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Volvo Ocean Race The winning crew doesn’t get a cash prize—but they can count on a crystal
trophy, a slap on the back, and perhaps sailing’s best bragging rights.http://

Basics www.nationalgeographic.com/volvooceanrace/background.htm.

History
Distance Covered:
Approximately 32,700 nautical miles (37,630
1972: Inception
statute miles/60,560 kilometers)
England’s Whitbread company and the British Royal Naval Sailing Associa-
tion agree to sponsor a globe-circling regatta, which would be called the
Duration:
Whitbread Round the World Race (later renamed the Volvo Ocean Race).
9 months (September to early June), including one- to three-week
stopovers between legs (schedule)
1973-74: First Whitbread
In September, 17 yachts of various sizes and shapes sail from Portsmouth,
Frequency:
England, inaugurating the first Whitbread Round the World Race. They will
Every four years
cover some 27,000 nautical miles (31,070 statute miles/50,000 kilometers) in
four legs—if they’re lucky.
Required Class of Boat:
Volvo Ocean 60 sailing yacht (64 feet/19.5 meter)
In separate incidences three sailors are swept overboard, never to be seen
again. The lucky majority—14 boats—cross the finish line, also in Ports-
Scoring:
mouth, some nine months after the starting shot was fired.
Equal number of points awarded for each of nine legs; team with most points
overall wins
1977-78: Stiffening Safety Measures
Formerly known as the Whitbread Round the World Race, the Volvo Ocean
In reaction to the previous race’s three fatalities, the race committee steps
Race sends superfast sloops circling the globe—the hard way.
up safety precautions, mandating a minimum boat length of 50 feet (15.2
Following the prevailing winds, the course is deliberately plotted through
meters). All 15 entries complete the race, and no one is lost at sea.
some of Earth’s most inhospitable environments. As a result, the eight boats
The third Whitbread is also devoid of casualties, unless you count the boats.
competing in the 2001-02 race can expect to face three-story swells, iceberg-
Of the 29 competing yachts, 21 arrive storm-damaged at the second race port,
strewn seas, and ship-swallowing squalls.
Cape Town, South Africa—one having been seized by an Angolan gunboat
Sailing around the clock, the 12-person crews suffer for speed. Fresh food,
and its crew detained for a week
mattresses, pillows, and even reading material are verboten—too heavy.
Everyone shares a single cabin, which wouldn’t be so bad if they had the time
and the means to bathe.

Course Title: Motion Graphics Project: The Volvo Ocean Race Student: Janet McPhatter Instructor: Prof. Russell Brown Term: May 2011