Groots eerbetoon aan zeilrace om de wereld

The great and the good from the 37-year history of the Volvo and its predecessor Whitbread races are already putting the first week of November 2011 in their diaries, following the announcement of the Volvo Ocean Race Legends Regatta and Reunion to be held in Alicante 1 – 5 November 2011.
Barry Pickthall / PPL Professional skippers and owners of the boats which made the planet their race track are drawing up plans to sail once again to a round the world race village. The destination will be Alicante and the gathering will be the first ever official reunion of all who have ever sailed in the world's premier ocean race.

A rich programme of activities includes a full racing schedule, a regatta prizegiving and a host of social events in the week running up to the start of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. The event will be held in the week between the weekend of the Alicante In-Port Race and Pro-Am Race on 29-30 October 2011, and the start of leg one on Saturday 5 November.

The event promises to be a combination of sailing greats, a concours d'elegance, an opportunity to renew old rivalries, and a party not to be missed. The aim is to have at least one representative boat from every edition of the race since 1973 and to attract as many people as possible who have ever crewed in or been part of any of the races. This is a round the world club gathering to be enjoyed by the racers, and to give recognition to all that they achieved.

Provisional Programme of Events

Tuesday 1 November
All boats to arrive at Puerto de Alicante for registration
Skippers' briefing followed by Welcome Cocktail Party at the Volvo Ocean Race
Pavilion
Wednesday 2 November:
Skippers and navigators' briefing
Race Day 1
Post-race interviews and skippers' forum at Volvo Ocean Race Museum
Dock party and barbeque
Thursday 3 November:
Skippers and navigators' briefing
Race Day 2
Post-race interviews and skippers' forum at Volvo Ocean Race Museum
Formal dinner and presentations in Alicante
Friday 4 November:
Lay Day - selected boats open to the public
Legends' forum at Volvo Ocean Race Museum
Legends Prizegiving on the main stage at Puerto de Alicante
Eve of Volvo Ocean Race Rock Concert and Fireworks
Saturday 5 November:
Dock departures/ Parade of Sail of the Legends fleet followed by Volvo Open 70 fleet
Start of the Volvo Ocean Race, Bay of Alicante
Return to Puerto de Alicante, end of the Legends event

Ambassadors
Lady Pippa Blake
Sir Chay Blyth


List of entries
Great Britain II
Copernicus
Berge Viking
Rothmans
Charles Jourdan