Volvo Ocean Race 2015 - Nachrichten

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October 2, 2015
Knut put on the spot

Italian media put Volvo Ocean Race CEO Knut Frostad in the spotlight during an 80-minute long press conference at the Genoa Boat Show when they asked him to rate the chances of a boat from their country entering the next race (full story below).
Knut Frostad in person - ‘What’s the chance of an Italian boat next time?’

- About 50-50, responds Race chief
- Race attractions draw hundreds of fans

Foto: Amalia Infante/Volvo Ocean Race

GENOA, Italy, October 2 – Italian media put Volvo Ocean Race CEO Knut Frostad in the spotlight during an 80-minute press conference at the Genoa Boat Show, when they asked him to rate the chances of a boat from their country entering the next race.
The sailing-mad country is a world leader in leisure boat manufacture and sales and Bergamo-based Persico Marine has recently been announced as the company who will make any new Volvo Ocean 65 one-design boats needed for the 13th edition of the Volvo Ocean Race in 2017-18.
“So what are the chances of us finally having an Italian boat in the next race?” Frostad was asked by the eager Italian press corps in Thursday evening's conference.

Frostad, who leaves his position at the end of the year, but is meanwhile helping to spearhead the drive for new teams, responded: “It’s very early, but there are good signs and a lot of interest. I’d say the chances are about 50-50.”
But he was quick to add: “I can tell you one thing, though: the effort to get an Italian team in the race is a hundred percent. We would love to see an Italian boat in the Volvo Ocean Race.”

Alberto Bolzan, the Italian sailor who sailed on board Team Alvimedica in the last edition, was also on the five-strong Volvo Ocean Race panel answering the questions from the knowledgeable Italian press corps, which was bolstered by several members of the international sailing media attending the Genoa Boat Show.
“I have no doubt that we have the skilled sailors who could do well in the Race, but it is wrong to name names at this point,” said Bolzan.

Chris Nicholson, skipper of Team Vestas Wind, Team SCA navigator Libby Greenhalgh, and Marcello Persico, who heads Persico Marine, were also on the panel.
The Genoa Boat Show is one of the biggest and most impressive nautical exhibitions in the world and Frostad jumped at the opportunity to stage a series of pro-am races this week in the Italian city’s harbour, between Team SCA and Team Vestas Wind.

The popular Dome theatre and Volvo Ocean 65 cross-section display, two of the biggest hits at race villages around the world, were also taken to Genoa for the show which started on Wednesday (September 30) and concludes on Monday (October 5).
Hundreds of interested show attendees flocked to see the attractions.
The press conference was also attended by Anton Albertoni, President of I Saloni Nautici, which stages the Genoa Boat Show.
He jokingly asked Frostad if there was any chance of his team of organisers staying in Genoa permanently.
“None, I’m afraid,” smiled Frostad. “I think the city of Alicante (hosts of the Race HQ) would be very angry if we did that.”

For more on the Volvo Ocean Race, visit our website: www.volvooceanrace.com
Jon Bramley - Director, News and Media Volvo Ocean Race HQ (Spain) Tel +34 966 011 150 jon.bramley@volvooceanrace.com
Images High resolution images can be downloaded from our Image Library. For assistance contact the Picture Desk: images@volvooceanrace.com
Embeds - All videos on our official YouTube channel are available for embed.

The 2014-15 edition was won by Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, skippered by Briton Ian Walker. Team Brunel (Netherlands) finished second and Dongfeng Race Team (China) third. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing also won the In-Port Race Series. This was the 12th running of the 40-year-old event, which started in 1973 as the Whitbread Round the World Race. The 13th edition of the race will be held in 2017-18, starting in October 2017. The race started on October 4, 2014, with the first In-Port Race in Alicante, Spain, and finished with one last In-Port Race on June 27, 2015 in Gothenburg, the Swedish home of Volvo. The 38,739-nautical mile route included stopovers in Cape Town (South Africa), Abu Dhabi (UAE), Sanya (China), Auckland (New Zealand), Itajaí (Brazil), Newport (Rhode Island, US), Lisbon (Portugal) and Lorient (France). A 24-hour pit-stop in The Hague was staged between France and Sweden.
The next edition in 2017-18 will also be contested in a new high-performance boat, the Volvo Ocean 65, designed by Farr Yacht Design in the United States.
The new 65-foot (19.8-metre) monohull racing boats are strictly one-design and delivered “ready to sail”. The boats incorporate the latest video, satellite and content production facilities to further enhance the Onboard Reporter programme that has been in place since 2008-09. Seven teams contested the 12th edition. The all-female Team SCA were the first all-women's team to compete in the race since 2001-02. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing were once again skippered by Britain's twice-Olympic silver medallist Ian Walker. Dongfeng Race Team came from China and were backed by Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle. Team Brunel from the Netherlands were skippered by race veteran Bouwe Bekking. Team Alvimedica with a double flag (Turkey/USA) were headed by Rhode Island's Charlie Enright. A Spanish team were announced in June 2014 and was backed by insurance giant MAPFRE. Denmark's Team Vestas was the final boat to be announced in August. Chris Nicholson was skipper.
The previous Volvo Ocean Race started in October 2011 in Alicante and was won by Groupama sailing team, skippered by Frenchman Franck Cammas, in July 2012.