Not the Official Release from the VOR Press Conference.

by Guy Nowell, Sail-World.com on 3 Oct 2015 The latest edition of the Volvo Ocean Race finished in Gothenburg in the last week of June this year, and the Italian press (described as “knowledgeable” in a VOR press release) are asking Knut Frostad whether there will be an Italian entry on the next race? C’mon, guys, do you really think he has a yes/no answer to that? And there was someone asking about the possibility of a German entry too…

It’s very interesting to go to press conferences and then read about them afterwards.

Sometimes there is a substantial disconnect between what you hear and what you read, and sometimes I wonder if there shouldn’t be a brain-check at the door.

“Do you know the difference between a bowsprit and a bilge pump? No? Ah, well, you are on the second session after the tea and scones then.”

What we did glean was this: Marcello Persico, head of Persico Marine, who are confirmed as builders in the event that any new boats are required for the 2018 race, is 100% sure that the present generation of boats are not only race-fit for another lap of the planet, but will also not be at any disadvantage whatsoever if they race against new boats. “Our tech people have stressed them longitudinally – and there is no measurable deflection. They were over-built by design, and the design is good. They are stiff.”

Knut Frostad added that the whole (existing) fleet will undergo a major overhaul and full refit before the next race. “The boats will be refitted and upgraded over the winter 2016/17 - there will be an announcement by the end on this month (October 2015).

'There are no major design changes planned. The design has proved to be good, and the great thing about One Design is that as long as it works you don’t need to change anything.

'We have listened to input from all the crews, and there may an extra coat hook added here or there, but absolutely nothing major. All the media equipment, however, will be replaced – the speed at which media gear develops these days means that’s practically mandatory. '
Frostad recently announced he is stepping down from his position as CEO of the VOR, and is off on some sort of gardening leave come the end of the year. He’ll be spending time with his family, and there’s a house in Alicante. “I’ll be able to see all the comings and going,” he said last night at a Genoa Boat Show function, “and that’s going to be hard… I mean, interesting.”

Frostad’s VOR watch spans no less than four races as a competitor and three while ‘sailing a desk’. His contribution to the even has been absolutely massive. We wish him well with his race-watching, and look forward to welcoming his successor – expect an announcement by the end of this year.

[Editor’s note: Rumours that the cross section VO65 on display at the Genoa Boat Show is in fact the remains of Team Vestas Wind, and the present Vestas is an entirely new boat, are definitely false.]