Volvo Ocean Race
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Volvo Ocean Race (formerly the Whitbread Round the World Race) is a yacht race around the world, held every four years. Though the route is changed to accommodate various ports of call, the race typically departs England in September. The general route runs south through the Atlantic Ocean, around the tip of Africa, and then around the Southern Ocean. The worst weather conditions are usually encountered in this leg, where waves sometimes top 100 feet (30 m) and winds can reach 60 knots (110 km/h). Competitors eventually round Cape Horn and turn back into the Atlantic for the trip back to England. The route generally covers in excess of 28,000 statute miles (45,000 km) over open ocean.
In 1972 England's Whitbread company and the British Royal Naval Sailing Association agreed to sponsor a globe-circling regatta, which would be called the "Whitbread Round the World Race". The race has been greatly modified in the ensuing thirty odd years, but remains true to its original goal: A test of will, courage and skill against the best (or more accurately, worst) nature has to offer. Along with the Vendee Globe and Global Challenge, the Whitbread (now Volvo Ocean Race) is the ultimate sailing adventure.
[edit] Volvo Ocean Race 2008 to 2009
On June 17, 2006, the race organisers announced the next sail boat challenge. It will start in Alicante, Spain, in late 2008. [1]

[edit] Volvo Ocean Race 2005 to 2006
Changes in the 2005-2006 race included the first time the race has started outside the United Kingdom, and the use of a new class of boat, the Volvo Open 70. The new boats are about 1,000 kg lighter than the VO 60s used in the previous race, have more sail area and include canting keels.
The 2005-2006 race is the first to not begin in the United Kingdom. The course, 31,000 nautical miles (57,000 km) long, will take eight months to complete, divided into nine legs. The first place finisher of each leg will get 7 points, the second place will get 6 points, etc. At seven of the stops in ports around the world, the competition will include relatively short one-day races in the vicinity of the harbor. The first place finisher of the in-port races will get 3.5 points, the second place finisher will get 3 points, etc. The in-port races will account for twenty percent of the overall points. This modification of the usual format was intended to make the race more visible for spectators and sponsors. Some of the legs are short, and finish in cities that are called "pit stops" designed to break up the longer legs into more manageable sections (and, of course, provide more media exposure). There will be no in-port races at the pit stops. There will also be 6 "gates" which are milestones along the way where boats can score points. Like in the in-port races, the first boat to cross a gate will get 3.5 points, the second 3 points, and so on.
Hans Horrevoets, 32, of The Netherlands was swept overboard from ABN AMRO TWO and died on Leg 7, New York to Portsmouth (18 May 2006).
After the aft end of their keel pivot broke away from their hull in the night of the 20th May 2006, the crew of Movistar abandoned ship, unable to stop the flow of water into the hull. They transferred into ABN Amro Two, which had lost crew member Hans Horrevoets a couple of nights before after he was swept overboard.
[edit] The course and schedule
Leg | Start | Finish | Nautical Miles |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Vigo, Galicia, Spain on November 12, 2005 | Cape Town, South Africa by December 2, 2005 | 6,400 |
2 | Cape Town, South Africa on January 2, 2006 | Melbourne, Australia by January 16, 2006 | 6,100 |
3 | Melbourne, Australia on February 12, 2006 | Wellington, New Zealand by February 16, 2006 | 1,450 |
4 | Wellington, New Zealand on February 19, 2006 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil by March 7, 2006 | 6,700 |
5 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on April 2, 2006 | Baltimore/Annapolis, Maryland, USA by April 17, 2006 | 5,000 |
6 | Baltimore/Annapolis, Maryland, USA on May 2, 2006 | New York, NY, USA by May 8, 2006 | 400 |
7 | New York, NY, USA on May 11, 2006 | Portsmouth, UK by May 19, 2006 | 3,200 |
8 | Portsmouth, UK on June 2, 2006 | Rotterdam, Netherlands by June 7, 2006 | 1,500 |
9 | Rotterdam, Netherlands on June 15, 2006 | Gothenburg, Sweden by June 17, 2006 | 500 |
In-Port races | Date |
---|---|
Sanxenxo (Galicia) | 5 November 2005 |
Cape Town (South Africa) | 26 December 2005 |
Melbourne (Australia) | 4 February 2006 |
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | 25 March 2006 |
Baltimore/Annapolis (USA) | 29 April 2006 |
Portsmouth (UK) | 29 May 2006 |
Rotterdam (Netherlands) | 11 June 2006 |
[edit] Teams and crew
Boat | Sponsors | Country | Designer | Builder | Skipper | Web Site | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ABN AMRO ONE | ABN AMRO | ![]() |
Juan Kouyoumdjian | Killian Bushe | Mike Sanderson | [2] | 96.0 |
ABN AMRO TWO | ABN AMRO | ![]() |
Juan Kouyoumdjian | Killian Bushe | Sebastien Josse | [3] | 58.5 |
Pirates of the Caribbean | Disney | ![]() |
Bruce Farr | Green Marine | Paul Cayard | [4] | 73.0 |
movistar | movistar | ![]() |
Bruce Farr | Boatspeed | Bouwe Bekking | [5] | 48.0 |
Brasil 1 | Vivo, Brazil, Motorola, Qualcomm, NIVEA, etc. | ![]() |
Bruce Farr | ML Boatworks | Torben Grael | [6] | 67.0 |
Ericsson Racing Team | Ericsson | ![]() |
Bruce Farr | Green Marine | Neal MacDonald | [7] | 55.0 |
Brunel (formerly "ING Real Estate Brunel" and "Sunergy and Friends" and "Premier Challenge") |
Sunergy [8], ING, Brunel | ![]() |
Don Jones | Hart Marine | Grant Wharington | [9] | 15.5 |
The 2005/2006 race has tighter restrictions on the number of crewmembers allowed than previous runnings. In the rules, an all-male crew is restricted to ten, while a crew with at least 5 women could have eleven members, and an all-female crew, of which there are none in the race, could have twelve. Unfortunately, the only woman who served as crew is Adrienne Cahalan of Brasil 1, who was replaced after the first leg. The skipper may nominate one additional person for the in-port races. Only one boat can be built per team (unless you sail both of them in the race, as ABN AMRO has done).
