Global Ocean Race - Overwhelming support from Punta del Este

by Oliver Dewar on 24 Sep 2010 Global Ocean Race update.

At a press conference held on Thursday 23 September at the Yacht Club Punta del Este (YCPE), Uruguay, full support for the South American stopover was confirmed by local groups and national government bodies. Concluding a six-day site visit to this popular and famous staging post for round the world yacht races, GOR Race Director, Josh Hall, formalised the extensive arrangements that are now in place for an extremely welcome stopover at the end of the double-handed circumnavigation’s tough Leg 3 from Wellington, New Zealand.

The event has been granted a status of National Importance by the Uruguayan Government and coupled with the full support of the Ministry of Tourism; The Uruguayan Navy; The Hydrographic Department; The Department of Maldonado; The City of Punta del Este and the Yacht Club Punta del Este, the month long stopover during March 2012 promises to be a highly successful return of round the world yacht racing to this stunning venue.

With the Southern Ocean and Cape Horn behind them, the GOR sailors will receive a warm Uruguayan welcome in Punta del Este where excellent facilities for repairs and boat preparation can be utilised and the GOR teams can enjoy the stylish benefits offered by one of the world’s finest beach resorts. It is anticipated that a large entourage of family, friends and sponsors will take the opportunity to visit this unique destination during the race stopover and although March is just outside the city’s busy high-season, the fabulous weather of the Southern Hemisphere late-summer remains.

In addition to their support of the GOR, all the parties involved have committed their practical support for the Global Vision Sailing Trust programme that will operate out of the YCPE throughout the stopover with up to 24 young people from the region undertaking an inspirational and educational experience each day.

'We could not wish for a better place as the South American stopover of the GOR,' says the GOR Race Director, Josh Hall. 'The support we have for bringing the race here is outstanding and I suspect that our skippers will be reluctant to leave!' he continues. 'We are both proud and privileged to bring the event to this wonderful country and fabulous port. We are extremely grateful to all the various parties involved who have worked together to make the Punta del Este stopover a reality and we look forward to bringing the race here for every edition in the future,' Hall confirms. 'We now have a fabulous course for the GOR and we plan to keep to the same route and become part of the very fabric of our host ports developing strong links with local economies and communities.'

Speaking on behalf of all the relevant bodies involved, Horacio Garcia Pastori, Commodore of the YCPE for the last 14 years, enthused about the event coming to Punta del Este. 'We are all very proud and excited to be hosting the GOR here in 2012,' says the YCPE Commodore. 'We have a rich history of providing a memorable stopover for races such as the Whitbread and the BOC/Around Alone and clearly the GOR organisers have developed a fantastic event,' he comments. 'We welcomed Josh here as a skipper in the 1990-91 BOC race and we will welcome the GOR skippers with the same warmth and admiration,' assures Pastori. 'We are an extremely active club which frequently hosts national and international regattas, so we greatly look forward to helping the GOR Organisers and all the national and local entities involved to make the stopover a great success.'

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