| Format | 5 crew members + 1 on board reporter |
|---|---|
| Distance | 38 000 milles (70 376 km) |
| Race track | Alicante, Cabo Verde, Cap Twon, Chenzhen, Auckland, Itajaì, Newport, Aarhus, The Hague, Genoa |
| Race director | Phil Lawrence |
| Organizer | The Ocean Race |
| IMOCA reference time | NC |
The Ocean Race is often described as the longest and most extreme sports event in the world. Formerly known as the Whitbread Round the World Race then the Volvo Ocean Race through until 2018, the famous crewed round the world event with stopovers has just been rechristened The Ocean Race. The first edition dates back to 1973-74. Back then, seventeen crews (six of which were French) took the start from Plymouth of a four-leg round the world race.
Twelve editions later, the race proved to be an emotional rollercoaster ride once again with the closest finish in its history. On 24 June 2018, the crew on the Chinese boat Dongfeng Race Team skippered by Frenchman Charles Caudrelier took the win in The Hague (Holland), just 16 minutes ahead of the Spaniards on MAPFRE after 45,000 miles and nine months of racing around the globe.
Raced on VO65 one-designs in 2014-15 then again in 2017-18, the next edition is scheduled to start in Alicante (Spain) in 2021-22 and heralds the arrival of the foiling IMOCAs helmed by five sailors accompanied by an on-board reporter. Meantime, the VO65s will begin their third circumnavigation of the globe with the emphasis being placed on youth teams and mixing of the sexes. Several skippers from the IMOCA class have already expressed an interest in The Ocean Race 2021-22, including German skipper Boris Herrmann (registered), Frenchmen Paul Meilhat and Thomas Ruyant and the Briton Alex Thomson.
Charlie ENRIGHT
Boris HERRMANN
Thomas RUYANT
Two race fleets will assemble in Alicante, the Spanish home of the Race, for the winter holiday period in 2022 before a mid-January 2023 start for leg one of the around the world race.
•••The next edition of The Ocean Race will feature the longest Southern Ocean leg in the 50 year history of the event, an incredible 12,750 nautical mile marathon between Cape Town, South Africa to Itajaí, Brazil.
•••During a press conference organised by the Yacht Club Italiano on Sunday evening, the Italian Minister of Tourism, Massimo Garavaglia, gave his full support for an Italian entry in the next edition of The Ocean Race, sch…
•••Dive below the surface of the colorful artwork splashed on the hull and sails of 11th Hour Racing Teams brand new IMOCA 60.
•••More than two years in the making and tens of thousands of hours spent on the design and build process, our Skipper Charlie Enright, naval architect Guillaume Verdier and MerConcept project manager Armand de Jacquelot re…
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