THE VOLVO OCEAN RACE


The Volvo Ocean Race is an exceptional test of sailing prowess and human endeavour, a contest now seen as the pinnacle of achievement in the sport. Evolving from the Whitbread Round the World Race, it was held for the first time in 2001-02, and is, quite simply, the ‘Everest of Sailing’.

During the nine months of the Volvo Ocean Race, which starts in Alicante, Spain in October 2011 and concludes in Galway, Ireland, during early July 2012, the teams will sail over 39,000 nautical miles of the world’s most treacherous seas via Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, Sanya, Auckland, around Cape Horn to Itajaí, Miami, Lisbon, and Lorient.

Each of the entries has a sailing team of 11 professional crew and the race requires their utmost skills, physical endurance and competitive spirit as they race day and night for more than 20 days at a time on some of the legs. They will each take on different jobs onboard the boat and on top of these sailing roles, there will be two sailors that have had medical training, as well as a sailmaker, an engineer and a dedicated media crew member.

During the race the crews will experience life at the extreme: no fresh food is taken onboard so they live off freeze dried fare, they will experience temperature variations from -5 to +40 degrees Celsius and will only take one change of clothes. They will trust their lives to the boat and the skipper and experience hunger and sleep deprivation.

The race is the ultimate mix of world class sporting competition and on the edge adventure, a unique blend of onshore glamour with offshore drama and endurance.

It is undeniably the world’s premier global race and one of the most demanding team sporting events in the world. 

THE ABU DHABI STOP OVER

Having made history as the first Middle East port in the event’s 37-year history, Abu Dhabi has pledged to make its two-week stop-over a stand-out home port experience. The fortnight-long, emirate-wide hosting of the Volvo Ocean Race starts with the arrival of the yachts on 1st January 2012 and includes a welcoming ceremony, in-port racing, city receptions and top-class concerts with international superstars as well as interactive race villages.
The programme includes:

Thursday 11th January 2012 - PRO AM RACING
Friday 13th January 2012 - IN PORT RACE
Saturday 13th January 2012 - START OF LEG 3: ABU DHABI TO SANYA, CHINA

IN PORT RACING

The in-port racing during this edition of the Volvo Ocean Race is sure to be among the highlights of the entire event. This is the closest that spectators can get to the action without actually being on board one of the race boats.The race course is very short, ensuring close-quarters, intense action. 

Click on the button below to view our luxury yacht collection for charter during the Volvo Ocean Race Abu Dhabi Stopover.

 
If you would like to charter a yacht for corporate hospitality purposes please contact us at Events@edenyachting.com
 
 
 
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