[edit] The boats
- See article: Volvo Open 70
There are several differences between the boats that have been built and are racing. The basic differences are whether they have 1 or two rudders, how wide the boats are (there are limits), whether they have 2 dagger boards or one canard with a trim tab (each appendage can only have one degree of movement, so it can not retract and have a trim tab), and whether or not they have a spinnaker pole.
The ABN AMRO boats both have 2 rudders, both are pretty wide, have two dagger boards, and do not have spinnaker poles.
The Farr designed boats (Brasil 1, Ericsson, movistar, and Pirates of the Caribbean) all have 1 rudder and two dagger boards, and are narrower than the other boats, but vary a little from Brasil 1 which is the narrowest to movistar, which is the widest Farr-designed boat. Pirates does not have a spinnaker pole.
Brunel has 2 rudders, is pretty wide, and has a forward canard with a trim tab. However, Brunel did not sail in leg 4 and 5, and the boat was modified to the configuration of the other boats: two retractable canards.
[edit] Results
[edit] In-port 1 at Sanxenxo
Milestone | Location | Points for first place |
---|---|---|
In-port 1 | Sanxenxo | 3.5 |
The first racing in the 2005-2006 VOR, an in-port race, was held in very light winds. Sunergy and Friends (Premier Challenge) did not race due to arriving late the night before, and not being ready to measure in yet.
Team | Time | Points |
---|---|---|
Ericsson Racing Team | 01h 51m 29s | 3.5 |
Brasil 1 | 01h 54m 55s | 3.0 |
Pirates of the Caribbean | 01h 56m 30s | 2.5 |
movistar | 01h 57m 13s | 2.0 |
ABN AMRO TWO | 02h 00m 07s | 1.5 |
ABN AMRO ONE | 02h 04m 11s | 1.0 |
Sunergy and Friends (Premier Challenge) | 0.0 |
[edit] Gate 1 at Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha
Milestone | Location | Points for first place |
---|---|---|
Gate 1 | Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha | 3.5 |
Team | Status | Position | Time | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|
ABN AMRO ONE | Broke a steering wheel (actually, the whole steering pedastel was ripped off the deck, leaving a big hole), but stayed ahead of the second place boat, and managed to affect some repair later in the leg. | 1 | 21 Nov 2005 0130 GMT | 3.5 |
Ericsson Racing Team | OK. | 2 | 21 Nov 2005 1130 GMT | 3.0 |
Brasil 1 | OK. | 3 | 21 Nov 2005 1158 GMT | 2.5 |
ABN AMRO TWO | OK. | 4 | 21 Nov 2005 1215 GMT | 2.0 |
Sunergy and Friends (Premier Challenge) | Broken Gooseneck, Stopped in Madeira Islands to repair, and got back on the course | 5 | 25 Nov 2005 0900 GMT | 1.5 |
movistar | Severe Structural Damage, in Portimão, Portugal. Boat shipped to Cape Town. | 6 | 0 | |
Pirates of the Caribbean | Damage to keel structure, in Cascais, Portugal. Boat was flown to Cape Town, and repaired. | 7 | 0 |
[edit] Leg 1 finish at Cape Town
Milestone | Location | Points for first place |
---|---|---|
Leg 1 | Cape Town | 7.0 |
Team | Status | Position | Time | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|
ABN AMRO ONE | Finished. They set a new world record for distance over 24 hours for a monohull - 546 nautical miles. | 1 | 01 Dec 2005 13:24:02 UTC | 7 |
ABN AMRO TWO | Finished. Had a 24 hour run of 537 nautical miles | 2 | 01 Dec 2005 19:56:34 UTC | 6 |
Brasil 1 | Finished | 3 | 02 Dec 2005 04:58:48 UTC | 5 |
Ericsson Racing Team | Finished. Problem with canting keel. It is now locked in center. | 4 | 03 Dec 2005 05:47 UTC | 4 |
Sunergy and Friends (Premier Challenge) | Finished. Had a 24 hour run of 501 nautical miles, 3rd best in the fleet so far. | 5 | 06 Dec 2005 14:33:55 UTC | 3 |
movistar | DNF | 1 | ||
Pirates of the Caribbean | DNF | 1 |
[edit] Cape Town in-port race
Milestone | Location | Points for first place |
---|---|---|
In-port 2 | Cape Town | 3.5 |
This in-port race was run in strong winds and short, steep waves. The wind was gusting up to 40kts (~50mph) and some of the boats had a hard time keeping control. When they were sailing, though, they were sailing fast. One helmsman commented that they hit 38 kts.
