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Wednesday, 5 June, 2002, 11:25 GMT 12:25 UK
The race goes on
The Volvo Ocean Race will get a second running
The Volvo Ocean Race has got the go-ahead to carry on sailing in 2005.
Following the success of the first Volvo Ocean Race, which is currently in its final stages, the organisers have decided the next race will set sail from Europe in the autumn of 2005. "We within the Volvo Group found it very easy to make the decision to support the continuation of this race," said Jorma Halonen, a spokesman for the race sponsors.
"The media returns have been overwhelming. We are looking forward to another successful event starting in 2005. "I can assure you that we feel a strong commitment to develop the race to even higher levels of success." The final leg of the current race gets underway from Gothenburg, Sweden bound for Kiel in Germany on 8 June. John Kostecki's Ilbruck leads Neal MacDonald's Assa Abloy by five points with a maximum eight points available for winning the short sprint stage. But the thoughts of the organisers are already turning to the next event.
It is expected that the route in 2005-2006 will include stopovers in South Africa, Australasia, South America, the USA and Europe. Details of the final course will be announced in the spring of 2003, but organisers are considering the possibility of including fleet racing while in port with points to count towards the final score. Discussions are underway for the design of a new monohull race boat with decisions expected later this year. One of the objectives of the next race is to bring down the entry-level cost of a competitive campaign. Huge success Reducing the length of the event and the number of stopovers will significantly contribute to this. Changes in the design, construction and sail plan of the race-boat is also an option being considered. Volvo took over from Whitbread as sponsors after the 1997/98 race and there have been doubts about the future of the event which began in 1973. But the first Volvo Ocean Race has been the most successful round-the-world race, according to organisers.
After six of the nine legs the race had attracted more than 650 million television viewers worldwide. Radio distribution through the BBC World Service and Voice of America has also boosted awareness of the race.
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