The Volvo Ocean Race

It is the first time in the 34-year history of the event that a Southeast Asian destination has been included in the route. The fleet, which is scheduled to stop over in Singapore in late December 2008, will call at the resort island of Sentosa and be based at the new, state-of-the-art ONE Degree 15 Marina Club, one of Asia’s leading marinas. Singapore will stage the second in-port race of the series (the first will be in Alicante, Spain) and it will provide a dramatic backdrop to the inshore racing.

This will be a test of will, courage and skill against the best (or more accurately, worst) nature has to offer. The worst weather conditions are usually encountered in this leg, where waves sometimes top 100 feet (30 m) and winds can reach 60 knots (110 km/h). Competitors eventually round Cape Horn and turn back into the Atlantic for the trip back to England. The route generally covers in excess of 28,000 statute miles (45,000 km) over open ocean.

The first offshore leg of Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009 will start in Alicante, Spain on 4 October 2008. Russian city of St Petersburg will be finishing port in 10th edition of the race. The finishing line is in St Petersburg, Russia, on June 27, 2009 after stops in Cape Town (South Africa), Kochi (India), Singapore, Qingdao (China), Brazil (Rio de Janeiro), Boston (USA), Galway (Ireland), Göteborg (Sweden) and Stockholm (Sweden).

Volvo Cars has recently unveiled their special edition Volvo Ocean Race range of vehicles. The new Volvo Ocean Race Edition includes three models, the Volvo V70, Volvo XC70 and Volvo XC90 in exterior colours of either ocean blue or electric silver. Singapore will offer the Volvo V70 and XC90 editions.

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[I]The official magazine of the Volvo Ocean Race was published on April 1st, and will be available online at www.volvooceanrace.org. You can now also read back issues at http://www.volvooceanrace.org/booksanddvds/magazine/[/I]

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