Volvo Ocean Race adds Fastnet Race, new Prologue to 2017-18 qualifying schedule<\/p>\n
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IAN ROMAN\/Volvo Ocean Race<\/p>\n
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Marc Bow\/Volvo Ocean Race<\/p>\n
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Amory Ross\/Team Alvimedica<\/p>\n
In the sixth of a series of 10 major announcements in 10 days, Race Management outlined a number of mandatory qualifiers before the start in Alicante, Spain, in October 2017 \u2013 including provisionally a transatlantic test for all the fleet in June or July (full story below)<\/p>\n
ALICANTE, Spain \u2013 The Fastnet Race, one of the most revered and feared tests in sailing, and a new Lisbon-Alicante Prologue will both feature in an intense period of pre-race qualifying for the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 \u2013 serving as a first clash of the fleet while providing an early form guide for the fans.<\/p>\n
In the sixth of a series of 10 major announcements in 10 days, Race Management outlined a number of mandatory qualifiers before the start in Alicante, Spain, in October 2017 \u2013 including provisionally a transatlantic test for all the fleet in June or July.<\/p>\n
In August, the fleet will assemble for Cowes Week in the Isle of Wight, UK for \u2018Leg Zero\u2019, which will include the 600-mile Fastnet Race.<\/p>\n
The Rolex Fastnet Race \u2013 always unpredictable \u2013 will take the teams from Cowes, through the English Channel, around Land\u2019s End and out into the Celtic Sea. After rounding Fastnet Rock off the southwest coast of Ireland, they race on from Plymouth. The boats will then race from Plymouth to Lisbon, Portugal to complete Leg Zero.<\/p>\n
Teams will then tackle a brand new Prologue race from Lisbon to Alicante, where they will remain until the start of the 2017-18 edition.<\/p>\n
France\u2019s Charles Caudrelier, who skippered Dongfeng Race Team in 2014-15, commented: \u201cYou train for months, alone, and so it\u2019s good to be able to do more racing as a team before the start. It\u2019s very different, racing under pressure, than training, and good for boat testing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve done a few Fastnet Races, some were windy and some were light. It\u2019s a nice course, very fun and interesting to sail around the coast, with the effect of the currents. It\u2019s a good test and a very dynamic race, with interesting weather.\u201d<\/p>\n
He continued: \u201cIn two or three days, you have a lot of decision-making to do, so it\u2019s good to test not just everyone\u2019s speed but also taking decisions quickly under pressure.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd of course, you get to see which teams are stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n
Many Volvo Ocean Race teams have used the Fastnet Race as part of their preparations but it has never before been a mandatory qualifier.<\/p>\n
The maxi yacht Drum, preparing for the 1985-86 race, famously capsized during the Fastnet and pop star Simon Le Bon was among the crew who had to be rescued by the Royal Navy.<\/p>\n
Richard Mason, four-time Volvo Ocean Race veteran and now Operations Director for the Race, said: \u201cIt\u2019s super important to be doing these miles, at the right time of year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019ll provide some awesome hours on the water for the teams, and that\u2019s where they\u2019ll learn the most \u2013 getting out there in the middle of the ocean, and getting amongst those weather systems, in a race that no sailor would dare take on lightly.\u201d<\/p>\n
He continued: \u201cThe Fastnet Race is on the bucket list of every ocean racer in the world. It\u2019s famous for being very tricky and coastal. You can have no wind, you can have enormous amounts of breeze, and vicious seas, out near Fastnet Rock, it\u2019s navigationally and tactically challenging, you don\u2019t get much sleep. It\u2019s the perfect race \u2013 an amazing thing to be a part of.\u201d<\/p>\n
The seven existing Volvo Ocean 65s are currently undergoing a stringent re-fit process at the race\u2019s Boatyard facility in Lisbon, Portugal, and an eighth boat is currently being built.<\/p>\n
The Race will start in Alicante in October 2017 and finish eight months later in The Hague in summer 2018, visiting a total of 11 landmark cities.<\/p>\n
Last week, the Volvo Ocean Race made key announcements on crew rules regarding women sailors, a new crew communicator that will allow the athletes to send social media updates from the oceans, the building of an eighth Volvo Ocean 65 to join the existing fleet, the introduction of bespoke new premium team bases to enhance the pit lane experience in the Race Villages and the use of\u00a0M32 catamarans to increase the amount of guest sailing at each stopover.<\/p>\n
via Volvo Ocean Race adds Fastnet Race, new Prologue to 2017-18 qualifying schedule| Volvo Ocean Race<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Volvo Ocean Race adds Fastnet Race, new Prologue to 2017-18 qualifying schedule Download IAN ROMAN\/Volvo Ocean Race Download Marc Bow\/Volvo Ocean Race Download Amory Ross\/Team Alvimedica In the sixth of a series of 10 major announcements in 10 days, Race … Continue reading