2008 Volvo Ocean Race Set to Start

I am psyched!  The 2008(-2009) edition of the Volvo Ocean Race is set to start.  The race will be sailed in second generation Open 70's.  The first generation of these boats that sailed in the previous edition of the Volvo showed amazing potential, though also experienced some growing pains.  I'm expecting some amazing speeds, and hopefully a bit of a safer platform, during this time around.  During the last go-around, several boats had engineering and build issues, including one boat (Movistar) that had to be abandoned due to structural failures and is now resting on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.  Nonetheless, this is a great event and is (in my opinion anyways) one of the few "around the world" sailing races that actually engages the public.  Stopovers in multiple continents, including new stops in Asia this time around, combined with major global sponsors make for a very interactive and fan friendly event.  

The sailing is set to start tomorrow (October 4, 2008), with an in port race in Alicante, Spain.  In-port races will be run at many of the stopovers during the event, with points up for grab in each race.  After the Alicante in-port, the teams have a week to regroup before starting the first off-shore leg of the race, where they will venture over 6,500 miles to Cape Town, South Africa.  From there the race continues around the globe, finally arriving in Russia early in 2009.  Teams accumulate points during each leg (winners get the most points) as well as during each in port race.  On the longer legs (such as this first jaunt), there are actually extra points up for grabs as boats can gain points at a waypoint along the way (kind of like the first windward mark, on a really long course...only you'd get to count your rounding position).  After the circumnavigation is complete, the most points wins...simple as that.  

Here's a preview of the teams competing in the event.  Pick your favorite, and follow the action at http://www.volvooceanrace.org.  I'll do my best to keep an updated log of events here as well.

Ericson Racing -
Ericsson is actually entering two boats into the competition, Ericsson 3 and Ericson 4.  Both boats were designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian (who designed the race winner during the previous Volvo) and were built in Sweden by Killian Bushe.  Killian Bushe has been building winning boats for over thirty years, producing many high quality racing yachts ranging in size from 40 to 85 feet. Among many successful projects is the Volvo 60 illbruck, which went on to win the 2001-02 Volvo Ocean Race with skipper John Kostecki.

Speaking of John Kostecki, he was one of the major forces behind the Ericsson campaign and was slated to skipper Ericsson 4 around the globe.  However, in August of 2007 John stepped down due to family matters and was replaced by Torben Grael, a not too shabby sailor in his own right.  Torben among several other accomplishments owns 5 Olympic Medals and led Brasil 1 to a 3rd place finish in the prior Volvo.  Torben and his multinational team aboard E4 are one of the early favorites in this race.  

Ericsson 3, which some may refer to as the B team of Ericson (though they are hoping to prove that notion wrong and come out on top) will be skippered by Anders Lewander. Anders is a very accomplished sailmaker for North Sails Sweden, and is no stranger to circumnavigation.  He's an accomplished dinghy sailor, and hoping to carry that success over to these big rocket ships.  Ericsson has recently found themselves at the center of a small scandal around the Volvo Community.  Their boat failed to measure in as voids were found in their keel fin.  They attempted to correct the matter, though have recently been awarded a 1 point deduction from each in-port and leg in which they compete.  They are in the process of appealing this decision, and I'm sure their builders are busy attempting to correct the problem.  All of those negative points would be tough to overcome for any team.

Puma Ocean Racing-
Skipper Ken Read, Vice President of North Sails, leads the United States entry aboard the big black sneaker "Il Mostro".  Ken Read took part in a portion of the previous Volvo, having competed aboard Ericson for a few of the legs, and is hoping to carry his experience from that and other events over.  The Puma gang will be sailing a boat designed by Botin Carkeek and built in Rhode Island by Goetz Custom Boats.  This duo of designer builder are no strangers to success, having both taken part in many winning projects, ranging from TP52's to Maxi's.  The Puma team has put some serious training hours in and is hoping to be in contention when all is said and done.  They appear as a team who will consistently be in the top third of the fleet, and if they accomplish that, will certainly be knocking on the door of overall victory.  

Equipo Telefonica-
Spain is entering a two boat program into this edition of the Volvo.  The team has two identical designs, built in different yards, and has the potential to take the top two overall spots.  Both boats were designed by Farr Yacht Design, who has one of the most impressive records of any designer around.  Farr will be looking to improve on its performance in the last Volvo where Juan K's designs took the glory.

Telefonica Blue, led by Bouwe Bekking, was built in Valencia, Spain by King Marine.  Bouwe Bekking led the Movistar syndicate in the last Volvo Ocean Race.  This team was one of the few that could contend with ABN Amro's Black Betty until the boat had to be abandoned in the Atlantic due to structural problems.  Bouwe is no stranger to going around the world (this will be his 6th time) and is no stranger to winning (4 time World Champion, and 15 time National Champion in various boats).  The Blue team, like Ericsson 4, is an early pick to take home the top spot.  Look for them on the podium frequently.

Telefonica Black is a sistership to blue, only this yacht being built at Southern Ocean Marine in New Zealand.  Black is led by an extremely accomplished sailor, Fernando Echavarri.  Fernando was a member of Bekkings Movistar team, and is certainly at the top of his game right now.  This former ISAF Sailor of the Year is coming off of a Gold Medal winning performance at the 2008 Olympic Games in the tornado.  This team will certainly have an upper hand in the Qingdao in port race a few months down the road.   

Team Russia-
Many people don't know what to expect from Team Russia.  They will be competing in one of the most extreme designs, so, if this design proves quick, they could turn a lot of heads and come out victorious.  That said, most consider them huge underdogs in this event.  The team, led by Andreas Hanakamp, will be sailing a yacht designed by Humphreys Yacht Design in Great Britain and built by Green Marine.  Interestingly, Hanakamp (a two time Olympic Star Sailor) was the press officer during the 2001-2002 Volvo Ocean Race.  We'll see how he does out on the water this time.

Green Dragon Racing Team-
The Green Dragon Racing Team is led by Skipper Ian Walker.  Walker is quite an accomplished sailor, owning a pair of Olympic Silver Medals and having competed in a few Americas Cup campaigns.  The boat that this team is competing in was designed by Reichel Pugh and built in China at McConaghy Boats.  Reichel Pugh have certainly designed a few rocket ships in the past and are looking to re-emerge as a top designer in off-shore racing.  The Green Dragon Team is actually representing two countries in this competition, Ireland and China, so they may bring in the biggest fan base.  Look for these guys to steadily improve throughout the competition and compete for a few podium spots along the way.  

Delta Lloyd-
Delta Lloyd only jumped into the competition a few months ago, but certainly have a proven boat.  The Dutch team, led by Ger O'Rourke (can you tell he's Irish?), will be sailing the former ABN Amro 1 (Black Betty) which was the runaway winner of the last Volvo Ocean Race.  They have made some modifications to the boat and are hoping to be on par with the latest designs.  O'Rourke has had some past success in offshore races having won the Sydney to Hobart race.  This team will likely turn a few heads and be tough competitors in a few legs and in ports, though may be lacking the speed and experience to compete for the overall top spot.  I've been wrong before though!

So that is a short preview of the race... soon we'll have some results to talk about and can stop speculating!