Stopovers

More than 3,000 years old, Alicante is one of the main destinations in Spain, appreciated for its beaches, sports and leisure activities. The Santa Barbara castle, one of the greatest medieval fortresses of the country, dominates the city's harbour. The Volvo Ocean Race museum opened there in 2011 and attracted even more visitors. Concerts, festivals and other shows also make the harbour one of the most animated places of the city.

In-Port Race   Saturday, October 29th
Departure       Saturday, November 5th

Cape Town is at the junction of two major oceans of the planet, the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. The city, nicknamed the "Sea Tavern", was already a stopover for the Race in 1973-74, during its first edition. Since then, Cape Town welcomed the Volvo Ocean Race seven times. The cultural diversity, geogrpahy, architectural heritage and attractions are the unique characteristics of Cape Town.

In-Port Race   Saturday, Decembre 9th
Departure       Sunday, December 10th

Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, is the first middle-eastern stopover in the history of the Race. Build for this occasion, the site that welcomes the Race is in the middle of this wealthy metropolis, and dominates the magnificent turquoise waters of the Persian Gulf. Only a few hundreds yards away from fancy restaurants, five-star hotels and luxury shops, this stopover is the mix of Abu Dhabi's old sailing history, advanced installations and world-class shows

In-Port Race   Friday, January 13th
Departure       Saturday, January 14th

Sitting on the southern tip of Hainan province, this idyllic tropical city rarely has a daytime temperature of less than 23°C, even at the height of winter. As such, it is rated one of the best spots in the country for relaxation and water sports (Yalong Bay is recommended for the former and Wuzhizhou Island the latter), with clear blue seas and miles of sandy beaches. “It is beautiful,” was the summary of Guo Chuan, the first Chinese sailor to participate in the race. “I am from Qingdao but Sanya is a much nicer place to go in winter! There is a lot to do there and the weather is always good.”

In-Port Race   Saturday, February 18th
Departure       Sunday, February 19th

Auckland feels like the sailing capital of the world: host of two America's Cups, home of an unrivalled number of yachties, and the geography and climate for perfect sailing. The great bars, restaurants and atmosphere will even keep landlubbers happy, as will March's other events: cricket, triathlon, rugby, Pasifika, Auckland Cup Week and even a 70,000 strong fun run.

In-Port Race   Saturday, March 17th

Departure       Sunday, March 18th

Itajai is in Santa Catarina State, in the South of Brazil. It is a city with a tropical climate and heavenly beaches. Its nightlife is very lively and it is full of attracting places. Itajai harbour is the second biggest of the country in terms of containers passing by, and in 2012 it will welcome the Volvo Ocean Race for the first time. From the harbour, the spectators will be ideally placed to watch the race, while spectacular sailing conditions will push the teams' limits.

In-Port Race   Saturday, April 21st

Departure       Sunday, April 22nd

Miami is an iconic city that has some 24km of beaches, more than 150 lively nightclubs and bars, and 800 colourful parks. It is thus a true World capital of entertainment. The harbour of Miami, one of the biggest in the country, is often called the "World capital of cruises". Florida, the "Sunshine Stat", is a Volvo Ocean Race stopover for the fifth time.

In-Port Race   Saturday, May 19th

Departure       Sunday, May 20th

Lisbon spreads through craggy hills. It is a true mix of cultures, history and architectural treasures. It offers a colourful urban landscape, enhanced with the river Tagus. Portugal, great nation of navigatores, welcomes the Volvo Ocean Race for the first time. The natural amphitheatre of Lisbon's harbour and all the water activities available there will ensure a great stopover for all the passionate visitors.

In-Port Race   Saturday, June 9th

Departure       Sunday, June 10th

Lorient is the main hub of the Sailing Valley, as we call South Brittany, where you can find 80% of the french skills in the nautical field.

The Lorient racing centre, where 70 skippers get prepared every year, enjoys a privileged situation (accessible 24/7, near to broad reach) and adapted infrastructures (6,000 m² of buildings, sheds, sail-lofts and offices). Grouping skills of nautical field companies helps the center to be excellent and allows the skippers and their teams to make sure they are ready for big races and records.

The landscapes of the Country of Lorient, the various water activities and the animation of the city will please every visitor ! Lorient is the first french harbour to welcome the Race since La Rochelle did in 2002.

In-Port Race   Saturday, June 30th

Departure       Sunday, July 1st

Galway is not only a city, but also a county and an experience you have to enjoy and remember. The city of tribes, as we name it, lives at its own pace. There is certain alchemy in this University City, and that makes it even more enjoyable and hard to forget. Music, festival, horse shows, pubs, restaurants, shops, theatres and inhabitants give the city its medieval atmosphere. This Irish cultural city will be hosting the Volvo Ocean Race for the second time.

In-Port Race   Sunday, July 7th