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Flying the flag VOLVO
The Greatest sailing race of our time, « conquest of the Everest » on
ocean’s open spaces – these are the descriptions awarded to this
Round-the-world sailing regatta of super yachts «Formula-1». It rings quite
true. The popular competition, that runs once every four years, today
excites memory of a sailing fleet - nobility of the seas at the era of
great geographical discoveries.
Regatta’s history began with a shot from a cannon on September 8th, 1973,
in Portsmouth, south of England, under trade mark Whitbread - the sponsor
of the regatta (a large dealer in groceries and other goods).
Perhaps, no where in the world is there another sport competition that
puts forward such severe requirements for people and technology, defining
rivalry of designs, strategies and professional yachtsmen for the glory of
their syndicates, sponsors and countries.
In 2001 race has passed under patronage of Volvo - the automobile giant
has redeemed from Whitbread the rights to it’s assembly. One of the most
known sailing regattas in the world had a name-change: from Whitbread
Round The World Race to Volvo Ocean Round The World Race.
It is explainable: despite of all romanticism of sailing, the organization
of large regattas in the world, as well as many other things in today’s
sports, has gradually moved from big sports into big business. Large
companies actively use advertising opportunities of the regatta in
promotion of their interests.
Today video cameras are established on each yacht allowing, through
satellites, TV-reporting in a mode of real time.
To consider coverage of the race in mass-media, the last regatta has drawn
in a cumulative of 650 million TV viewers, and about a billion listeners
around the world. This time the quantity of fans will increase even more.
Let's notice, that Volvo Ocean Round The World Race stands in a number of
world sports events in which Russia could potentially take part. Having
given it’s yachtsmen a chance to participate in a grant wish of many
generations, Russia could satisfy ambitions of many layers of a society,
firms and the enterprises.
Last "marathon" has started in the Vigo resort, northwest of the Atlantic
coast of Spain, on November, 12th, 2005. The general extent of regatta’s
route was 33000 sea miles. In eight months the yachts crossed four oceans,
visited ten ports and finished in the Goteborg in June, 2006. The route is
almost traditional: Europe, Cape Town, Melbourne, Wellington, Rio de
Janeiro, Baltimore, New York, Portsmouth, Rotterdam and finally Goteborg.
Unlike the previous races, one-day races were conducted on intermediate
finishes, like the classical distance of the Cup of America, which allowed
a wide audience to observe not only through Internet, TV or press but also
personally the struggle of the crews. The Race itself, with it’s
intermediate finishes and starts, exhibitions and sponsor’s presentations,
conferences, visits of royalty, important businessmen, eminent and simple
yachtsmen –all of it gives unique opportunities for dialogue with known
people from all around the world.
 The
record of daily speed under a sail is established on this regatta by a
yacht of a Dutch bank ABN AMRO; it’s equal to 546 sea miles at average
speed of 22,7 knots, same as a passenger "Comet" on underwater wings.
The last record of speed has been established by the maxi-yacht of an
English billionaire Robert Miller specially constructed for this purpose
in 2003; it equaled 525,5 sea miles. Its world renown glory has held on
for two years.
What gets people to take part in sailing races? Undoubtedly - passion.
Once you felt the elastic force of the wind in your sails, experienced
prompt movements of the yacht as it dissects a wave it is difficult to
refuse your desire for the sea. Life, without a good regatta in the
saltiness of the sea, can seem bland.
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