Team | Time | Points |
---|---|---|
ABN AMRO ONE | 2h21m44s | 3.5 |
movistar | 2h28m24s | 3.0 |
ABN AMRO TWO | 2.5 | |
Brasil 1 | 2h31m56s | 2.0 |
Pirates of the Caribbean | 2h32m49s | 1.5 |
Ericsson Racing Team | 2h44m32s | 1.0 |
ING Real Estate Brunel | 2h45m25s | 0.5 |
[edit] Gate 2 at Kerguelen Islands
Milestone | Location | Points for first place |
---|---|---|
Gate 2 | Kerguelen | 3.5 |
Team | Status | Time | Points |
---|---|---|---|
ABN AMRO ONE | Got a ride on a weather system that all the other teams missed, and have now crossed the gate | 3.5 | |
ABN AMRO TWO | Have set a new 24 hour record for a monohull of 563 miles. | 3.0 | |
Pirates of the Caribbean | 2.5 | ||
movistar | 2.0 | ||
ING Real Estate Brunel | 1.5 | ||
Brasil 1 | They suffered damage, returned to Cape Town, and are now back on the course | 1.0 | |
Ericsson Racing Team | They have suffered damage to the keel. The boat will be shipped to Melbourne | 0 |
[edit] Gate 3 at Eclipse Island
Milestone | Location | Points for first place |
---|---|---|
Gate 3 | Eclipse Island | 3.5 |
Team | Status | Time | Points |
---|---|---|---|
ABN AMRO ONE | 16 Jan 2006 05:45 UTC | 3.5 | |
ABN AMRO TWO | 16 Jan 2006 06:48 UTC | 3.0 | |
movistar | Sailing with the use of only one of two hydraulic rams to cant their keel, so they are not sailing as fast as they would be able to otherwise. | 2.5 | |
Pirates of the Caribbean | Made stop in Albany, Western Australia for repair to hydraulic rams that cant the keel. Now on their way to Melbourne. | 2.0 | |
ING Real Estate Brunel | Have problem with mainsail track which prevents them from going full speed. | 19 Jan 2006 14:45 UTC | 1.5 |
Brasil 1 | Dismasted. Trying to get to Melbourne on jury rig. | ||
Ericsson Racing Team | En-route to Melbourne on a ship after experiencing problems with the canting keel. |
[edit] Leg 2 finish at Melbourne
Milestone | Location | Points for first place |
---|---|---|
Leg 2 | Melbourne | 7.0 |
Team | Time | Points |
---|---|---|
ABN AMRO ONE | 7.0 | |
ABN AMRO TWO | 6.0 | |
movistar | 5.0 | |
Pirates of the Caribbean | 4.0 | |
ING Real Estate Brunel | 3.0 | |
Brasil 1 | 1.0 | |
Ericsson Racing Team | 1.0 |
[edit] In-port 3 at Melbourne
Milestone | Location | Points for first place |
---|---|---|
In-port 3 | Melbourne | 3.5 |
Team | Time | Points |
---|---|---|
ABN AMRO ONE | 3.5 | |
Pirates of the Caribbean | 3.0 | |
movistar | 2.5 | |
Ericsson Racing Team | 2.0 | |
Brasil 1 | 1.5 | |
ABN AMRO TWO | 1.0 | |
Brunel | 0.5 |
[edit] Leg 3 finish at Wellington
Milestone | Location | Points for first place |
---|---|---|
Leg 3 | Wellington | 7.0 |
Leg 3 turned out to be very competitive. After 1450 miles and more than 4 days, the time delta between the first and second place boats was 9 seconds. Ericsson has taken a surprise move and suspended racing just before the finish so that they could do repairs on the boat without incurring any penalty for doing so in the "Pitstop" at Wellington.
