The 12th edition of the Volvo Ocean Race began in Alicante on 4 October, 2014, with the first inshore race. From 2 to 11 October, Alicante became the world capital of sailing, with the Zona Volvo in the Puerto de Alicante as the setting for an intense program of activities for all audiences.

Alicante has been the exit harbour of editions 10th, 11th and 12th of the race and, since 2010 it hosts the headquarters of the organization. In June 2012, the Volvo Ocean Race Museum, the only museum in the world dedicated to this prestigious regatta with 40 years of history and one of the busiest museums of the city, was inaugurated in the capital of the province.

From Alicante to the Swedish city of Gothenburg, where on 27 June, 2015 ended the 2014-15th edition with the last in-shore race, the fleet travelled a total distance of 38,739 nautical miles (equivalent to 71,745 km), and visited ten cities in five continents.

The best sailors in the world took off on 11 October, 2014 from Alicante to travel 6,500 nautical miles (Nm*) to Cape Town (South Africa). From there, the teams sailed to Abu Dhabi (9,707 Nm) and then headed to the Chinese city of Sanya (4,670 Nm).

The 12th edition of the race began on 4 October, 2014 in Alicante, headquarters of the organization and of the Volvo Ocean Race Museum, with the In-port race and the boats left for Cape Town on 11 October. The race around the world ended on 27 June, 2015 in Gothenburg, where the Volvo Company has its headquarters.

The 38,739 nautical mile route that the sailors travelled included stopovers in Cape Town (South Africa), Abu Dhabi (UAE), Sanya (China), Auckland (New Zealand), Itajaí (Brazil), Newport (Rhode Island, USA. ), Lisbon (Portugal) and Lorient (France). There was also a 24-hour technical stop in The Hague (Netherlands) between the scales of France and Sweden.

The Volvo Ocean Race is one of the three major sailing events along with the Olympics and America's Cup. There are no sailors who have managed to win an Olympic gold medal, the America's Cup and the Volvo Ocean Race.

Over 40 years, the Volvo Ocean Race has been the ultimate sailing challenge and offered during this time a level of matchless human emotion and drama. The race started to be played in 1973 as the Whitbread Round the World Race and in 1998 it was acquired by Volvo. From 2001-02, it was called the Volvo Ocean Race.

For more information, click on

 

Images