Volvo Ocean Race 'back on track'

by VOR Media on 28 Jun 2016 Not since the 2005–06 Volvo Ocean Race has the fleet roared east from the tip of South Africa across the Southern Ocean, but the course now described for the 2017-18 edition has returned the race to its roots.

While the past three editions of the race headed north after Cape Town toward the commercial benefits of India (2008-09) and the United Arab Emirates (2011-12, 2014-15), here is the course of the next race as described in the NOR for the 2017-18 edition of sailing’s toughest challenge:

Leg 1. Alicante, Spain to Lisbon, Portugal – approx 700 nm.
Leg 2. Lisbon, Portugal to Cape Town, South Africa leaving Fernando de Noronha Island to port – approx 7,000 nm.
Leg 3. Cape Town, South Africa to Auckland, New Zealand leaving Cape Leeuwin to port, Kerguelen Island to starboard – approx 7,600 nm.
Leg 4. Auckland, New Zealand to Hong Kong – approx 5,700 nm.
Leg 5. Hong Kong to Itajai, Brazil – approx 13,400 nm.
Leg 6. Itajai, Brazil to Newport, USA – approx 5,600 nm.
Leg 7. Newport, USA to Cardiff, UK – approx 3,300 nm.
Leg 8. Cardiff, UK to Gothenburg, Sweden leaving Wales, England and Scotland to starboard – approx 1,230 nm.
Leg 9. Gothenburg, Sweden to The Hague, Netherlands – approx 520 nm.

The Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 will consist of 9 ocean Legs with an In-Port race scheduled in each Stopover. The total distance of the combined legs is approximately 45,050 nm.

Volvo Ocean Race CEO Mark Turner will be discussing the new race route with the media on 29 June.