Team | Time | Points |
---|---|---|
movistar, on a spectacular 9 second win over abn amro 1 | 7 | |
ABN AMRO ONE | 6 | |
Pirates of the Caribbean | 5 | |
Brasil 1 | 4 | |
ABN AMRO TWO | 3 | |
Ericsson Racing Team | 2 | |
ING Real Estate Brunel |
[edit] Gate 4 at Cape Horn
Milestone | Location | Points for first place |
---|---|---|
Gate 3 | Cape Horn | 3.5 |
Team | Status | Time | Points |
---|---|---|---|
ABN AMRO ONE | Around the Horn first! | 2 Mar 2006 1238 GMT | 3.5 |
Pirates of the Caribbean | About 35 nm behind AA1 | 2 Mar 2006 1440 GMT | 3.0 |
Brasil 1 | Going strong, but reporting problems with one hydraulic ram | 2 Mar 2006 1810 GMT | 2.5 |
ABN AMRO TWO | Charging fast | 2 Mar 2006 2125 GMT | 2.0 |
Ericsson Racing Team | Going slow | 2 Mar 2006 2158 GMT | 1.5 |
movistar | Water coming in through bomb doors, headed for port (but after they pass the gate.) | 1.0 | |
ING Real Estate Brunel | Skipping this leg! | 0.0 |
[edit] Leg 4 finish at Rio de Janeiro
Milestone | Location | Points for first place |
---|---|---|
Leg 4 | Rio de Janeiro | 7.0 |
Team | Status | Time | Points |
---|---|---|---|
ABN AMRO ONE | Finished | 0300 UTC 11 mar 2006 | 7 |
Pirates of the Caribbean | Finished | 0706 UTC 11 MAR 2006 | 6 |
ABN AMRO TWO | Finished | 0736 UTC 11 MAR 2006 | 5 |
Brasil 1 | Finished | 0755 UTC 11 MAR 2006 | 4 |
Ericsson Racing Team | Finished | 1912 UTC 11 MAR 2006 | 3 |
movistar | Back on course, with the keel in fixed position. | 2 | |
ING Real Estate Brunel | Did not race this leg | 0 |
[edit] In-port 4 at Rio de Janeiro
Milestone | Location | Points for first place |
---|---|---|
In-port 4 | Rio de Janeiro | 3.5 |
Team | Time | Points |
---|---|---|
ABN AMRO ONE | 3.5 | |
movistar | 3.0 | |
Ericsson Racing Team | 2.5 | |
Brasil 1 | 2.0 | |
ABN AMRO TWO | 1.5 | |
Pirates of the Caribbean | 1.0 | |
ING Real Estate Brunel | 0.0 |
[edit] Gate 5 at Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha
Milestone | Location | Points for first place |
---|---|---|
Gate 5 | Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha | 3.5 |
Team | Time | Points |
---|---|---|
movistar | 20:51GMT 7/4 | 3.5 |
ABN AMRO ONE | 20:51GMT 7/4 | 3 |
Pirates of the Caribbean | 22:44GMT 7/4 | 2.5 |
Ericsson Racing Team | 22:54GMT 7/4 | 2 |
Brasil 1 | 23:24GMT 7/4 | 1.5 |
ABN AMRO TWO | 01:15GMT 8/4 | 1 |
ING Real Estate Brunel | DNS |
[edit] Leg 5 finish at Baltimore
Milestone | Location | Points for first place |
---|---|---|
Leg 5 | Baltimore | 7.0 |
Team | Time | Points |
---|---|---|
ABN AMRO ONE | 15D 2H 47M 52S | 7 |
movistar | 15D 8H 4M 15S | 6 |
Pirates of the Caribbean | 5 | |
Brasil 1 | 4 | |
Ericsson Racing Team | 3 | |
ABN AMRO TWO | 2 | |
ING Real Estate Brunel | DNS |
[edit] In-port 5 at Baltimore
Milestone | Location | Points for first place |
---|---|---|
In-port 5 | Baltimore | 3.5 |
Team | Time | Points |
---|---|---|
movistar | 3.5 | |
Brasil 1 | 3.0 | |
Pirates of the Caribbean | 2.5 | |
Ericsson Racing Team | 2.0 | |
ABN AMRO TWO | 1.5 | |
ABN AMRO ONE | 1.0 | |
ING Real Estate Brunel | 0.5 |
[edit] Leg 6 finish at New York
Milestone | Location | Points for first place |
---|---|---|
Leg 6 | New York | 7.0 |
Team | Time | Points |
---|---|---|
ABN AMRO ONE | 7.0 | |
Pirates of the Caribbean | 6.0 | |
Brasil 1 | 5.0 | |
Ericsson Racing Team | 4.0 | |
movistar | 3.0 | |
ING Real Estate Brunel | 2.0 | |
ABN AMRO TWO | 1.0 |
[edit] Gate 6 at Lizard Point
Milestone | Location | Points for first place |
---|---|---|
Gate 6 | Lizard Point | 3.5 |
Team | Time | Points |
---|---|---|
ABN AMRO ONE | 3.5 | |
Ericsson Racing Team | 3.0 | |
Pirates of the Caribbean | 2.5 | |
Brasil 1 | 2.0 | |
ING Real Estate Brunel | 1.5 | |
ABN AMRO TWO | 1.0 | |
movistar | 0 |
[edit] Leg 7 finish at Portsmouth
Milestone | Location | Points for first place |
---|---|---|
Leg 7 | Portsmouth | 7.0 |
Team | Time | Points |
---|---|---|
ABN AMRO ONE | 7.0 | |
Ericsson Racing Team | 6.0 | |
Pirates of the Caribbean | 5.0 | |
Brasil 1 | 4.0 | |
ING Real Estate Brunel | 3.0 | |
ABN AMRO TWO | 2.0 | |
movistar | 1.0 |
[edit] In-port 6 at Portsmouth
Milestone | Location | Points for first place |
