Ocean Race Yachts Take Off For 2008

Excitement in the yachting world is mounting as thewill finish off in St. Petersburg, Russia.
2008-2009 Volvo Ocean Race begins this fall in Spain,Despite the many changes, a central objective remains
with participants voyaging throughout the world andat the heart of this and other sailing competitions: a
testing their skill against the most challenging conditionsmatchless adventure and an exercise in sailing skill
in sailing.against the odds of nature. Several sailing teams are
Formerly known as the Whitbread Round the Worldpresently enrolled and more are expected to sign up.
Race, the Ocean Race is now sponsored by Volvo,Ericsson Racing Team, which has two yachts enlisted
which has organized the event since they took overas challengers in the Volvo Ocean Race, has
the 2001-2002 race. Upon Volvo's involvement, threetransported their boats and sailing crew to the Canary
additional stopovers were added to the race inIslands. The crew is training at the base of Puerto
Sweden, France and Germany. Not surprisingly, theseCalero, on the island of Lanzarote, wintering in the ideal
are Volvo's three biggest markets for car purchases insailing conditions offered by the port.
Europe. Additional changes in the point system wereNorthernmost of the seven main islands of the
made to ensure that the race maintained a level ofCanary's archipelago, Lanzarote maintains relatively
competitiveness throughout all legs.constant temperatures and sees low annual rainfall.
Traditionally the Volvo Ocean Race has departedFew days are lost to weather-related problems due to
from a location in Europe some time in September.this environment, which offers the premium
This year, however, the planned departure date isatmosphere for technical improvements and beneficial
October 11, 2008. The port of Alicante, Spain, beginstraining. In addition to these benefits, the winds are
the first offshore leg on that date.good and steady in the Canary Islands due to the
That is one of two major changes that have occurrednorth-east trade winds, which also bring cooler air in
for the upcoming race. The yachts had alwaysthe summers to Lanzarote, allowing year round tourism
departed from somewhere in the United Kingdom upat the Lanzarote hotels.
until the last race, which was the first to begin the raceAtmospheric benefits are not the only plusses of
from elsewhere in Europe. Secondly, a new yachtPuerto Calero for the sailing crews. Lanzarote's marina
design was introduced. The Volvo 70 is a lighter boatboasts the provision of most needed accommodations
design with more sail area.for sailing and the crews within a five- minute walk.
Until the 2008-2009 Volvo Ocean Race, the event hadLike Volvo's addition of certain ports within their sales
traditionally been scheduled every four years. Thisarena, Ericsson's presence in the race is similar, to
year's race will begin after a break of only three years.improve sales and reach customers around the world.
The route has changed many times and in variousEricsson is a communications company based in
ways since the beginning of the race over thirty yearsSweden, providing technology and support for a
ago. Beginning in Spain, the customary path headsvariety of telecommunication and data communication
south through the Atlantic, down around the southernsystems. New stops added along the route will allow
tip of Africa, around the Southern ocean and back tothese and all involved companies to expand their
England. Brand new additions will be a stopover in Indiacustomer bases in the Middle East and Asia.
at the major port of Kochi, and, also for the first time inFor more holiday and flight information about
Asia, at a port in Singapore where the second in-portLanzarote, including cheap Lanzarote holiday deals visit
event will be held. The race route will include one stopYourLanzarote.
in North America in Boston, Massachusetts. The race