Race Village build begins

The massive logistical operation to build the Race Village for the Auckland Stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race began in the Viaduct today.

Bob Harvey, Chair of Waterfront Auckland, welcomed the Auckland Stopover Operations team, led by Kerry Ellis (Head of Venues & Operations) as they started work on the Race Village site.

"I'm proud to see Auckland's waterfront space utilised for the Auckland Stopover," said Auckland Mayor Len Brown. "Wynyard Quarter and Te Wero Island is the natural home for such a prestigious and eagerly anticipated event and thousands of New Zealanders and international visitors have vivid memories of this area as the spectator home for previous international sailing events."

Over the next 16 days, the Auckland Stopover Operations team will construct a Race Village with a footprint of more than 20,000 sqm, co-ordinate the arrival, unloading and storage of 150 shipping containers, create six Team Bases for the competing yachts, oversee the building of the Volvo Experience, sponsor pavilions, the entertainment stage, public bars, the set-up of Race HQ, the Media Centre and much more.

"As the owner of the Auckland Stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race, we are delighted to see the build get underway. There's been months of meticulous planning to get to this stage," said Jennah Wootten, Manager, Major Events for Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development. "We have partnered with Mayo& for this project, they have a great team of staff and volunteers in place and we're looking forward to getting the job done ready for the opening of the Village on 8 March and the arrival of the fleet."

Pictured above are Bob Harvey (fourth from right) welcoming Grant Calder, Head of Commercial & Marketing (third from right) and the Auckland Stopover Operations team.

Stirring farewell for CAMPER

Emirates Team New Zealand's CAMPER left the dock for the start of Leg 4 to Auckland with a stirring farewell from kapa haka group Pounamu.

Earlier, Maori culture mixed with Chinese dragons as kapa haka took centre stage at the official handover ceremony from Sanya to Auckland as the Volvo Ocean Race fleet prepared to leave China..

Auckland based performing group Pounamu made the trip to Sanya as part of the Auckland Stopover delegation and featured in the global television coverage of the Start of Leg 4 to Auckland.

The NZ delegation was led by Auckland Stopover chairman Sir John Wells and Port Director Tom Mayo.

Sanya on TV One

TV One will be screening the Leg 4 Start at 11.00pm tonight (Monday). If you miss it, don't forget all programmes will be available on demand from www.tvnz.co.nz