---|---|---|
In-port 6 | Portsmouth | 3.5 |
Team | Time | Points |
---|---|---|
ABN AMRO ONE | 3.5 | |
Pirates of the Caribbean | 3.0 | |
Brasil 1 | 2.5 | |
ABN AMRO TWO | 2.0 | |
Ericsson Racing Team | 1.5 | |
ING Real Estate Brunel | 1.0 | |
movistar | 0 |
[edit] Leg 8 finish at Rotterdam
Milestone | Location | Points for first place |
---|---|---|
Leg 8 | Rotterdam | 7.0 |
Team | Time | Points |
---|---|---|
Brasil 1 | 7.0 | |
ABN AMRO ONE | 6.0 | |
Ericsson Racing Team | 5.0 | |
Pirates of the Caribbean | 4.0 | |
ABN AMRO TWO | 3.0 | |
ING Real Estate Brunel | 2.0 | |
movistar | 0 |
[edit] In-port 7 at Rotterdam
Milestone | Location | Points for first place |
---|---|---|
In-port 7 | Rotterdam | 3.5 |
Team | Time | Points |
---|---|---|
ABN AMRO ONE | 3.5 | |
Brasil 1 | 3.0 | |
Pirates of the Caribbean | 2.5 | |
Ericsson Racing Team | 2.0 | |
ING Real Estate Brunel | 1.5 | |
ABN AMRO TWO | 1.0 | |
movistar | 0 |
[edit] Leg 9 finish at Gothenburg

Milestone | Location | Points for first place |
---|---|---|
Leg 9 | Gothenburg | 7.0 |
Team | Time | Points |
---|---|---|
Pirates of the Caribbean | 7.0 | |
ABN AMRO TWO | 6.0 | |
Brasil 1 | 5.0 | |
ING Real Estate Brunel | 4.0 | |
Ericsson Racing Team | 3.0 | |
ABN AMRO ONE | 2.0 | |
movistar | 0 |
[edit] Television Coverage:
The VOR has a dedicated media center where they will produce television programs for broadcast around the world.
With the Volvo Ocean Race due to start on Saturday November 12, 2005, the first programme is set to be delivered to broadcasters on Thursday 17 November and will have in port action and start amongst other items.
In the UK, ITV4 will carry the half hour programmes from the event on Friday nights at 1800. From January, ITV1 will carry a monthly hour long round up programme on Sundays at 1300.
In Australia Channel Ten is our partner and will carry the weekly programmes at 2330 on Monday nights.
TV3 will be the broadcaster in NZ with coverage starting in January on their weekend sports show on Sundays.
In USA OLN carries the 30 minute program on Sunday afternoons at 1630 Eastern. CNBC decided not to broadcast any of the race. 1/10/06 Starz TV will now be carrying 30 minute updates beginning end of January, otherwise US fans will have to wait for an hour long special in July 2006 on ABC and ESPN.
In Norway programmes will be broadcast on NRK on Fridays at 2100 and Saturdays at 2300.
In Spain the start coverage will be live on TVE2 and TV Galicia on Saturday with weekly shows on TVE2 at 2030.
In Italy Rai Sat will have transmit the programmes on Mondays at 2230hrs and will have regular reports in weekend sports shows on the main RAI channel.
In the Netherlands, NOS are broadcasting reports from the race every Sunday in Studio Sport
In Finland, Nelonen will be showing reports at 1130 on Saturdays.
In Russia, NTV Plus will be transmitting a preview at 2130 on 15 November and then every Tuesday at 2200.
In South Africa it will be transmitted on Sundays at 2100hrs on Super Sport.
In Canada, Rogers Sportsnet is transmitting weekly programs several times during the week across all of their regional channels.
[edit] Whitbread 1973 to 1974
The first race started off from Portsmouth, England on September 8, 1973. Seventeen yachts of various sizes and shapes took part. During the race three sailors were swept over board and died: Paul Waterhouse, Dominique Guillet and Bernie Hosking. Waterhouse and Guillet were never to be seen again.
Leg | Start | Finish | Leg winner | Skipper |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Portsmouth, England | Cape Town, South Africa | Great Britain II | Chay Blyth |
2 | Cape Town, South Africa | Sydney, Australia | Pen Duick VI | Éric Tabarly |
3 | Sydney, Australia | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Great Britain II | Chay Blyth |
4 | Rio de Janeiro | Portsmouth, England | Great Britain II | Chay Blyth |
The smaller Mexican yacht Sayula II, skippered by Ramon Carlin, won the overall race in a handicapped time of 133 days 13 hours; actual time was 152 days[10]. Taking handicapping into account, the Sayula would have won the second leg.
