14,000 miles ahead in opening leg of the Ocean Race
For the first time in its history, the opening leg of 2027 will start with a record distance of 14,000 miles: The Ocean Race will start in Alicante, Spain, and sail on to Auckland in one run.
Sea, wind, waves and perseverance will test the teams. Not only the Cape of Good Hope, but also Cape Leeuwin and Tasmania will be passed before the teams finish in the so-called “City of Sails”, Auckland.
The Ocean Race has been one of the most prestigious and well-known ocean races in the world since 1973. Known for its challenging stages, the organisers are now adding another new challenge. Teams will have to be well matched to go straight into this longest leg.
Finish in the Red Sea
In 2022/2023, the longest leg ever sailed was 14,840 miles from Cape Town to Itajaí. Itajaí is also on the schedule again. From Auckland, the journey will go around Cape Horn to this Brazilian city. The next cities are yet to be announced, but another leg to the US and one in Europe will be planned, before the race ends in Amaala in the Red Sea.
We have been “racing” as backseat sailors aboard the ocean racers via their OBR (On Board Reporter) since 2008. This person is part of the team, but not as a sailor; his or her job is reporter. The OBR brought reports from on board, including footage. Now this is even faster with a constant online connection, which allows live footage from on board to take us through their spectacular test of endurance.
Mixed teams
Mixed teams have been sailing aboard the ships for decades. The first all-female team made history in the 1989/1990 edition: the filmed story of Tracy Edwards and her Maiden. Since 2017/2018, there have been incentives to have more female team members on board; for example, 50/50 teams are allowed to have a larger number of team members. However, in 2027, for the first time, there will be a mandatory inclusion of one female team member on each team.
The Ocean Race began in 1973 as the Whitbread Round the World Race, then became the Volvo Ocean Race, and has been known as The Ocean Race since 2019. With different names and types of stages over the years, one thing remains clear: The Ocean Race is an ocean round-the-world race unlike any other.
Source: water sports TV.
Image: The Ocean Race.