Team Russia make a precise launching of Volvo 70

by Event media on 28 May 2008
Team Russia's new Volvo Open 70 yacht made a spectacular entrance into the world today.

Its 23 metre long racing hull appeared in public for the first time hovering high over the boat sheds of builder's Green Marine Lymington (UK), before being lowered by a massive 200 Tonne crane into the Lymington River.

Designer Rob Humphreys has incorporated innovative features into his first Volvo Open 70 design, most notably, the double spray rails at the front, the bluff bow and powerful stern design.

Team Russia will have her rudders, keel and mast fitted this week and will complete her commissioning and sail trials in early June. There will be an official naming ceremony of the boat in Portsmouth on 16th June at Gunwharf Quay.

The 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race will be the 10th running of this ocean marathon. Starting from Alicante in Spain on 4 October 2008, it will for the first time, take in ports in Asia. Spanning some 39,000 nautical miles, stopping at around 11 ports and taking nine months to complete, the Volvo Ocean Race is the world's premier yacht race for professional racing crews.