Evolution of a race - Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12

A brief history of the Volvo Ocean Race and the Whitbread Round the World Race 1973-74 to 2008-09 - to whet your appetite ahead of the next edition of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. Featuring the stars such as Sir Peter Blake on Steinlager, Ken Read on PUMA

From TheTelegraph

Sailing’s elite will be pushed to the limits of endurance – and sometimes beyond – as they race 39,000 miles through four oceans in an eight-month round the world marathon.

More than just a yacht race, the Volvo Ocean Race sees the sport’s elite take on Mother Nature in a test of skill, bravery and survival.
The teams, each made up of 11 professional yachtsmen, will spend up to four weeks at a time living, sleeping, eating and racing on state-of-the-art 70ft boats as they take on the ‘Everest of sailing’.
These men will exist on as little as two hours sleep a day, face temperatures from -15°C to 40°C and tackle hunger and extreme fatigue.
For 24 hours a day, seven days a week they only have one goal: to make their yacht go faster.
Capable of speeds of more than 40mph, the Volvo Open 70 yachts the crews will race are the fastest monohull boats in the world.
They represent the cutting edge of design, construction and communications, taking influence from aerospace and military technology.

"If you are determined to be in the sailing game you have to do this Race" - Sir Peter Blake

The race began life in 1973 as the Whitbread Round the World Race when nineteen yachts left Portsmouth with little idea of what they were getting themselves into.

Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012 Global Course (VirtualEyeTV)

Now they know – and still choose to go, in pursuit of glory in sailing’s toughest challenge.

Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012 competitors : teams guide

ABU DHABI
United Arab Emirates
Skipper : Ian Walker (UK), 1 participation to the VOR
Boat : Azzam
Architect : Farr Yacht Design
Shipyard : Persico, Bergamo, Italie

CAMPER
Spain/New Zealand
Skipper : Chris Nicholson (AUS), 3 participations to the VOR
Boat : Camper
Architects : Marcelino Botin & Emirates Team New Zealand Design Team
Shipyard Cookson Boats, Auckland, Nouvelle-Zélande

GROUPAMA SAILING TEAM
France
Skipper : Franck Cammas (FRA), first participation to the VOR
Boat : Groupama 4
Architect : Juan Yacht Design (Juan Kouyoumdjian)
Shipyard : Multiplast, Vannes, France

PUMA
United States
Skipper : Ken Read (USA), 2 participations to the VOR
Boat : Puma’s Mar Mostro
Architect : Juan Yacht Design (Juan Kouyoumdjian)
Shipyard : New England Boarworks, Rhode Island, USA

TEAM SANYA
China
Skipper : Mike Sanderson (NZL), 3 participations with a victoiry in 2005-06 with ABN AMRO ONE
Boat : Sanya (Ex-Telefonica Blue)
Architect : Farr Yacht Design
Shipyard : King Marine, Valencia, Espagne et refit chez Hamble Yachr Services, Hamble, UK

TEAM TELEFONICA
Spain
Skipper : Iker Martinez (ESP), 2 participations to the VOR
Boat : Telefonica
Architect : Juan Yacht Design (Juan Kouyoumdjian)
Shipyard : King Marine, Valencia, Espagne

Links :

• HuffingtonPost : Volvo Ocean Race brings prestige, profit to sailing
• TheTelegraph : Why the Volvo Ocean Race 2011/12 is more than just a yacht race for sailing's elite
• Wired : Round the World racers unveil new sailing speed tracker
• YouTube : Volvo Ocean channel
• SailWorld : Volvo Ocean Race launches free mobile app
• 3D race viewer