#VOR - More than two years in the making, the 12th edition of the Volvo Ocean Race finally gets under way with the first leg from Alicante to Cape Town tomorrow Saturday 11 October.
Seven teams comprising 66 sailors and 18 nationalities will set sail in identical one-design Volvo Ocean 65 racing machines that will this weekend plough through the wave of the Atlantic, headed south some 6,500 miles to South Africa's Cape of Good Hope.
Among them is Team SCA, the first all-women entry in the gruelling round-the-world yacht race since 2002, and late entrant Team Vestas Wind, who had just six weeks to prepare for the race start.
That team also has an Irishman on board in the shape of noted photographer and filmmaker Brian Carlin, who will serve as the boat's on-board reporter for the nine months at sea.
Another Irish participant is Justin Slattery, a four-time VOR veteran and a previous race winner in 2006 with ABN AMRO ONE, who rejoins Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing for another crack at offshore sailing's crowning achievement.
Other teams in the running include China's Dongfeng Race Team; Dutch entry Team Brunel; US hopefuls and the youngest of the bunch, Team Alvimedica; and Spanish contingent MAPFRE.
