The Volvo Ocean Race Legends Regatta and Reunion, which takes place from November 1 – 5 in Alicante, Spain, will see the largest ever gathering of yachts and competitors from the first 10 editions of the round the world race.
The Volvo Ocean Race Legends Regatta and Reunion, which takes place from November 1 – 5 in Alicante, Spain, will see the largest ever gathering of yachts and competitors from the first 10 editions of the round the world race.Having sailed from ports around Europe to take part, the 15-boat fleet now assembled in Alicante includes competitors from the very first Whitbread Round the World Race in 1973-74 through to the 2008-09 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race.CompetitorsFrom the inaugural Whitbread Race in 1973-74 will be the 55’ Tauranga from Italy, the British Royal Navy’s Adventure, which also competed in the 1997-98 race, and the 77′ maxi Great Britain II, the only yacht ever to take part in five consecutive Whitbread Round the World Races.From the 1997-98 race will be the British 65’ sloop King’s Legend, along with the 57’ Berge Viking from Norway and the 65’ French yacht Gauloises III from the 1981-82 edition.Also from France will be L’Espirit d’Equipe, the winning yacht from the 1985-86 race.Racing against each other for the first time since the 1989-90 race will be the maxi yachts Rothmans, Charles Jourdan, Steinlager 2 and Fisher & Paykel.Two Whitbread 60s will be competing: Heineken, the first of the class to be built which raced in the 1993-94 race with an all girl crew; as well as Assa Abloy from the 2001-02 race.Representing the modern day Volvo Open 70 class will be Telefónica Black and Green Dragon, both Volvo Ocean Race competitors in 2008-09.RacingTwo days of Legends racing will take place around inshore courses to maximise the viewing opportunities for spectators on the shore.The fleet will race around a single course, but given the range of size and performance of the yachts, in an effort to ensure the races culminate in an exciting finish, a pursuit race format will be used, where the older, slower yachts are given a head start over the faster more modern ones.Legends ReunionIn addition to the skippers and crews sailing in the Legends Regatta, event organisers are also preparing to welcome a 400 plus contingent of competitors from past races to the Reunion, led by Legends Ambassadors Lady Pippa Blake, Tracy Edwards MBE, Sir Chay Blyth CBE, BEM, Magnus Olsson, Skip Novak, Pierre Fehlmann and Alain Gabbay.TrophiesThe overall winner of the Volvo Ocean Race Legends Regatta will be presented with the Sir Peter Blake Trophy, a renamed antique trophy made in 1926 by Atkins Brothers of Sheffield, England.The 33.5 cm hallmarked silver trophy will be presented by Lady Pippa Blake as a tribute to her late husband, Sir Peter Blake, who competed in the first five Whitbread Round the World Races and won all five legs of the 1989-90 edition aboard Steinlager 2.In addition, on both race days special trophies and awards will be presented, including a memorial naval ceremonial sword trophy in honour of the long and valuable involvement with the race of past Whitbread Race CEO and Race Director, the late Ian Bailey-Wilmot.Event ProgrammeThe Volvo Ocean Race Legends Regatta features a full programme of events, beginning with a Welcome Cocktail Party at the Volvo Pavilion in the race village on the evening of Tuesday November 1.On the morning of Wednesday November 2 the fleet will take part in a parade of sail before racing gets underway in the afternoon. That evening there will be a Cocktail Party hosted by the Real Club de Regatas de Alicante.On Thursday 3 November the fleet will take part in another parade of sail before more racing in the afternoon. The Prizegiving Dinner will take place that evening at the Real Club de Regatas de Alicante.Friday November 4 has been designated a lay day and a selection of the Legends yachts will be open for viewing by the public in the race village.Friday morning will also see the launch of the book ‘Sailing Legends’, a history of the Whitbread and Volvo Ocean Races written by sailing journalists Bob Fisher and Barry Pickthall. The authors will take part in a book signing reception at the Volvo Ocean Race Club in the race village.On Saturday November 5, the Legends fleet will take part in a final parade of sail before joining the spectator fleet to watch the six-boat Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 fleet set off on Leg 1 to Cape Town, South AfThe Volvo Ocean Race Legends Regatta and Reunion, which takes place from November 1 – 5 in Alicante, Spain, will see the largest ever gathering of yachts and competitors from the first 10 editions of the round the world race.Having sailed from ports around Europe to take part, the 15-boat fleet now assembled in Alicante includes competitors from the very first Whitbread Round the World Race in 1973-74 through to the 2008-09 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race.