[edit] Whitbread 1977 to 1978
On August 27, 1977, 15 boats started out from Southampton under gale force winds and driving rain.
Leg | Start | Finish | Leg winner elapsed time |
Leg winner corrected time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Southampton, England | Cape Town, South Africa | Flyer | Flyer |
2 | Cape Town, South Africa | Auckland, New Zealand | Heath's Condor | 33 Export |
3 | Auckland, New Zealand | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Great Britain II | Gauloise II |
4 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Southampton, England | Heath's Condor | Gauloise II |
Flyer a Sparkman & Stephens designed yacht skippered by Cornelius van Rietschoten won the race. All 15 boats finished the 26,780 nautical mile (50,000 km) race.
[edit] Whitbread 1981 to 1982
On August 8, 1981, 29 boats started out from Southampton.
Leg | Start | Finish | Leg winner elapsed time |
Leg winner corrected time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Southampton, England | Cape Town, South Africa | Flyer | Kriter IX |
2 | Cape Town, South Africa | Auckland, New Zealand | Flyer | Ceramco NZ |
3 | Auckland, New Zealand | Mar del Plata, Argentina | Flyer | Mor Bihan |
4 | Mar del Plata, Argentina | Portsmouth, England | Flyer | Ceramco NZ |
Flyer, a German Frers designed maxi skippered by Cornelius van Rietschoten (a.k.a Conny van Rietschoten), winner of the 1977 to 1978 race, won the race. Unusually, Flyer won both on line honours AND on handicap. Only 20 finished the race out of the 29 that started it.
[edit] Whitbread 1985 to 1986
On September 28, 1985, 15 boats started out from Southampton.
Leg | Start | Finish | Leg winner elapsed time |
Leg winner corrected time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Southampton, England | Cape Town, South Africa | UBS Switzerland | L'Esprit d'Equipe |
2 | Cape Town, South Africa | Auckland, New Zealand | Atlantic Privateer | Philips Innovator |
3 | Auckland, New Zealand | Punte del Este, Uruguay | UBS Switzerland | L'Esprit d'Equipe |
4 | Punta del Este, Uruguay | Portsmouth, England | UBS Switzerland | L'Esprit d'Equipe |
L'Esprit d'Equipe skippered by Lionel Péan won the race in a corrected time of 111 days 23 hours. Phillips Innovator was second, and Fazer Finland third. (UBS Switzerland was named first on elapsed time, with Lion New Zealand as runner-up. Drum (carrying owner/pop star Simon Le Bon) finished just a breath behind.)
[edit] Whitbread 1989 to 1990
1989 to 1990 Overall final standings
Pos | Boat | Nat | Skipper | LOA/Des | Aggregate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Steinlager 2 | New Zealand | Peter Blake (NZ) | 84' Ketch | 128 d 9 h |
2 | Fisher & Paykel NZ | New Zealand | Grant Dalton (NZ) | 82' Ketch | 129 d 21 h |
3 | Merit | Switzerland | Pierre Fehlmann (F) | 80' Sloop | 130 d 10 h |
4 | Rothmans | UK | Lawrie Smith (GB) | 80' Sloop | 131 d 4 h |
5 | The Card | Sweden | Roger Nillson/Ann Lippens (S) | 80' Ketch | 135 d 7 h |
18 | Maiden | UK | Tracy Edwards (GB) | 58' Sloop | 167 d 3 h |
21 | La Poste | France | Daniel Mallé (F) | 51' Sloop | 181 d 22 h |
The race was run with several classes (for size of boat). This race featured the first all-woman crew on Tracy Edwards' Maiden. Although in a much smaller boat than many of their male counterparts the ladies fared well—claiming two leg victories in class. The tradition of the Whitbread including an all-female crew remains to this day.
The boat Creighton's Naturally suffered a serious broach on leg 2, at about 3 in the morning. Crew members Anthony (Tony) Philips and Bart van den Dwey were swept over board. They were both pulled back on deck. Van den Dwey successfully resuscitated, but, after three hours of trying, crewmembers were unable to revive Philips. A few days later, by radio agreement with relatives ashore, Philips was buried at sea[11].
