper & double Olympic silver medallist Ian Walker, romped home to a massive 14-minute win over their closest rivals in the Iberdrola In-Port Race in Alicante, Spain.

The 12th edition of the Volvo Ocean Race will take place in 2014-15

Volvo Car Corporation and Volvo Group today reaffirmed their long-term commitment to the world’s premier offshore sailing event.

Volvo Ocean Race CEO Knut Frostad announced the broad timetable just as the fleet prepared for the opening in-port race in the 2011-12 edition, starting in Alicante, Spain.

Charter/Sponsor a Whitbread 80ft racing maxi for the Auckland stop over.

The Volvo Ocean Race teams were given a royal send-off

As they went head to head for the first time in a qualifying race held just three weeks before the start in Alicante.Spain’s Crown Princess Letizia was officially declared godmother to Telefónica at a pre-race ceremony on the dock at the Alicante Race Village.

Volvo Ocean Race launches Keep the Oceans Clean! initiative

The Volvo Ocean Race is mounting a global campaign to encourage action against the pollution swirling in our oceans, threatening sea-life and washing ashore on beaches across the world.

Booked - Similar yachts available for all VOR ports This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Exclusive opportunity to do the Legends race together with 10-11 race veterans with a possibility Lady Pippa joining the team too.Price EUR 3.500,00/perso. For full details and availability email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call Jeremy (00353)083 3766393.

The most competitive line-up to contest a Volvo Ocean Race is assembling in Alicante ready for the start of the 2011-2012.

After months of preparation and training at their respective bases around the globe, six teams featuring the world’s best sailors have converged on the Spanish port in the final countdown to the 39,000 nautical mile round the world race. Five of the Volvo Open 70 yachts already in Alicante, the arrival of PUMA Ocean Racing’s Mar Mostro tomorrow completes the cast list for the 11th edition of professional sailing’s toughest challenge.

Italy’s Tauranga confirms entry in Volvo Ocean Race Legends Regatta and Reunion

The Swan 55’ Sparkman and Stevens designed Tauranga took part in the very first edition of the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1973-74, completing the 27,000 nautical mile course in 185 days and finishing in 10th place overall.

Telefónica first to call Alicante home in Volvo Ocean Race countdown

Team Telefónica today became the first Volvo Ocean Race crew to make their formal arrival into Alicante ahead of the 2011-12 race start on October 29.This is a big moment for us,” said Telefónica’s Spanish skipper Iker Martínez. “Our training time is finished and we now need to just do the final preparations for the race.” 

The Volvo Ocean Race & IMG Media (host broadcaster & global media distributor for the event) announce the first group of broadcast partners for the 2011-12 edition of the race with 57 broadcasters covering over 50 countries.

VOLVO OCEAN RACE REDRAWS ROUTE DUE TO PIRACY CONCERNS - The escalating security problem caused by piracy in the Indian Ocean has forced Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 organisers to redraw the second and third leg routes in the 39,000 nautical mile round-the-world challenge. The competing boats were due to have sailed through an East African corridor in the Indian Ocean on the second leg from Cape Town to Abu Dhabi and again in the third leg from Abu Dhabi to Sanya in China. After taking advice from marine safety experts Dryad Maritime Intelligence and the sport's governing body, the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), race organisers decided that sticking to the original route would put crews at too much risk.

VOLVO OCEAN RACE TRIO SET FOR THRILLING FINISH 

Groupama Sailing Team rounded the Fastnet Rock a fraction ahead of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing after the two new boats overhauled crafty underdogs and Volvo Ocean Race rivals Team Sanya on day two of the Rolex Fastnet Race today. Rolex Fastnet Race, Day two – 1730 GMT update

 ABU DHABI OCEAN RACING TAKE LEAD IN “RACE WITHIN A RACE”

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, the first Arab entry in the Rolex Fastnet Race, opened up a slim lead over the team’s rival entries in the Volvo Ocean Race after making a slick start to their keenly awaited three-way battle on Sunday. Abu Dhabi, skippered by Britain’s twice Olympic silver medallist Ian Walker, were around two miles ahead of Franck Cammas’ Groupama Sailing Team with Mike Sanderson’s Team Sanya a fraction behind in third as the boats headed upwind towards Portland Bill.

100 DAYS TO GET READY FOR RACE AROUND THE WORLD

Alicante, Spain - July 20, 2011 – The clock is ticking down for the teams in the Volvo Ocean Race, with Thursday, July 21 marking exactly 100 days to go before the first points are awarded in the opening In-Port race in Alicante.

With less than one week to go until the cannon fires to signal the start of the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race, the organisers are thrilled to welcome the Royal Navy’s helicopter carrier, HMS Illustrious, which will attend the weekend’s festivities in Southampton, culminating in the race start on Sunday 31 July.

KZ-2 Steinlager 2 to race in Legends

26 April 2011, One of the most important and famous boats of all time, the Farr-designed maxi-ketch Steinlager 2, which, with legendary Kiwi skipper Sir Peter Blake in charge, won all six legs of the 1989-90 Whitbread Round the World Race (the forerunner of the Volvo Ocean Race) will be in Alicante later this year to race in the Volvo Ocean Race Legends Regatta and Reunion.

