WPRO News

Hotel rooms around Rhode Island’s small ocean city are booked full as one of the world’s premier sailing competitions makes its way to Newport.

Crews aboard the 65-foot competitive sailing yachts will stop and sail around Newport over the next 10 days before heading to Europe.

Brad Read of Sail Newport says preparation for the race has been going on for nearly two years.

“We get to welcome them, just like sailors and people here have done since the 1600s, we’re welcoming people from the ocean,” said Read.

Scores of trucks have been delivering containers filled with prefabricated pavilions to construct a sailing village at Fort Adams Park which will be open to the public. Volvo Race Spokesman Sean McNeil says the village will feature several activities for families, including a cutaway boat to showcase the cramped living conditions of the racing yachts.

“Visitors to the venue will learn what it is like to live and sail aboard the Volvo Ocean 65,” said McNeil.

The economic impact of the Volvo Ocean Race is expected to exceed the $40,000 generated by the America’s Cup Series in 2012.