1989 to 1990 Leg winners
<;th>Finish
Leg | Start | Leg winner | Skipper | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Southampton, England | Punta del Este, Uruguay | Steinlager 2 | Peter Blake (NZ) |
2 | Punta del Este, Uruguay | Fremantle, Australia | Steinlager 2 | Peter Blake (NZ) |
3 | Fremantle, Australia | Auckland, New Zealand | Steinlager 2 | Peter Blake (NZ) |
4 | Auckland, New Zealand | Punta del Este, Uruguay | Steinlager 2 | Peter Blake (NZ) |
5 | Punta del Este, Uruguay | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Steinlager 2 | Peter Blake (NZ) |
6 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Southampton, England | Steinlager 2 | Peter Blake (NZ) |
Steinlager 2 skippered by Peter Blake won the race easily. For the first time since 1981 to 1982 (when the race comprised just four legs), the victor won every leg (albeit closely chased by both Grant Dalton's Fisher & Paykel NZ and Pierre Fehlmann's Merit entries). The vast difference in speed and capability of the many different boats involved in the 1989 to 1990 race lead to the creation of a committee to examine the commission of a Whitbread class boat for use in future races. Many of the Maxi yachts in this years race were nearly twice the size (LOA) of the smallest, and carried well over twice the sail area. The net result of this was that many of the smaller boats finished the longer legs more than ten days after the leg winner. In the overall results, the last finisher was some 52 days behind Blake's Steinlager 2 128 day aggregate time. In addition, the expense of the big yachts was getting to be too much—even for the well funded teams like Steinlager, Rothmans and Merit. Eventually, the new class would be called the W60—but its gestation would not be quick or lack controversy.
[edit] Whitbread 1993 to 1994
The 1993 to 1994 Whitbread was run to "mixed class" rules (as with prior races). New for the 93/4 race was a purpose built Whitbread boat—the W60. As with previous years a handicap was applied to different boats based on their race rating. The competitors were none too keen or running both Maxis and W60's together. The two competing classes battled throughout with protest flags always at the ready. Many entrants wanted the old maxis banned for this year, however owing to concerns over whether enough new boats would be ready (not to mention the large investments the Maxi owners had made in previous years), several Maxis were allowed to compete in the 1993 to 1994 race. The W60 skippers almost unanimously insisted they were in a 'completely different boat race', to the fury of Grant Dalton skippering a maxi. Dalton conceded afterwards however that the race should only have one class in future, to avoid similar squabbles.
1993 to 1994 Final Standings
Pos | Boat | Nat | Skipper | Class | Aggregate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | NZ Endeavour | New Zealand | Grant Dalton (NZ) | Maxi | 120 d 5 h |
2 | Yamaha | Japan/NZL | Ross Field (NZ) | W60 | 120 d 14 h |
3 | Merit Cup | GBR | Pierre Fehlmann (F) | Maxi | 121 d 2 h |
4 | Intrum Justitia | Europe | Roger Nillson (S) / Lawrie Smith (GB) | W60 | 121 d 5 h |
5 | Galicia 93 Pescanova | Spain | Javier de la Gandara (Esp) | W60 | 122 d 6 h |
6 | Winston | USA | Dennis Conner (USA) /Brad Butterworth (NZ) | W60 | 122 d 9 h |
7 | La Poste | France | Éric Tabarly (F) | Maxi | 123 d 22 h |
8 | Tokio | Japan | Chris Dickson (NZ) | W60 | 128 d 16 h |
9 | Brooksfield | Italy | Guido Maisto (I) | W60 | 130 d 4 h |
10 | Hetman Sahaidachny | Ukr | Eugene Platon (Ukr) | W60 | 135 d 23 h |
11 | Reebok/Dolphin Youth | GBR | Mathew Humphries (GB) | W60 | 137 d 21 h |
12 | Heineken | USA | Dawn Riley (USA) | W60 | 138 d 16 h |
13 | Odessa | Ukr | Anatoly Verba (Ukr) | W60 | 158 d 4 h |
NF | Fortuna | Esp | Lawrie Smith (GB) | Maxi | WD |
Intrum Justitia was originally skippered by Roger Nillson, who was injured on the first leg.
- Corrected time takes the boat's handicap into account
Leg Results:
Leg | Start | Finish | Leg winner | Skipper |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Southampton, England | Punta del Este, Argentina | NZ Endeavour | Grant Dalton (NZ) |
2 | Punta del Este, Uruguay | Fremantle, Australia | Intrum Justitia | Lawrie Smith (GB) |
3 | Fremantle, Australia | Auckland, New Zealand | NZ Endeavour | Grant Dalton (NZ) |
4 | Auckland, New Zealand | Punta del Este, Uruguay | NZ Endeavour | Grant Dalton (NZ) |
5 | Punta del Este, Uruguay | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Yamaha | Ross Field (NZ) |
6 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Southampton, England | Tokio | Chris Dickson (NZ) |
[edit] Whitbread 1997 to 1998
Race run for the first time with all W60 boats and to a "points vs time" (instead of aggregate leg time) scoring system to enhance the value of the shorter race legs. Also, in an effort to attract additional media coverage, the Whitbread race committee divided the race into no less than 9 legs for the 1997 to 1998 race. Volvo had its first major association with the race in 1997 to 1998 by sponsoring the trophy (thus the race was officially known as the Whitbread 'round the world race for the Volvo Trophy) and some of the media coverage. For the first time running to W60-only specification, this year's Whitbread attracted just 10 entries—the fewest to date.
