October 22th, thousands of people flock to the elevated Paseo Volado to see the start. Security is tight.
and here they go!!!
th Spanish Air Force performs a colorful fly-over
before the official start, Dongfeng Race Team tests the waters
a reminder that the race will finish in the Hague, the Netherlands
but on October 21 the race village is open and many people take a stroll along the line-up of the 7 boats
and then they are of to Lisbon with Dongfeng leading the pack
rounding the starting buoy again, this is close sailing indeed
after rounding the far end buoy the boats race back with the A3 gennaker fully deployed
the buoys are put in the right position
the start of the Volvo Ocean Race in Alicante, October 2017
The Volvo Ocean Race is organized by Volvo Ocean Race S.L.U, headquartered in sunny Alicante, Spain.
Alicante's Port
Area is the location for the modern
Volvo Ocean Race Museum with general information about the race.
Several interactive
displays and games give you a hands-on feel for what it is to race and live on one of those Volvo-65 race monsters.
In the
back of the museum you also find Race Headquarters that during a race communicates with the boats. From here the popular
Daily Life video casts are streamed.
For the last four races Alicante was the proud port of departure and
the edition of 2023 will start from here on Jan 15th.
The first leg of the 2017-18 race started in Alicante Port on
October 22 2017 and we were lucky to be in town to witness this spectacular event.
For a video of the start click
here.
a real size Volvo-65 dominates the Plaza Puerta del Mar
the museum on a calm day
others find a place on rocky outcrops
the United Nations, sponsors of the boat Turn the Tide on Plastic, have even re-painted a complete plane.
time to go home
one minute to the start, the boats are jockeying for the perfect starting position
