Fuel up your RIB

Volvo Ocean Race 'spectators' notice of race issued for Portsmouth action

Leg 8 Start, Portsmouth - Rotterdam, Friday 2nd June 2006, Start time 1730hrs

The yachts will leave the berths at Gunwharf Quays between 1530 and 1600hrs.

Race Area

The yachts will start off Southsea castle, and race westwards through a ‘gate’ formed by South Bramble and Prince Consort navigational marks off Cowes and out of the Solent past the Needles before circumnavigating Britain and Ireland and finishing in Rotterdam.

The start line will be between 2 Committee vessels flying orange flags. There will be 2 Exclusion zones in operation, one off Portsmouth and one off Cowes.

Exclusion Zone - Portsmouth

• The Exclusion Zone will be bounded by yellow and/or orange marks
• The Exclusion Zone will be In-force from 1630 at Portsmouth
• Please follow any directions that the Marshall boats give. They will be flying red ‘Marshal’ flags
• Only boats flying official Press, TV or Race Official flags are allowed inside the Exclusion Zones.
• Once started the yachts have the potential to sail at speeds in excess of 30 knots
• Spectator boats are advised to anchor outside the exclusion zone and listen to Express FM (see below) for the race commentary.
• Once clear of the Exclusion Zone, the yachts will be flanked by a number of Navy and Police launches.
• PLEASE KEEP YOUR DISTANCE FROM THE RACING YACHTS AT ALL TIMES

Exclusion Zone - Cowes

• The Exclusion Zone will be bounded by several large yachts flying high visibility banners from their forestays and Marshal boats flying red ‘Marshal’ flags
• The Exclusion Zone will be In-force from 1730 at Cowes
• Please follow any directions that the Marshall boats give. They will be flying red ‘Marshal’ flags
• Only boats flying official Press, TV or Race Official flags are allowed inside the Exclusion Zones.
• Once started the yachts have the potential to sail at speeds in excess of 30 knots
• Spectator boats are advised to anchor outside the exclusion zone and listen to Express FM (see below) for the race commentary.
• Once clear of the Exclusion Zone, the yachts will be flanked by a number of Navy and Police launches.
• PLEASE KEEP YOUR DISTANCE FROM THE RACING YACHTS AT ALL TIMES

Race Communications

VHF 72/69 Race Management Communication - please do not use these channels
VHF 16 Calling and Distress Channel - for emergency use.

Express FM (93.7) - Official Race Commentary - also streamed live on www.VolvoOceanRace.org

Spectating from the shore

Great spectator vantage points throughout the Solent at Southsea Castle, Stokes Bay, Cowes, Gurnard and Hurst Point.