Overall results:
Pos | Boat | Nat | Skipper | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | EF Language | ![]() |
Paul Cayard (USA) | 836 |
2 | Merit Cup | ![]() |
Grant Dalton (NZ) | 698 |
3 | Swedish Match | ![]() |
Gunnar Krantz (S) | 689 |
4 | Innovation Kvaerner | ![]() |
Knut Frostad (N) | 633 |
5 | Silk Cut | ![]() |
Lawrie Smith (GBR) | 630 |
6 | Chessie Racing | ![]() |
George Collins / John Kostecki (USA) | 613 |
7 | Toshiba | ![]() |
Dennis Conner (USA) / Paul Standbridge (NZ)* | 528 |
8 | Brunel Sunergy | ![]() |
Hans Bouscholte / Roy Heiner (NL) | 415 |
9 | EF Education | ![]() |
Christine Guillou (F) | 275 |
dnf | America's Challenge | ![]() |
Ross Field (NZ) | 58 |
- Toshiba was originally skippered by Chris Dickson. Dickson was fired after Leg 1. Hans Bouscholte was also replaced by Roy Heiner after leg 1. America's Challenge syndicate withdrew prior to the start of leg two for financial reasons.
Leg winners:
Leg | Start | Finish | Leg winner | Skipper |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Southampton, England | Cape Town, South Africa | EF Language | Paul Cayard (USA) |
2 | Cape Town, South Africa | Fremantle, Australia | Swedish Match | Gunnar Krantz |
3 | Fremantle, Australia | Sydney, Australia | EF Language | Paul Cayard (USA) |
4 | Sydney, Australia | Auckland, New Zealand | Merit Cup | Grant Dalton (NZ) |
5 | Auckland, New Zealand | Sao Sebastiao, Brazil | EF Language | Paul Cayard (USA) |
6 | Sao Sebastiao, Brazil | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Silk Cut | Lawrie Smith (GB) |
7 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Baltimore, Maryland | Brunel Sunergy | Roy Heiner (NL) |
8 | Annapolis, Maryland | La Rochelle, France | Toshiba | Paul Standbridge (NZ) |
9 | La Rochelle, France | Southampton, England | Merit Cup | Grant Dalton (NZ) |
[edit] Volvo Ocean Race 2001 to 2002
For the 2001 to 2002 race the sponsorship of the race being taken over by Volvo and Volvo Cars. The race was renamed the Volvo Ocean Race. Stopovers were added in Germany, France, and Sweden being the Volvo's three biggest car markets in Europe. In addition the points system had been modified significantly in an effort to keep the race competitive until the final leg. The previous "points" race having been effectively won two full legs before the final gun.
2001 to 2002 overall final standings:
Pos | Boat | Nat | Skipper | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Illbruck Challenge | Germany | John Kostecki (USA) | 61 |
2 | ASSA ABLOY | Sweden | Neal Mcdonald (GB) | 55 |
3 | Amer Sports One | USA | Grant Dalton (NZ) | 44 |
4 | Team Tyco | Bermuda | Kevin Shoebridge (NZ) | 42 |
5 | News Corp | Australia | Jez Fanstone (Aus) | 41 |
6 | Djuice Dragons | Norway | Knut Frostad (N) | 33 |
7 | Team SEB | Sweden | Gunnar Krantz (S) | 32 |
8 | Amer Sports Too | USA | Lisa McDonald (US) | 16 |
Leg | Start | Finish | Leg winner |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Southampton, England | Cape Town, South Africa | Illbruck |
2 | Cape Town, South Africa | Sydney, Australia | Illbruck |
3 | Sydney, Australia | Hobart, Australia | Assa Abloy |
4 | Hobart, Australia | Auckland, New Zealand | Assa Abloy |
5 | Auckland, New Zealand | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Illbruck |
6 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Miami, USA | Assa Abloy |
7 | Miami, USA | Baltimore, USA | Team News Corp |
8 | Baltimore, USA | La Rochelle, France | Illbruck |
9 | La Rochelle, France | Gothenburg, Sweden | Assa Abloy |
10 | Goteborg, Sweden | Kiel, Germany | Djuice Dragons |
John Kostecki, who had co-skippered with George Collins on Chessie Racing in the 1997 to 1998 Whitbread to great effect, captained his first Volvo Ocean race winner in 2002. Assa Abloy's new composite mold technique proved very quick, but not quite quick enough, while long time Whitbread skipper Grant Dalton's two boat syndicate suffered badly from a lack of preparation time (the Amer boats were last in the water).
For Leg 3, yachts joined the iconic Australian Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race that begins on Boxing Day (the day after Christmas Day).
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Volvo Ocean Race - Official site
- The Volvo Open 70 Rule 2003, containing the original specifications for the VO70 boats
- National Geographic's Volvo Ocean Race - National Geographic (2001-2002)
- SailingNetworks - Event details, boats, crew and news
- Special Coverage of the VOR
- VOR Forum - Sailing Anarchy
- Volvo Ocean Race Talk - Talk All about the Volvo Ocean Race
- Ocean Race Chesapeake
- Online race tracker
- Volvo Ocean Race News and Photos.
- The world's largest on-line Gallery of Volvo Ocean Race pictures