The next round-the-world Volvo Ocean Race may take place on IMOCA class yachts. At least, this is being discussed between the regatta management and the class association.
The 13th season of the Volvo Ocean Race has not been an easy one, with numerous breakdowns, scandals, collisions, boats dropping out of the race several times and two tragic accidents with fatal consequences. All this was preceded by unstable situation in the organizing circles of the regatta - a month before the start Mark Turner, the then Head of VOR, resigned.
Turner had been at the helm of the Volvo Ocean Race for only four months, but had managed to set up a revolution in the circumnavigation, promising to make the regatta an annual event and already in 2019 to hold it with new boats of two types - winged monohulls and catamarans. However, at the same time as Turner's departure, regatta management announced that the race would not take place in 2019-20 with the new boats.
Since then, the future of the Volvo Ocean Race has remained murky. In search of a solution, the organizers of the circumnavigation became interested in the IMOCA class.
On April 5, during the annual class meeting, skippers voted to add the Volvo Ocean Race to the IMOCA calendar.
The IMOCA Council plans to continue discussions with the Volvo Ocean Race in the coming weeks, as this collaboration «will be a major support to promote the class internationally».
NicolasLunven, a renowned French yachtsman and member of the Turn the Tide on Plastic team, believes the move to IMOCA will be a step forward for VOR.
«"The boat is far from perfect," says Lunven of the Volvo Ocean 65 boats that VOR currently races, "it's difficult to sail and lopsided. It's too difficult to pick up speed. You have to change sails all the time. The boat has a high center of gravity, so she is unstable».
IMOCA Open 60 is one of the most popular classes in ocean racing, primarily in singles and doubles offshore regattas. These boats see seasoned competitors racing for first place in the Transat Jasques Vabre, Rolex Fastnet Race, Barcelona World Race and the famous VanDeGlobe Single Non-Stop Around-the-World Race. The Open 60 concept may now form the basis of future Volvo Ocean Race boats.
