2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race – M32 catamarans to be used for guest sailing

by Volvo Ocean Race on 14 Oct 2016 In the fifth of a series of 10 Volvo Ocean Race announcements in two weeks, Race director Phil Lawrence revealed that the M32 boats, which weigh just 510kg and can sail in most weather conditions in stadium mode, will be used in both guest sailing and Pro-Am racing mode during the final days of at least eight of the 11 Host Cities the global race visits.

Each Volvo Ocean Race entry in the 2017-18 race, in addition to their Volvo Ocean 65 monohull racing around the globe, will also have an M32 catamaran shipped from port to port as part of their sponsor inventory.

The specific aim is to increase the number of sponsor client, city and media guests that get to experience high performance sailing during the stopovers between the ocean legs.

In the fifth of a series of 10 Volvo Ocean Race announcements in two weeks, Race director Phil Lawrence revealed that the M32 boats, which weigh just 510kg and can sail in most weather conditions in stadium mode, will be used in both guest sailing and Pro-Am racing mode during the final days of at least eight of the 11 Host Cities the global race visits.

“One of the unique selling points for sponsorship in sailing is that we can literally put guests in the driving seat so they experience the real thing – we need to maximise this opportunity to help attract sponsors.”

The presence of the high adrenalin 32-foot racing cats will add to the spectacle in the Host Cities over the final days of each stopover, and they will be used in a stadium sailing format for Pro-Am racing on the Saturday before the race restarts.

“We had over 70,000 corporate guests tasting a slice of the Volvo Ocean Race last time around, and we want to get as many of those visitors out on the water as possible,” explained Lawrence, who was Race Director of the pioneering stadium-racing Extreme Sailing Series before joining the Volvo Ocean Race earlier this year.

“The challenge that we have found is that the pressure of preparing the boats and crew for the next offshore leg limits guest sailing opportunities, especially leading up to the In-Port Race and departure day.”

He continued: “That’s the main driver for introducing M32 boats into our stopovers. Our aim is to get even more people to have that unique experience on the water, even more entertainment on the water for the public, and even more value for sponsors in each Host City.”

In 2014-15, the Race saw over 2,400 corporate guests take spots onboard the Volvo Ocean 65s. With the addition of the M32s, that number will rise four-fold to almost 10,000. The Race organisers will provide each team with a branded M32 in their colours, assembled, rigged and ready to race, so as not to add more burden to their already high-pressure, pre-race period.

In addition, each M32 will come with a bespoke RIB (rigid inflatable boat) for guest transfers. This package again enforces the Race organiser’s commitment to reduce any stress or extra organisational needs for the teams by having a ‘ready to go’ guest sailing solution.

Designed by Swedish sailors Göran Marström and Kåre Ljung, the M32 catamaran offers a unique blend of simplicity and ease of handling, combined with lightweight construction and thrilling performance.

“This partnership with Volvo Ocean Race is very exciting for me personally since the Race has meant so much for me as a sponsor since back in the 2008-09 and the 2011-12 editions when we were Berg Propulsion,” said Håkan Svensson, CEO of Aston Harald AB and owner of the rights and design to the M32 catamaran.

“We used the Volvo Ocean Race as a very successful platform to do business from, with an impressive return on investment of 11:1 over 13 months. That has inspired me to do what we now do with the M32 class and the World Match Racing Tour, in creating a platform for the broader market and a pathway for the sailors aspiring to the Volvo Ocean Race and professional sailing.”