Volvo Ocean Race One-Year Countdown

In 12 months’ time the 13th edition of the Volvo Ocean Race will set off from Alicante on an immense race around the world, visiting 11 cities across five continents – and for the first time in its history it’ll stop in Cardiff! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

10 FAST FACTS ABOUT THE VOLVO OCEAN RACE… ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

1. The Volvo Ocean Race began in 1973 and is now established as one of the big three sailing events in the world alongside the America’s Cup and the Olympic Games. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

2. It’s the ultimate ocean marathon, across the world’s toughest oceans, and covers a distance of 45,000 nautical miles over 9 months. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

3. Sailors endure extreme conditions and ultimately will always face danger. Since the race began it has suffered tragedy with five sailors lost at sea. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

4. Teams will compete in the Volvo Ocean 65 one-design, a class of identical boats that cannot be modified in any way (and they weigh the equivalent of two adult Orca whales!). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

5. In the 2017-18 edition a major rule change gives female sailors a clearer pathway to compete at the highest level of offshore sailing. Potential crew combinations can now be 7 all-male; 7 men + 1 or 2 women; 5 men + 5 women; 7 women + 1 or 2 men; 11 all-female. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

6. During the global race, 11 cities host the Race Village stopover event including Cape Town, Auckland and of course Cardiff! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

7. There are over 1,000 people involved in delivering the race – and two identical ‘race village kits,’ made up of the event infrastructure and activities, leap frog around the world to the host ports. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

8. In the 2017/18 race the fleet will blast across the North Atlantic, from Newport, Rhode Island, on the blue riband transatlantic leg to Cardiff. It’ll be the first time it’s returned to British shores in 12 years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

9. The Volvo Ocean Race will reach Cardiff in May 2018, and to celebrate Cardiff Bay will host a free event across 2 weeks from 25 May to 10 June. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

10. The event will showcase the Volvo Ocean Race and In-Port Races – alongside a festival atmosphere where visitors can enjoy Welsh culture, entertainment and much more! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​