During the nine months of the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race, which starts in Alicante, Spain on Saturday and concludes in St Petersburg, Russia, during late June next year, seven yachts will sail over 37,000 nautical miles of the world’s most treacherous seas.
Along the way they have stopovers in Cape Town, Kochi, Singapore, Qingdao, around Cape Horn to Rio de Janeiro, Boston, Galway, Gothenburg and Stockholm.
Royal Southampton eyes will be particularly on the Irish/Chinese entry Green Dragon, skippered by Ian Walker from Hamble, and in the crew Neal McDonald from Warsash. Ian, a double Olympic medallist, has a close association with the Club, and Neal is a member.
Their boat is the only one on the 37,000 mile voyage ahead of them which has stopover calls at two home ports – Qingdao and Galway.
Green Dragon Racing Team is part of the Let’s Do It Global not for profit organization which was set up following Galway’s successful bid to host the Volvo Ocean Race from May 23 to June 6, next year. Its purpose is to co-ordinate the Volvo Ocean Race host port, an entry in the race and to build a long-term legacy from the project
The Green Dragon will be skippered by Ian Walker and or the first time in the 35 year history of the race, China will not only host a three week stopover for the race in the Olympic sailing venue, Qingdao, but become the first Chinese sponsorship of a Volvo Ocean Race entry.
The team holds strong Chinese links with construction of the boat taking place in China. It was constructed by a team of 90 Chinese boat builders at McConaghy Boats in Zhuhai, and is the first Volvo Open 70 boat to be built in China.
“The exposure that this sponsorship will bring the team, our current and potential sponsors within the Chinese and Asian markets is enormous,” Jamie Boag, CEO The Green Dragon Team.
There have been nine Whitbread and Volvo Ocean Races to date, with 121 yachts and over 1,500 men and women facing one incredible challenge. Team-members, shore crews and boat-builders alike have just one aim: to deliver excellence under the most demanding of circumstances, and they go to extreme lengths to achieve their dream.
Green Dragon takes on the Ericsson team at Alicante.
Photo: Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race