Please select your home edition
Edition
X-Yachts X4.0

Volvo losing its way?

by Tim Jeffrey UK Sports Telegraph on 11 Jun 2002
If the exuberance and atmosphere of Sunday's climax to the Volvo Ocean Race here could be captured, bottled and uncorked in four years' time, the organisers would have a sure-fire winner on their hands. Or would they?

Privately many skippers, sailors and syndicate heads will
tell you of their disappointment in Volvo since they
acquired the 25-year-old Whitbread four years ago. Many
hoped that a world brand like Volvo would turn a fine race
into a great event.

Little has changed, however. This has been the most
acutely and keenly contested race ever, but has the show
been any better? Time and again Volvo have not engaged
the public in this event. Yes, the television, radio and
internet output was more prolific than ever, but on the
ground it has been a different story.

One thinks of the sullen race village in Southampton with
no amenities; the huge crowd in Auckland when the
women's crew arrived who drifted away because it took an
hour to put Lisa McDonald's crew up on the stage. Even in
Illbruck-obsessed Kiel, John Kostecki's crew had to turn
their backs on the crowd for the presentation. The race has
been too inward-looking for too long.

There will be a new chief executive for the next race. Who
he or she is we do not know yet, because no appointment
has been made. This means the new incumbent will not
have seen the edition just finished. Whoever it is, they will
need a well-tuned antenna.

They need to know that the dockside is mute. Unlike
previous races, there is no real buzz from the sailors about
the next race. Their competitive juices are flowing for
other events. The competitors are asking for management
of technical, rules and jury issues that they can respect.
And they want the buzz put back into the race.

Despite the biggest ever organisers' budget, said to be
close to $50 million (£35 million), this was the smallest
ever fleet. Look closely at the entries, and you will see that
the latest race is heavily dependent on the Scandinavian
market and companies using it for internal needs. A
broader base would be healthier.

Rather uncharitably, the present management have
criticised, none too obliquely, Illbruck, who they felt spoiled
the race by being better prepared, and Assa Abloy, for
consuming what was regarded as unjustifiable man hours
to build a lighter, sweeter boat than other teams.

Excellence should be celebrated, not derided. That is, if
they want this race to remain the elite round-the-world
competition. Unless it does, it will not attract sailors of the
calibre of Paul Cayard or Kostecki, and without its stars the
race is nothing.

Volvo researched this race when they bought it and have
done so since. They were going to map out their plan for
the 2005-06 edition in Auckland last January, but even that
is not likely to be revealed until next year now.


The full story is at

http://sport.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2002/06/10/soyot11.xml&sSheet=/sport/2002/06/10/ixothspt.html
J Composites J/99Sydney International Boat Show 2024Pantaenius 2022 - SAIL FOOTER AUS

Related Articles

UpWind by MerConcept announces 7 female athletes
For the inaugural season of Ocean Fifty Racing After four days of physical and mental tests, individual interviews, and on-water racing, seven female athletes have been selected to join the very first UpWind by MerConcept racing team.
Posted on 19 Apr
Last Chance for 2024 Olympic Qualification
Starting this weekend at the Semaine Olympique Française The Last Chance Regatta, held during the 55th edition of Semaine Olympique Française (Franch Olympic Week) from 20-27 April in Hyères, France, is as it says – the last chance.
Posted on 19 Apr
35th Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta Day 1
Easy start to an exciting week The 35th Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta got off to a slow start today with unusual calm southerly winds which prompted the race committee to shorten the Old Road course.
Posted on 19 Apr
5.5 Metre Alpen Cup at Fraglia Vela Riva Day 1
Cold start but hot racing on Lake Garda, Italy The Jean Genie (GBR 43, Peter Morton, Andrew Palfrey, Ruairidh Scott) won two out of three races on the opening day of the 2024 5.5 Metre Alpen Cup, on Thursday, which is being hosted by the first time by Fraglia Vela Riva.
Posted on 18 Apr
First six OGR finishers all Whitbread veterans
Whitbread yacht Outlaw AU (08) crosses the finish line at 13:39 UTC to claim the Adelaide Cup Former Whitbread yacht Outlaw AU (08) crosses the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes finish line at 13:39 UTC, 18th April after 43 days at sea ranking 6th in line honours and IRC for Leg 4.
Posted on 18 Apr
Clipper Race fleet set to arrive in Seattle
After taking on the North Pacific Ocean Over 170 non-professional sailors, including 25 Americans, are on board a fleet of eleven Clipper Race yachts currently battling it out in a race across the world's biggest ocean and heading for the Finish Line in Seattle.
Posted on 18 Apr
Alegre leads the search for every small gain
Going into 2024 52 Super Series season The first of the two new Botin Partners designed TP52s to be built for this 52 Super Series season, Andy Soriano's Alegre, is on course to make its racing debut at 52 Super Series Palma Vela Sailing Week.
Posted on 18 Apr
Trust A+T: Best in Class
Positive feedback from this Caribbean racing season Hugh Agnew recently sailed with SY Adela under Captain Greg Perkins in the Antigua Superyacht Challenge. They went on to win the Gosnell's Trophy - a great result.
Posted on 18 Apr
10 years of growth and international success
J/70 celebrates its 10th anniversary With nearly 1,900 hulls built and National Class Associations in 25 countries, the J/70 is the largest modern sport keelboat fleet in the world.
Posted on 18 Apr
America's Cup Defender christened "Taihoro"
Cup Defender named “To move swiftly as the sea between both sky and earth.” In a stirring ceremony, Iwi Ngati Whatua Orakei gifted and blessed the name ‘Taihoro' on the boat that Emirates Team NZ will sail in their defence of the 37th America's Cup. The launch event took place at the Team's base in Auckland's Wynyard Point.
Posted on 18 Apr