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Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Volvo Ocean Race StopOver


·    Volvo Ocean Race Auckland Stopover
  • Viaduct Harbour, Auckland CBD.  Thursday, 8th Mar 2012 – Sunday, 18th Mar 2012
Volvo Ocean Race Auckland Stopover - Viaduct Harbour
It's back! After a ten year gap, Auckland, the world's premier sailing capital, will once again welcome the Volvo Open 70s fleet home as an official Stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race.
Previously sponsored and named after the venerable British brewery Whitbread’ Round the World Race. Auckland was the most popular port of call for these boats and crews.    New Zealand sailors were prominent in many of the teams .The late Sir Peter Blake was involved with all of Whitbread races from the original race of 1973/1974 winning the1989/1990 race in style with Steinlager 11
In March 2012 Auckland will stage the Leg 4 finish from Sanya in China and the start of Leg 5, which takes the fleet into the Southern Ocean once again, round the infamous Cape Horn and up to a finish and Stopover in Itajai, Brazil.
The Volvo Ocean Race at 39270 nautical miles is acknowledged as the greatest test of sailing prowess and human endeavour as the world’s fastest monohulls race a nine month marathon around the globe deep into the bleak latitudes of the Southern Ocean and through the world’s most hostile seas. There is a kiwi connection as all the boats have the Canting keel designed by Jim Young one of New Zealand’s gret designers   
Each Stopover features an In-Port Race, with points counting towards the Volvo Ocean Race overall standings, and a Pro-Am Race.
The boats are due to arrive in Auckland on Thursday 8 March. The Pro-Am Race is scheduled for the Friday 16 March with the In-Port Race on Saturday 17 March. The Start of Leg 5 will take place on Sunday 18 March.

The last Auckland Stopover was a decade ago, during the 2001/2002 Race which made a memorable  maritime experience and we are set  do it again with lots of entertainment and partying on the city.  Auckland Viaduct will be transformed into a vibrant Race Village for the Stopover with the new Viaduct Events Centre acting as Race HQ and a packed programme of entertainment on Latitude Island.
And, best of all, many things are free
Full details will be announced over the coming months.