New Game, New Chance: Ocean Race Starts In 2022

New Game, New Chance: Ocean Race Starts In 2022
New Game, New Chance: Ocean Race Starts In 2022

Video: New Game, New Chance: Ocean Race Starts In 2022

Video: New Game, New Chance: Ocean Race Starts In 2022
Video: Leg 2 Start in Cascais - The Ocean Race Europe 2021 2024, March
Anonim

The start of the 14th edition of the most important team race around the world has been postponed by a year and will not take place in autumn 2021, but only in 2022. The rumors about it had been around for a long time. The registered teams were informed in advance. Management made the decision public this afternoon. At the same time, a new ten-year plan was announced, which better sheds light on the course for the future. In addition, a European race is planned for the originally planned starting year of 2021.

The Ocean Race
The Ocean Race

An impression from the last Ocean Race that Charles Caudrelier and his Dongfeng Race Team were able to win

What is certain is that the upcoming edition will begin in Alicante, Spain, in October 2022 and end in summer 2023 in Italian, where the 50th anniversary of the marine marathon, which started as the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1973/1974, was met with a lot of azuri - Passion is to be celebrated. For the first time in the history of racing, the organizers have already set key dates for subsequent editions. In addition, a feasibility study for the planned European race in summer 2021 was commissioned.

Race Chairman Richard Brisius and Managing Director Johan Salén in conversation

The makers have cited the consequences of the Covid 19 pandemic as the reason for the postponement of The Ocean Race. Richard Brisius, Race Chairman for The Ocean Race, said: "The Ocean Race has been one of the greatest challenges in our sport since 1973. The winning teams have shown that preparation is the foundation of success. We are now in an unprecedented one Time, and our priority is everyone who was and still is affected by the pandemic. As an international sporting event with stops on six continents, we feel deeply connected to the changing reality of our sailors, teams, cities and partners around the world. We have worked closely over the past few months to create a stable and better future, resulting in the first ten year plan in the history of The Ocean Race. The ten year plan is innovative, sustainable and responsible adapted to the new reality."

Vendée-Arctiques-Les Sables d'Olonne
Vendée-Arctiques-Les Sables d'Olonne

Boris Herrmann, Team Malizia

The Austrian Race Project
The Austrian Race Project

Julian Kircher, Team Principal of the Austrian Ocean Race Project

For the teams and the host ports, the postponement means mostly a positive gain in time. Boris Herrmann, who has just finished the Vendée Arctique solo race, has already returned to his home port of Hamburg after a lightning return home and is planning Maliziintensiv with his team for the upcoming edition of The Ocean Race, calmly accepted the postponement he was already familiar with: "We welcome the announcement by the Ocean Race organizers and are adapting. The main advantage is that there is more time for many teams - more time to form up and more time to find sponsors. We currently feel well prepared, have known since the Vendée Arctique, which has just ended, that our boat (Ed.: the Imoc "Seaexplorer - Yacht Club de Monaco, which is also to be used in The Ocean Race) can keep up. The new plans for The Ocean Race are also very easy to convey to our partners, they make a lot of sense."

Volvo Ocean Race 2017/2018
Volvo Ocean Race 2017/2018

The fans will have to wait until 2023 for a final picture like this, when the final spurt runs to Genau …

The upcoming The Ocean Race will be held in two categories: on the already well-known VO65 yachts such as the Austrian "Sisi" and on Imoca yachts such as Herrmanns Boot. Julian Kircher, Team Principal of the Austrian Ocean Race Project, said: "The Covid-19 crisis made it harder for many teams to act than expected and planned. We expressly welcome the postponement and are happy that we have more time for our strong project. Nothing has changed in our determination."

Olympic champion and America's Cup defender Peter Burling from New Zealand also spoke about the news, saying: "Victory in The Ocean Race is still a big goal for me." Burling took part in the last edition of 2017/18 with Bouwe Bekking's Team Brunel in the Ocean Race. Like his 49er bowman and friend Blair Tuke, who sailed with the Spanish team Mapfre in second place behind team Dongfeng, Burling's team also had the triple - Olympic gold, America's Cup victory and triumph in the Ocean Race with third place - just missed. Both Kiwis still have an outstanding bill to settle in The Ocean Race. Burling said: "I know how much effort and planning and preparation goes into a successful campaign. The extra year now built in increases the chance of strong, well-prepared teams that will show up on the starting line outside Alicante. I think it is a well thought out and good decision."

America's Cup
America's Cup

The New Zealand America's Cup helmsman Peter Burling (left) already has the most important pot in international sailing. Olympic gold too. The victory in The Ocean Race is still missing …

The first pillars of the ten-year plan for the race around the world are the guaranteed staging of the next three editions as a team race ("fully crewed") and the stipulated staging years (2022/23, 2026/27, 2030/31). In addition, regattas are to be organized in the years in between. The first is targeted with the 2021 European summer race for Imocas and VO65 yachts. Possibly even other boat classes should be approved for this purpose.

If you can't stand it until the next edition, you can have a look at this feature as a reminder of the last race

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