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Volvo Ocean Race

HM King Juan Carlos I fired the starting gun in Vigo

Start of the round the world yacht and for 6,400 nautical miles race

samedi 12 novembre 2005 – Information Volvo Ocean Race

Up to 1 million people watched
the start of the Volvo Ocean Race. With 70,000 people lining the dockside
alone and 2,000 spectator boats out on the course area, the race got a magnificent
send-off from the Spanish port of Vigo.
There was a bustle of excitement on the dock this morning in the Spanish
port of Vigo as the crews hurried around making final preparations and
saying goodbye to friends and family, before they headed off on the first
6,400 nautical miles of the race.


The final farewell was delivered in person by His Majesty King Juan Carlos
I of Spain, who greeted the crews on the dockside above the new breed of
Volvo Open 70’s that were about to become their homes for the next 20
days.

On the Vigo dockside there was still one boat missing ; the boat that was
formerly known as ‘Premier Challenge’ and now as ‘Brunel Sunergy’ was
still on her way to Vigo after clearing final measurement just yesterday.
As the six teams made their way off the dock, Grant Wharington and his
crew, which also saw final changes this morning, had just arrived at the
start.

At 14 00 HM King Juan Carlos I fired the starting gun onboard the Swedish
ship Göthenborg and finally the months of waiting were over. Ericsson and
Pirates of the Caribbean shot off the start line under spinnaker and led
the charge to the first mark. With the breeze light and shifty there was
some clear differences in boat speed, and like the in-port race last
weekend which took place in similar conditions, Ericsson proved speedy and
was first to round, followed by Paul Cayard’s Pirates of the Caribbean and
home favourites movistar skippered by Bouwe Bekking.

The course then took the teams back through the start line which provided
a fantastic spectator opportunity, especially as the breeze picked up
under a rain cloud to 17 knots. Again it was Neal McDonald and his team
onboard Ericsson who were first through the gate followed by movistar, who
had overtaken Pirates of the Caribbean on the close hauled reach through
the start line. Third to go through was Pirates, followed by ABN AMRO ONE,
Brasil 1, ABN AMRO TWO and finally Brunel Sunergy.

As the teams head out of the Ria de Vigo followed by a small army of
hospitality boats, media boats and spectators, the order has not changed
and Ericsson leads the charge to Cape Town followed by movistar, who has
made up some ground on the leader, and then Pirates of the Caribbean.

The first 24 hours of the race is due to be a physical one as the forecast
is likely to build and for the crew’s first night they could have 30 knots
of wind. Already the wind has increased and there are 2-3 metre high waves
which the boats are crashing through. There is much talk of 24 hour
records being broken on the first Leg and only time will tell if this
prediction is true.

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