Volvo Ocean Race’s return a bonus ^{> Latest News > About Us}

24 May 2010

The return of an Auckland stopover for the Volvo Ocean Race in 2011-2012 is a fantastic bonus for the country’s marine industry.

Michele Berry, General Manager of Orams Marine Village, says the New Zealand industry has maintained its international reputation for quality workmanship despite the Volvo – the former Whitbread Round-the-World – not having a New Zealand stopover since 2002 and the America’s Cup leaving for Europe after Team New Zealand’s 2003 defeat.

“Events like the Louis Vuitton series in March this year and the fantastic performances by New Zealand sailors throughout the world do help keep New Zealand’s reputation strong in marine circles,” Michele says. “But races like the Volvo and the world TV focus on the stopovers are a real bonus for attracting a wider audience.

“There are sure to be some big adventure and repair stories after the boats have sailed all the way from Sanya in China to Auckland. And the teams will certainly want to know everything is shipshape before hitting the Southern Ocean, on the toughest leg around Cape Horn to Brazil.”

The Volvo fleet will start from Spain in late 2011 and will finish in Galway, Ireland in the northern summer of 2012. The Auckland stopover is for 16 days in March 2012 and the marine sector is already strategising how it will cope with the 10 to 20 teams that are expected.