Round the world Volvo yacht race due in Newport

A viewing stand under construction at Ft. Adams for the Volvo Ocean Race. Photo by Steve Klamkin WPRO News
A viewing stand under construction at Ft. Adams for the Volvo Ocean Race. Photo by Steve Klamkin WPRO News

By Steve Klamkin WPRO News

Yachts in the Volvo Ocean Race are due to arrive around on Thursday or Friday in Newport, the seventh leg of the round-the-world sailing spectacle that began October 11, 2014 in Alicante, Spain, and will make its way toward Gothenburg, Sweden and the finish line in late June.

Seven, 65-foot boats set sail, but one ran aground in the Indian Ocean and had to drop out. The racers will be in Newport for about 10 days.

“We get to welcome them, just like sailors and people here have done since the 1600’s, we’re welcoming people from the ocean,” said Brad Read, Executive Director of the non-profit Sail Newport and a member of the host committee that organized the Newport stop-over.

A virtual village is being built at Fort Adams in Newport, including pavilions for each of the race teams and its corporate sponsors, along with about 60,000 visitors expected over 10 days.

“We do expect a big crowd, we’re looking forward to it,” said Sean McNeill, a sailing writer and spokesman for the race.

“It’s going to be over the course of two weekends here in town, and the re-start will be on May 17, we expect big crowds,” McNeill said.

Scores of containers were shipped ahead containing the materials to construct huge pavilions for many of the race teams and their corporate sponsors, along with visitors’ centers, a domed theater to show sailing films and more.

There is also a full-scare cut-away of one of the uniform, 65-foot yachts.

“Visitors to the venue will be able to see what it’s like to live and sail aboard the Volvo Ocean 65,” said McNeill, as he described the display.

“You get to see how cramped it is for the sailors below decks and how little space they have to live in.”

“There’s a lot of family interest here, a lot of things for kids to do,” said McNeil.

Admission to the Fort will be free, and it’s a great place to come down and spread a blanket and have a picnic with your family and watch some world class racing.”

There are 19 nationalities represented among the seven teams, including an all-female crew aboard Team SCA, sponsored by a Swedish maker of pulp and paper and consumer goods.

Read said the economic impact on Newport and Rhode Island may exceed the $40 million generated by the 2012 America’s Cup World Series yacht races conducted in Newport.

“These teams have been coming and going for almost two years visiting, making sure that their accommodations are set up,” Read said.

“So, there’s a lot of stimulus here and it’s not going to completely save Rhode Island, but we’re doing our part to make sure this has as big a reach as it possibly can.”

 

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