Lorient (France) will be the penultimate scale
France is hosting the Volvo Ocean Race, now in Lorient (Brittany), on the northwest coast of the country, in the summer of 2012. Lorient will be the penultimate race of the scale which starts in Alicante, Spain, in the autumn of 2011. As previously La Rochelle (1997-98 and 2001-02), Lorient also host the sailing a second time in the 2014-15 edition.
Lorient's announcement is in response to the Alicante, Cape Town and Lisbon as cities that will receive the competition, with Lisbon the starting point for the step that will end in France, with about 700 nautical miles.
"We are very pleased by the strong French presence in the race," said Executive Director of the Volvo Ocean Race, Knut Frostad. "A long time we have the aim of rekindling the passion for this event within the French, and we are very pleased to have reached an agreement with the city of Lorient for the next two races." - He added.
France has recorded 21 entries in the competition, having participated in all the races from 1973-74 to the sixth edition in 1993-94 in which "La Poste" finished third. The "L'Esprit d'Equipe" led by Lionel Péan, was the winner in 1985-86 and 289 French crew participated in 10 previous races.
"In ten years Lorient has transformed its submarine base in the largest sailing activity center of the European Union. This is where the "maxi trimarans" Banque Populaire V "and" Groupana 3 "have been built and is also the place where they are concentrated around 50 teams of "offshore sailing ", and home to the most famous French "skippers". " - highlights Norbert Métairie, Mayor of Lorient and the District of Cap l'Orient. "It is very gratifying to show that Lorient is an ideal place to host international events, can generate great return such as the Volvo Ocean Race." - He adds.
The "Cité de la Voile Eric Tabarly" a complex dedicated to modern race and bearing the name of the skipper who competed in the French Whitbread race four times, will be the operations center of the VOR.
The "Groupama", the boat of the French flag, which will participate in two upcoming edition of the VOR has its base in Lorient.
A Europe-wide next Volvo Ocean Race will be announced soon. |