Competitors
From the inaugural Whitbread Race in 1973-74 will be the 55’ Tauranga from Italy, the British Royal Navy’s Adventure, represented by her sister ship Dasher, which also competed in the 1997-98 race, and the 77′ maxi Great Britain II, the only yacht ever to take part in five consecutive Whitbread Round the World Races.
From the 1997-98 race will be the British 65’ sloop King’s Legend, along with the 57’ Berge Viking from Norway and the 65’ French yacht Gauloises III from the 1981-82 edition.
Also from France will be L’Espirit d’Equipe, the winning yacht from the 1985-86 race.
Racing against each other for the first time since the 1989-90 race will be the maxi yachts Rothmans, Charles Jourdan, Steinlager 2 and Fisher & Paykel.
Two Whitbread 60s will be competing: Heineken, the first of the class to be built which raced in the 1993-94 race with an all girl crew; as well as Assa Abloy from the 2001-02 race.
Representing the modern day Volvo Open 70 class will be Telefónica Black and Green Dragon, both Volvo Ocean Race competitors in 2008-09.
Racing
Two days of Legends racing will take place around inshore courses to maximise the viewing opportunities for spectators on the shore.
The fleet will race around a single course, but given the range of size and performance of the yachts, in an effort to ensure the races culminate in an exciting finish, a pursuit race format will be used, where the older, slower yachts are given a head start over the faster more modern ones.
Legends Reunion
In addition to the skippers and crews sailing in the Legends Regatta, event organisers are also preparing to welcome a 400 plus contingent of competitors from past races to the Reunion, led by Legends Ambassadors Lady Pippa Blake, Tracy Edwards MBE, Sir Chay Blyth CBE, BEM, Magnus Olsson, Skip Novak, Pierre Fehlmann and Alain Gabbay.
Trophies
The overall winner of the Volvo Ocean Race Legends Regatta will be presented with the Sir Peter Blake Trophy, a renamed antique trophy made in 1926 by Atkins Brothers of Sheffield, England.
The 33.5 cm hallmarked silver trophy will be presented by Lady Pippa Blake as a tribute to her late husband, Sir Peter Blake, who competed in the first five Whitbread Round the World Races and won all five legs of the 1989-90 edition aboard Steinlager 2.
In addition, on both race days special trophies and awards will be presented, including a memorial naval ceremonial sword trophy in honour of the long and valuable involvement with the race of past Whitbread Race CEO and Race Director, the late Ian Bailey-Wilmot.
Event Programme
The Volvo Ocean Race Legends Regatta features a full programme of events, beginning with a Welcome Cocktail Party at the Volvo Pavilion in the race village on the evening of Tuesday November 1.
On the morning of Wednesday November 2 the fleet will take part in a parade of sail before racing gets underway in the afternoon. That evening there will be a Cocktail Party in the Legends Café/Bar in the Alicante Race Village.
On Thursday 3 November the fleet will take part in another parade of sail before more racing in the afternoon. The Prizegiving Dinner will take place that evening at the Real Club de Regatas de Alicante.
Friday November 4 has been designated a lay day and a selection of the Legends yachts will be open for viewing by the public in the race village.
Friday morning will also see the launch of the book ‘Sailing Legends’, a history of the Whitbread and Volvo Ocean Races written by sailing journalists Bob Fisher and Barry Pickthall. The authors will take part in a book signing at the Volvo Ocean Race Club in the Alicante Race Village.
On Saturday November 5, the Legends fleet will take part in a final parade of sail before joining the spectator fleet to watch the six-boat Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 fleet set off on Leg 1 to Cape Town, South Africa.
Legends Regatta and Reunion Ambassadors
– Lady Pippa Blake (Great Britain)
– Tracy Edwards MBE (Great Britain)
– Sir Chay Blyth CBE, BEM (Great Britain)
– Magnus Olsson (Sweden)
– Skip Novak (USA)
– Pierre Fehlmann (Switzerland)
– Alain Gabbay (France)
Legends Regatta and Reunion Entry List
1. Tauranga (1973-74)
2. Adventure (1973-74 1977-78)?
3. Great Britain II (first five races)?
4. King’s Legend (1977-78)?
5. Berge Viking (1981-82)?
6. Gauloises III (1981-82)?
7. L’Esprit d’Equipe (1985-86)?
8. Rothmans (1989-90)?
9. Charles Jourdan (1989-90)?
10. Steinlager 2 (1989-90)?
11. Fisher & Paykel (1989-90)?
12. Heineken (1993-94)?
13. Assa Abloy (2001-02)?
14. Telefónica Black (2008-09)?
15. Green Dragon (2008-09)