Telefonica returns to the VOR To The Most Important Offshore Regatta

Foynes Once the centre of the world of aviation,

During the late 1930's &early 1940's and particularly during the last World War, this quiet Limerick town became the focal point for air traffic crossing the North Atlantic between the United States and Europe with the landing and taking off of luxury flying boats, usually Sunderlands.

LIMERICK could be linked to Galway and the Aran Islands by a 30-minute seaplane journey by May after proposals to build a seaplane terminal at the Clarion Hotel.

In 1943, Brendan O'Regan opened a restaurant and coffee shop in the Foynes terminal building. This restaurant had been considered to be one of the best restaurants in Ireland at that time. Chef Joe Sheridan, originally from Castlederg, County Tyrone, had been recruited by Brendan.

JP Morgan Round Island Race.

Your chance to get involve!

Only one Clipper 60-foot yacht remains available for charter for this year’s Round the Island Race, with all ten of the current 68 foot Clipper Round the World Yacht Race fleet now sold.  The Clipper 60s have great pedigree having circumnavigated four times in the Clipper Race and are now used to train the race crews. They are proven racers particularly in the heavier conditions often found on the south side of the Island of Wight. Maximum crew of 12.

For further information email: Jeremy at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 00353833766393

Clipper Events invites companies from the industry sectors along with employees, suppliers and clients to enter teams to race on Clipper’s 68 foot round the racing yachts and compete in the 2011 Clipper Industry Series.Schedule

2 December 2010 – Polish yacht Copernicus, the smallest yacht to complete the very first Whitbread Round the World Race (the forerunner of the Volvo Ocean Race) in 1973-74 will join Great Britain II/Whitbread Heritage on the start line of the Volvo Ocean Race Legends, the first official reunion and regatta to be held in Alicante next year and celebrating the first 10 races held over 37 years.

30 November 2010 – The Associated Press (AP) has been selected as a global content distribution provider for the Volvo Ocean Race 2011–12.  From the build-up to the race through to the finish, photos, video and other content will be made available to the world’s media via AP Images (www.apimages.com), the commercial sales division of AP, and AP Mobile.

The 77’ maxi, Great Britain II, the only yacht ever to take part in five consecutive Whitbread Round the World Races (the forerunner of the Volvo Ocean Race), is to race once again.  She will be on the start line with a host of other legendary boats, competing at next year’s Volvo Ocean Race Legends reunion and regatta in Alicante, Spain.

29 October 2010 – The global production and distribution company IMG Media is confirmed as official television partner to the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 on the day that the organisation celebrates the ‘one year to go’ milestone.  Racing will begin in the Spanish home of the race, Alicante, on 29 October next year. 

 The Commercial Team for the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, headed up by Britain’s Greg Miall is now complete. This is the first time the world’s premier ocean race has had such a specialist division and an all-star, multi-national line up which has been hand-picked from outside and inside the sport of sailing. 

12 October 2010 – Lady Pippa Blake, wife of the late, great, Sir Peter Blake, the charismatic New Zealander who completed the first five Whitbread Round the World Races (which later became the Volvo Ocean Race in 1998), and who won the 1989-90 event with Steinlager 2, is to be the first Ambassador to the Volvo Ocean Race Legends reunion and regatta, which takes place on 1-5 November in Alicante next year.

20th September - The wait is over for the fans of the Volvo Ocean Race Game. The extremely popular online game will be back for the next edition of the race, as the contract has now been signed between Volvo Ocean Race S.L.U and UnitedGames, the designers of the Official Game. The game is set to be bigger and better than before with new features being tested already, to improve the technical and tactical elements for the players.

Two-time Olympic medallist, Ian Walker of Great Britain, has taken the helm as skipper for Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing's 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race title pursuit, as the emirate's newest sporting outfit readies for the 'Everest of Sailing'.

Appointed by the team's backer, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), Walker will lead an 11-strong crew hoping to stake its claim in one of the world’s toughest, most extreme sporting challenges.ADTA, which was behind the emirate's successful bid to become a Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 host city, believes Walker’s appointment is a major coup for Abu Dhabi’s inaugural title tilt.

 Atlantic Pursuit Race Announced As Cork Arrives In Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada

Cork, Ireland has safely arrived in Sydney, Cape Breton Island, after a challenging race from New York to Canada.

The crew is sailing a heavier and slightly shorter Challenge 67 which is approximately nine percent slower than the Clipper 68s, so the Clipper Race is now running under IRC Handicap rules. The Cork team is given a time compensation to ensure a level playing field across the fleet. Rather than apply this when a race is completed, it has been announced that the team will leave Canada two days prior to the rest of the fleet so that the handicap can be applied up front and it will be up to the chasing pack to overtake the Irish team.

The Powerboat Festival Gears Up To Rock The Docks! 

The Galway Powerboat Festival will bring you an action-packed week of adrenaline fuelled racing on the bay, including P1 Superstock Championship racing on Sat 5th, Sun 6th and Mon 7th. The Inaugural 'Around Ireland Offshore Powerboat Race' will set out after the coveted title on Monday 7th at 9am and will be striving for the finish line on Sat 12th . P750 cross border challenges will wow the crowds on Sat 12th with their daring displays of skill, nerve and extreme speed. Click here for further details. To get on the water email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 083 37 66 393