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Volvo Ocean Race Ahoy!

In an historic first for the UAE, The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) unveiled, in July in Portofino (Northern Italy), its contender for the four-yearly Volvo Ocean Race, the Volvo Open 70. This new, ultra-modern yacht will certainly go the extra mile to lead the team to victory in the upcoming race.

World-class technology and training


So, why all the interest in the Abu DhabiOcean Racing team’s Volvo Open 70? Simply because, this yacht, designed by the American Farr Yacht Design company and built in Bergamo in Italy by Persico S.p.A, is one of the most sophisticated yachts ever built. Designed in March 2010, it is the combination of more than 7000 design and 49 000 build hours! Add to this huge investment the superb training of the racing team and it is hardly surprising that ADTA’s President, His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, has described the team’s aim as being ‘to deliver a first-class performance in our debut Volvo Ocean Race and in our podium ambitions.’


The Volvo Ocean Race under the Spotlight


It is thus this success-hungry yacht that will carry the 11 members of the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team through the 9 months and 39 000 miles of the ‘Everest of Sailing,’ beginning in Alicante, Spain, in October and extending across six continents and four oceans, before arriving in Galway, Ireland in the summer of 2012. The course is unforgiving and frenetic and takes its participants to the four corners of the world. Until next summer…

Septembre 2011