Port Elizabeth is fast realising the economic impact of major sporting events - events like the Ironman contribute to our local economy by ticking THREE of the right boxes: Money comes IN to our local economy, Nett jobs are CREATED, We gain major positive international exposure and media attention. Our local government has 'hijacked' the intention of many years to become the 'Watersport Capital' by now billing us as the 'Sporting Capital' - probably, one is wont to say, as a result of … [Read more...] about Dear TNPA, You Decide – R1.4 Billion VOR Contribution to the Economy or Manganese Ore?
vor2017
19 Changes as teams prepare to leave Melbourne
The leaders of the Volvo Ocean Race, MAPFRE, will make no changes to the crew that won Leg 3, as they prepare to race from Melbourne to Hong Kong when Leg 4 starts on Tuesday January 2. It’s a much different story elsewhere in the fleet where significant swaps are taking place. Some are scheduled rotations, while others have been forced by injury or for other reasons. In total, 19 sailors are rotating on board for Leg 4, with 18 coming off (SHK/Scallywag is racing with one additional crew … [Read more...] about 19 Changes as teams prepare to leave Melbourne
The Race to Spend Christmas on Solid Land
With four boats finished and crews celebrating Christmas on dry land, three boats in the Volvo Ocean Race will remain at sea for Christmas, with SHK/Scallywag battling to the end with Turn the Tide on Plastic for fifth place. Their ETA is currently around 0400 UTC on December 26. Team AkzoNobel, with over 550 nautical miles to go at this point, isn’t expected to finish in Melbourne before 0800 UTC on December 27. A third place finish into Melbourne on Leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race has … [Read more...] about The Race to Spend Christmas on Solid Land
Christmas Double for MAPFRE
The Spanish Volvo Ocean Race team MAPFRE has won Leg 3 from Cape Town, South Africa to Melbourne, Australia, a 6,500 nautical mile dive into the fierce challenges posed by the Southern Ocean. For the second consecutive leg, MAPFRE needed to come from behind to earn the victory. And for the second time in a row, it was Dongfeng Race Team they passed mid-stage, to snatch the win. “We had to fight very hard for this victory,” skipper Xabi Fernández said moments after crossing the finish line. … [Read more...] about Christmas Double for MAPFRE
Wet, Cold, Brutal
Spanish crew MAPFRE broke the Leg 3 deadlock on Wednesday after 10 days at sea, snatching the lead from Dongfeng Race Team with just 1,500 nautical miles left to Melbourne. Xabi Fernández's team overhauled long-time leg leaders Dongfeng shortly before 2200 UTC on Tuesday after navigator Juan Vila made the call to hug the Antarctic Ice Exclusion Zone (AIEZ). Charles Caudrelier's Dongfeng briefly regained the top spot when their choice of line around 35 miles to the north of the AIEZ put … [Read more...] about Wet, Cold, Brutal
Hating Red
A little over 2,000 miles now stand between the Volvo Ocean Race pace setters and the Leg 3 finish line in Melbourne – and with just eight miles splitting the first two teams on Tuesday it couldn't be tighter at the top. At 1300 UTC Dongfeng Race Team still maintained the lead they have enjoyed for the majority of the leg so far, but their ever-present adversaries MAPFRE, in close second, continued to make life difficult for them. In fact at one point overnight Xabi Fernández's MAPFRE … [Read more...] about Hating Red
Zig Zag through the Icebergs
The leading crews in the Volvo Ocean Race are currently in the middle of the most physically demanding hours of the race to date. Dongfeng Race Team and MAPFRE are gybing back and forth as they zig-zag in an east-southeasterly direction, trying to stay as close as possible to the southern boundary of the race course, imposed by the Antarctica Ice Exclusion Zone (AIEZ) – a virtual line implemented to keep the crews away from dangerous icebergs. "During the next 30 hours we are going to gybe … [Read more...] about Zig Zag through the Icebergs
111 Kilometre per hour winds chasing fleet
While the Leg 3 finish line in Melbourne lies some 5,000 nautical miles in front of the teams, it's what is behind them that is currently consuming them. A huge depression is forming west of the fleet with winds of up to 60 knots (111.12 km/h) at its centre – and it is moving so fast that the seven Volvo Ocean 65s will not be able to outrun it. Rather the teams will have to make tough decisions about where to position themselves in relation to the storm, which is set to strike on … [Read more...] about 111 Kilometre per hour winds chasing fleet
