Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger, Harder: New Volvo Ocean Race

Volvo Ocean Race called for Onboard Reports -the link from the Boats to the World. 

For those who could not have enough of the last Volvo Ocean Race and for those who missed out on it...it is back with full fury. Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger: Volvo Ocean Race 2017-2018. 

Reuters reported that tripled the miles in the Antarctic Ocean make this new edition the “hardest” ever to sail. The leading Offshore World's Sailing Competition -described by Olympic Medal Sailors as “even better than the Olympic adrenaline rush”  already has its first Team and its sign up entries are open for the taking. 

On July 5 Volvo announced that Team AkzoNobel announced its participation. Behind -and leading the Team AkzoNobel is non other than the Dutchman Simeon Tienpont -sailor who has been part of two winning America’s Cup teams, BMW Oracle Racing in the 33rd edition, and Oracle Team USA in the 34th edition

Just 5 days before the first sign up the most mystical ocean regatta went live on Facebook  breaking the silence since the last edition concluded in glory...Hours later International Press and Sports headlines read: Volvo Ocean Race Longest Route in History Announced. This year the race will be longer and harder digging deep into its roots and the Southern Ocean dangerous waters. 

The Regatta will mark the 13th Edition of what is today perhaps the most historical and prestigious Round-the-World Regatta. The start line will draw on October 2017 and the race is expected to end in Mid 2018. Despite the race course being longer than previous editions it is expected to last at least one month less. 

“The 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race looks to be the toughest yet. The route has been increased to around 45,000 miles but the race is scheduled to be a month shorter,” Press reported. 

ABC commented that Volvo puts its eye on on the “Fierce Southern Ocean”. 

"We're returning to our roots," the new CEO of the Race Mark Turner said. Turner is heading into an forecasted devastating strong winds, ice and huge waves that dwell the waters above Antarctica.

"We're going back to the Southern Ocean in a big way, and in particular on the monster leg from Cape Town up to Hong Kong,” the CEO announced. 

Over 5 thousand nautical miles, 4 oceans, 11 different Host Port Cities and up to 140 days at sea for Life at the Extreme once again. Alicante Spain -as it has been since 1973 when it all started will kickstart the Race. 

“The longest Route of History,” Volvo Ocean Race warned adding that this is the longest sport competition which exists today and one of the toughest of all. 

From Spain to Portugal to Cape Town South Africa going through the most inhospitable seas to Hong Kong China for the first time in history. From Hong Kong Teams will transition to Guangzhou China and return to retake Leg 4 Hong Kong Auckland New Zealand. 

From New Zealand the toughest part of the route remains. Teams will cross through the South Pacific and into Horn´s Gate to touch Atlantic Waters. Sailors have described this passage as the “Sheer Terror”. 

Teams will then escalate the South American Atlantic waters to Itajai Brazil setting heading from there to Newport US but passing through the equatorial calm waters which nerve rack any sailor. From US it is slingshot racing Trade Winds back to European waters. US Cardiff Gales for the first time will follow, bordering UK to Goteborg Sweden after that to reach the final leg Goteborg Hague Holland.  

Over 12.5 thousand miles will take place in the freezing Antarctic Ocean where the most extreme meteorological depressions which are generate on this planet rise and strive. Giant waves and winds of up to 70 knots are expected. 

“Security remains to be priority,”Phil Lawrence Director of the Regatta stated. “With the follow up tracking systems of the fleet, satellite communication and detailed information on the route we can be ahead of the weather and limit risks,” Lawrence added. 

But...“there will always be Danger,” Lawrence ended it. 

Teams and sailors that compete in the Regatta call it the “Everest of Sail” and are well aware of what is at stake and know that they will face the hardest conditions which Mother Nature has at stock and expect to survive to them with sheer Mastery of Ocean Sailing. 

Several Teams are expected to take part in this adventure but to the day only one is confirmed. Simeon Tienpont leading the Team Akzon Noble will set sails for the third time in the Volvo Ocean Race and this is first time he does so as the Skipper. But it is not only sailors which are under call for the toughest sailing experience of the World... 

“If your number was up, and you were looking back at your life, would you have regrets?,” Volvo Ocean Race campaigned its Open Call for Onboard Reporters.

Onboard Reporters are who made Volvo Ocean Race reach the dimensions it reached in the past editions. The content of the race both online and televised reached millions of people throughout the globe. Fans and viewers were immersed daily as they tracked their favorite Teams down the line across the oceans. From the calm waters to the hurricane passings the World shivered, applauded and reacted to the race live as it happened. Onboard Reporters made this possible. 

Over 2 thousand reporters filed petition to participate in the race in 2014-2015 and Volvo is sure that this edition will increase the call so competition will be high. Those selected will go into a process to become the most “Intrepid Reporters of the World”. 

“The job is not for the Cardiac nor the faint hearts,” Volvo warns. 

Every team will have one Onboard Reporter responsible for providing all kinds of content -video, photography and graphic live as it happens all this while while pushing through the waves, the water, the freezing temperatures and the salt crystallized by a heating sun. 

“For a professional reported I am sure that there is not greater challenge in the World, “ Amory Ross reporter of the last two editions assures. 

“It takes you beyond your physical, mental and creative limits in a way that can not be compared to almost anything,” Ross kicked it. 

The Director of Television of the Volvo Ocean Race Leon Sefton explained that it is not all about adventure and adrenaline requirements, “solid trajectory in the media”, “ability to tell the stories, “photographic eye” are also basic needs. 

“The complications of this work should not be underestimated, day in and day out, in conditions which could tear the boats to pieces and practically without sleep,” Sefton adds. 

The Reward: to deliver content from the Oceans of the World directly to the Volvo Ocean Race followers using the highest end technological communication devices. Remote cameras, microphones, professional digital edition mini-studios, and many other gadgets. Volvo Ocean Boats are geared up with the latest developments not only in sailing but in communication technology which shows the World how it is done. 

“If your number was up, and you were looking back at your life, would you have regrets? Or, could you say you fell off the map, landed at the bottom of the World, breathed in the seasons, walked to the beat of your own drum, were in for the thrill, played hard, worked hard, smashed the bucket list?” Volvo Ocean Race ends it.