Volvo Ocean Race

The course has changed substantially since the last edition of the Whitbread race, with just one stop in Australia (plus a pitstop in Hobart) and two ports in the USA. Significantly the race does not come back to Britain after the start, instead continuing after La Rochelle to Volvo’s home city of Goteborg before finishing in Kiel.

Virtual Spectator will once again be providing a full 3D view of the race as it unfolds. For those of you still unfamiliar with the software, the ability to view and review the race in full 3D graphical form provides a fascinating insight into the way each leg is won and lost.

The points system has been simplified to the most basic level, with the winner of each leg gaining eight points and the eighth boat home scoring just one. The boat with the most points at the end wins. By removing the premium on the long ocean legs, there is now a strong emphasis on the shorter legs. Both the design of the boats and the selection of the crews reflect this.

Check back later in the week for a detailed look at the boats and crews....