The first Volvo Ocean Race Academy Apprentice
The Bermuda Tourism Authority and XL Catlin have teamed up with the Volvo Ocean Race and Turn the Tide on Plastic to grant an apprenticeship opportunity to Mustafa Ingham, an aspiring professional sailor from Bermuda. In joining Turn the Tide on Plastic, one of the seven teams in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18, as a Volvo Ocean Race Academy Apprentice, Ingham has the opportunity to pursue professional sailing with the most elite offshore sailors in the world. The goal is for Ingham to gain … [Read more...] about The first Volvo Ocean Race Academy Apprentice
Sun Hun Kai / Scallywag leads fleet on charge to Southern Ocean
A spectacular start to the 6,500 nautical mile leg from Cape Town in South Africa to Melbourne, Australia, on Sunday saw the city's famed 'Cape Doctor' breeze send the fleet on its way yesterday with 20 to 25 knots and huge seas. As evening approached, some boats saw gusts near 40 knots. After two weeks ashore in Cape Town recovering from the rigours of Leg 2, the first 24 hours of Leg 3 has proved a stark reminder to the crews of what life at the extreme is like. Over the coming two weeks … [Read more...] about Sun Hun Kai / Scallywag leads fleet on charge to Southern Ocean
Dongfeng, Brunel, Vestas 11th Hour Racing and AkzoNobel bid Mountain farewell
Dongfeng, Brunel, Vestas 11th Hour Racing and AkzoNobel leaving Cape Town dock for the start of Leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race to Melbourne. Destination: Southern Ocean. @dongfengraceteam, @vestas11thhourracing, @brunelsailing, @teamakzonobel Report: http://mype.co.za/new/destination-southern-ocean-for-vor-fleet-racing-to-melbourne/97294/2017/12 #volvoocean race, #capetown, #melbourne, #mype, #sailing - Taken by the Editor whilst wandering aimlessly about pretending to be in the know. … [Read more...] about Dongfeng, Brunel, Vestas 11th Hour Racing and AkzoNobel bid Mountain farewell
Destination: Southern Ocean for VOR Fleet racing to Melbourne
Big winds to almost no winds for the Volvo Ocean Race Leg 3 start from Cape Town to Melbourne. Charles Caudrelier’s Dongfeng Race Team and the Spanish MAPFRE squad were neck and neck leading the Volvo Ocean Race fleet out of Cape Town and towards the southernmost point of the African continent on Sunday. It was the eleventh time in the history of the event that the fleet had raced out of Cape Town, this time on a 6,500 nautical mile leg to Melbourne, Australia. The ETA is currently between … [Read more...] about Destination: Southern Ocean for VOR Fleet racing to Melbourne
How a ‘Rookie’ feels helming a VOR65
On Wednesday 6 December 2017 I was privileged enough to sail on the Volvo Ocean Race entrant, Sun Hung Kai Scallywag in the shake down practice race after esential maintenance. At the helm was Australian Skipper, David 'Witty' Witt - a veteran of more than 20 Sydney Hobart races and skipper of the 100 foot Superyacht, Scallywag. Witt was introduced to the Volvo over 20 years ago and this larger than life Aussie bloke has an obsession around team work and a disdain for the rock stars. In … [Read more...] about How a ‘Rookie’ feels helming a VOR65
Volvo Ocean Race Skippers Briefing – Cape Town
At the Volvo Ocean Race Skippers Briefing in Cape Town on 8 December 2017 ahead of the start of Leg 3 from Cape Town to Melbourne. Xabi Fernandez (MAPFRE), Charles Caudrelier (Dongfeng), Charlie Enright (Team Vetsas 11th Hour Racing), Bouwe Bekking (Team Brunel), Simeon Tienpont (AkzoNobel), David Witt (Sun Hung Kaii / Scallywag) and Dee Caffari (Turn the Tide on Plastic) are joined by Martine Grael (Olympic Champion and daughter of Torben Grael who won the Volvo in 2008-09 as skipper of … [Read more...] about Volvo Ocean Race Skippers Briefing – Cape Town
Volvo skippers face questions from media
Volvo skippers face questions from media at #volvooceanrace press conference in #capetown before Leg 3 to #melbourne - Taken by the Editor whilst wandering aimlessly about pretending to be in the know. Charles Caudrelier (Dongfeng), Charlie Enright (Team Vetsas 11th Hour Racing), Bouwe Bekking (Team Brunel), Simeon Tienpont (AkzoNobel), David Witt (Sun Hung Kaii / Scallywag), Dee Caffari (Turn the Tide on Plastic). … [Read more...] about Volvo skippers face questions from media
