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Photos: L
Paul Todd R Patrick Anderson |
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Fri, 23 Feb 2007
11:00:00 UTC
In his latest update, Volvo Ocean Race CEO Glenn Bourke reveals that
the battle between potential host ports in the ‘new’ territories has
intensified while the list of entries for 2008-09 may include at least
two syndicates following the model of Team ABN AMRO in fielding two-boat
campaigns. |
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Q: Where is the
race finish likely to be?
A: We have German sponsorship interests so it could be Kiel again
with 500,000 people witnessing the finish as they did in 2001-02. Or St
Petersburg or Finland? All of them will provide a vibrant, mid-summer
atmosphere. But there’s still a way to go before we decide.
Q: What do you see as the biggest challenges for crews given the
2008-09 route?
A: It is going to be a race of attrition – no doubt about it. The
hot climates we will visit mean that it’s going to be a lot harder than
previous races even though the soothsayers have argued otherwise. I have
sailed in hot climates before and they are very tough psychologically
and physically. Sunburn, sores, rashes, boils, dehydration and infection
will be commonplace. If you get any sort of infection from sitting
inside wet weather gear that infection magnifies quickly in hot
conditions. So those issues will shape our thinking on medical
provisions and treatments and the general well-being of crews in our
preparation for the race. Anyone who has sailed one design boats knows
that sitting in light airs searching for that next hint of pressure to
eke out a slender advantage demands enormous effort. It might not be
hairy chests and white knuckles as you hammer through the southern ocean
but it is just as taxing mentally . The port stopovers are shorter so
the shore crews will have to be doing maintenance on the run. It will
also challenge the teams in the ports including my own. The plan will
be: come in, prepare the stopover to a Volvo Ocean Race standard,
bump-out, go to the next stop and do it again. If we thought 9 ports in
the last race was hard work, imagine what 12 will be like with shorter
windows?
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Event
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Date |
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Distance |
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Alicante |
In-Port Race |
4
October 2008 |
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Alicante |
Leg 1 START |
11 October 2008
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6,500 Nm |
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South Africa |
Leg 2 START |
16 November 2008 |
5,000 Nm |
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Middle East |
Leg 3 START |
20 December 2008 |
1,600 Nm |
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India |
Leg 4 START |
03 January 2009 |
2,000 Nm |
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South East Asia |
Leg 5 START |
24 January 2009 |
2,200 Nm |
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China (Port 1) |
Leg 6 START |
08 February 2009 |
300 Nm |
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China (Port 2) |
Leg 7 START |
22 February 2009
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12,000 Nm |
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Brazil |
Leg 8 START |
18 April 2009 |
4,800 Nm |
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North East USA |
Leg 9 START |
16 May 2009 |
2,500 Nm |
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Western Europe |
Leg 10 START |
06 June 2009 |
1,500 Nm |
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Sweden |
Leg 11 START |
19 June 2009 |
250 Nm |
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Finish Port |
RACE FINISH |
20 June 2009
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