Volvo Ocean Race- One year to go - Knut Frostad reflects
by Volvo Ocean Race Media on 29 Oct 2010
Groupama 70 arrive in to Alicante, Spain, for training. Volvo Ocean Race
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With one year remaining until the 2011-2012 Volvo Ocean Race begins with the In-Port race in Alicante, much is in place and a lot is still to be done. CEO Knut Frostad discusses preparations for the grand departure and explains why he feels this will be one of the closest races ever.
What's the state of play regarding entries and the hunt for sponsorship?
We currently have six boats that are funded and ready for the next event, which is pretty much where we were at this time before the last race. It's no secret that my ambition was to have more, but the economic downturn has hurt the international sponsor market.
In that respect, I'm really pleased because we as an organiser, combined with the teams, have raised more than 210 million euros in commercial sponsorship and rights fees. Compared to any other sporting event in the last 18 months it is substantial.
What is your assessment of the confirmed entries?
At least five of the teams are potential winners. I don't think we have ever had that many in the past. They are all building new boats, have top skippers and people with top experience of this race. It is going to be extremely difficult to pick a winner. There will be no team like Ericsson from the last race, running a two-boat testing programme for a year before the race.
A part of that is the new Volvo Open 70 rule, which limits what a team can do, putting them on more of a level platform. The other part of it is we have attracted several really good teams this time. Look at the teams and people involved and they are truly world class programmes.
Are there other teams waiting in the wings?
There are four other teams that are very serious about taking part and then there is another group of five that are also working on it. We are focused on bringing more boats to the start line. If we achieve the same number as the last race (eight) then, it would be very, very good. My ambitions are higher than that but we have to be realistic. The market is incredibly tough, whereas for the last race it was possibly the best it had been.
How much interest has there been in boats from the last race?
A lot. We are hoping for a minimum of three from the last race. One of the six we know of has a second-hand boat. Of the four that are seriously working on it, three are second-hand boat projects.
Do they have any chance of being competitive?
Absolutely, and that is something we have worked hard on. Our challenge has been to find ways to lower the cost required to be competitive. In the instance of second-hand boats, we have changed the rules to give teams who use them certain advantages. For example, they are allowed to race with the original keels, while the new boats have a limit on the keel and bulb weight. Potentially, that can lead to an old boat having a heavier bulb than a new one. That will give them an edge.
There is also the factor that after a few cycles of a class the boats get closer and closer. With that in mind, I do not think there will be big steps made between the last generation of Volvo Open 70s and the new generation.
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