Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009
A new route through Asia and a host of new stopover ports meant that preparation was the key to success for this third edition of the Volvo Ocean Race.
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Volvo Ocean Race 2005-2006
The Volvo Open 70 – took ocean racing yacht performance to new levels of speed and technology. An incident-filled race was a tour de force by ABN AMRO ONE
Volvo Ocean Race 2001-2002
The Whitbread became the Volvo Ocean Race and the 32,700-mile event started from the South Coast of England and finished in Kiel, Germany. Illbruck Challenge took the spoils
Whitbread Round the World Race 1997-1998
For the first time, the fleet comprised one class as 10 Whitbread 60’s set off from Southampton racing for points. Victory went to American Paul Cayard (EF Language)
Intrum Justitia broke the world monohull 24 hour record covering 428.7nm, Ross Field's Yamaha won the Whitbread class while Grant Dalton’s New Zealand Endeavour beat the maxis
The fifth Whitbread is remembered for the feats of Sir Peter Blake. All 6 legs were won by Blake on Steinlager 2 in a corrected time of 128 days in a fleet of 23.
Fifteen entries, most sponsored rather than privately funded, with the exception of Duran Duran front man Simon Le Bon’s Drum. 80’ maxi UBS Switzerland was fastest round the track
Flyer took line honours and the handicap prize, from a field of 29, with a corrected time of 119 days, 1 hour and 12 minutes, slashing 14 days off the record.
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Among the 15 entries was the first Whitbread boat to be skippered by a woman – Britain’s Clare Francis on ADC Accutrac. Handicap honours went to Holland’s 65’ ketch Flyer
Portsmouth, September 8 1973, 17 boats from 7 countries contested the first ever Whitbread. Line honours went to Great Britain II but the overall race winner was Sayula II skippered by Mexican millionaire Ramon Carlin.