The crews competing in the Volvo Ocean Race's voyage around the globe are arguably entering the greatest test of sailing skill and human determination in the world. Read all about the Volvo Ocean Race here
Founded on the 19th century’s square rigger crews clocking up their fastest possible times sailing between ports, the Volvo Ocean Race is now seen as the pinnacle of achievement in the sport.
The Volvo Ocean Race’s first incarnations came through Sir Francis Chichester’s and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s solo voyages sailing around the world which led to talk of fully crewed yachts racing around the globe .
In 1973 the Whitbread Round The World Race began resulting in three sailors being washed overboard in bad weather. The tragedy led to calls for that race to be the last, but instead the yacht race continued to run every four years and was re-branded the Volvo Ocean Race in 2001.
The yacht race typically begins in Europe during September or October and will cover over 37,000 nautical miles with some of the legs taking more than 30 days to complete. In the past few races it has been common to have nine or ten legs with in-port races at the destination cities.
The crews aboard the Volvo Open 70 yachts are made up of 11 members surviving solely on freeze-dried food and working at temperatures ranging from -5 to +40 degrees celcius.
The worst of the weather is usually found in the Southern Ocean where waves can top 100 feet (30m) and winds reach 60 knots (110 km/h).
Routes and dates of the 2011-2012 Volvo Ocean race
News and articles about the Volvo Ocean Race
Vision for the Volvo: The future of the Volvo Ocean Race – Yachting World July 2009
Fit to drop? The punishing toll the 2008-2009 Volvo Ocean Race took on the crew’s health and physical wellbeing – Yachting World June 2009
Fewer stops for the next Volvo race – Yachting World June 2009
Boat
of the Month: Volvo 70 Ericsson 4 – Yachting World May 2009
Long Haul Close Call: Leg 5 of the Volvo Ocean Race – Yachting World May 2009
North Up: Rio to Boston in the Volvo Ocean Race – Yachting World May 2009
Two Key Legs: The hardest and the longest – Yachting World March 2009
Damage limitation: What crews can do to patch up boats at sea during the Volvo Ocean Race – Yachting World February 2009
A
wild ride: Volvo Ocean Race Leg 2 – January 2009
Scrap
the Volvo 70s? What does the Volvo Ocean Race and its boats still
have to offer? – Yachting World April 2006
Discussion of the Volvo Ocean Race in the YBW forums
Archived Volvo Ocean Race video footage from all the races since 1973
Buy a Volvo Open 70 yacht
Search the Volvo Open 70s for sale by brokers
Private sales of Volvo Open 70s