Volvo Ocean Race In Waitemata Harbour

Aucklanders will have a great close-up view of the world's fastest monohulls in action as the Volvo Open 70s race in Waitemata Harbour during the Auckland Stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race.

Organisers announced the courses today for the Pro-Am Races on Friday 16 March, the In-Port Race on Saturday 17 March and the Departure and Start of Leg 5 on Sunday 18 March.

The Pro-Am course is a loop close to the shore with the yachts turning just before the Harbour Bridge. The In-Port Race, for all-important Race points, is longer - taking the fleet out past North Head and racing under the Harbour Bridge.

When the fleet departs on Sunday 18 March, the action begins with a loop course in the Waitemata Harbour before the fleet races up the coast to start the long haul of Leg 5 to the next Stopover in Itajai, Brazil.

Maps are available here

"We learned from the 08/09 Volvo Ocean Race that we needed to bring as much racing close to the shore-based public as we possibly can," says Volvo Ocean Race Director Jack Lloyd. "We knew that Auckland Harbour would deliver on this criteria."

Lloyd is looking forward to the Race returning to Auckland after ten years away. "If you have been here, you want to come back, and if you haven't, then you have always wanted to," he said.

"The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron has designed a fantastic series of courses for the event," said Jennah Wootten, Manager Major Events, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development. "There are great viewing points for the public not just in the Viaduct and Princes Wharf but also on North Head, Orakei and Birkenhead."


MEDIA ACCREDITATION FOR THE AUCKLAND STOPOVER

The media accreditation system for the Auckland Stopover is now open. Media accreditation for all Stopover Ports is handled centrally by Volvo Ocean Race HQ. Please click here to access the media accreditation system.

 

NOTES FOR EDITORS

The 2011/12 Volvo Ocean Race started in Alicante (Spain) on 29 October and features nine Legs with Stopovers in Cape Town (South Africa), Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), Sanya (China), Auckland (New Zealand), Itajai (Brazil), Miami (USA), Lisbon (Portugal) and Lorient (France) with the finish in Galway (Ireland) in July 2012.

The Auckland Stopover runs from 8 – 18 March 2012

• 8 March tbc: boats scheduled to arrive for finish of Leg 4 from Sanya (China)
• 16 March: Pro-Am Race
• 17 March: In-Port Race
• 18 March: Start of Leg 5 to Itajai (Brazil)

 

The last Auckland Stopover was a decade ago, during the 2001/2002 Race. There was a brief 48 hour pitstop in Wellington in 2005/6.

The 2012 Stopover will be the eighth time the Race has come to Auckland. This is the eleventh edition of the Race which was first held back in 1973/74.

Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) owns the rights to stage the Volvo Ocean Race Auckland Stopover (VORAS), and is the primary funder of the event.

Government support for the event has been confirmed, including a grant from the Major Events Development Fund.

ATEED has appointed Auckland major events company Mayo& to deliver the Stopover on its behalf.

For more information on the Volvo Ocean Race Auckland Stopover, please visit www.volvooceanraceauckland.com