La Rochelle, France, May 11th, 2002


Volvo fleet makes impressive sight in La Rochelle

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, the inhabitants of La Rochelle, turned out
in force to watch the fleet of Volvo Ocean 60s arrive in the Basin des
Chalutiers, adjacent to the Volvo Ocean Race village. This tidal basin is
protected by lock gates and tidal restrictions prevented the fleet
arriving at the race village any sooner than today.

After an extremely fast, 3,400 nautical mile race across the Atlantic from
Annapolis, USA, which saw leg winner illbruck breaking the world 24-hour
speed record and the fleet arriving two days earlier than expected, the
boats were berthed at La Pallice service port, some 15 minutes drive from
the centre of La Rochelle, where the podium awards were presented to the
first three boats immediately after arrival.

Today at the Basin des Chalutiers, a crowd of 5,000 people thronged the
quay wall, three deep, and gathered en masse either side of the lock
gates. The arrival pontoon was packed with supporters and shore crew
waiting to throw lines and hovering, fenders in hand. In typical French
style loud rock music from Anastasia, which is fast becoming established
as the music of the La Rochelle stopover, was played, signifying the
imminent arrival of the fleet, which paraded individually into the Basin
in reverse leg finishing order. Each boat motored quietly through the
lock gates, battle flags flying, turned a circle and reversed into their
berths stern to, whilst each team’s theme music was played to an
applauding and enthusiastic crowd.

Each racing team has been allotted a business club to look after their
every need during their stay in La Rochelle, and business club members
from La Pallice Club, the Lagord Club, the Minimes Club, the Aytre Club
and the Perigny Club were waiting on the dock with champagne to celebrate
the arrivals.

The race village, which opened today, has seen 9,000 people pass through
the gates. It is situated on three sides of the Basin des Chalutiers
which is located immediately next to the Old Port of La Rochelle.

The atmosphere was set for a fun-packed stopover in this charming French
port.