12 October 2010 – Lady Pippa Blake, wife of the late, great, Sir Peter Blake, the charismatic New Zealander who completed the first five Whitbread Round the World Races (which later became the Volvo Ocean Race in 1998), and who won the 1989-90 event with Steinlager 2, is to be the first Ambassador to the Volvo Ocean Race Legends reunion and regatta, which takes place on 1-5 November in Alicante next year.
29 October 2010 – The global production and distribution company IMG Media is confirmed as official television partner to the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 on the day that the organisation celebrates the ‘one year to go’ milestone. Racing will begin in the Spanish home of the race, Alicante, on 29 October next year.
The 77’ maxi, Great Britain II, the only yacht ever to take part in five consecutive Whitbread Round the World Races (the forerunner of the Volvo Ocean Race), is to race once again. She will be on the start line with a host of other legendary boats, competing at next year’s Volvo Ocean Race Legends reunion and regatta in Alicante, Spain.
30 November 2010 – The Associated Press (AP) has been selected as a global content distribution provider for the Volvo Ocean Race 2011–12. From the build-up to the race through to the finish, photos, video and other content will be made available to the world’s media via AP Images (www.apimages.com), the commercial sales division of AP, and AP Mobile.
2 December 2010 – Polish yacht Copernicus, the smallest yacht to complete the very first Whitbread Round the World Race (the forerunner of the Volvo Ocean Race) in 1973-74 will join Great Britain II/Whitbread Heritage on the start line of the Volvo Ocean Race Legends, the first official reunion and regatta to be held in Alicante next year and celebrating the first 10 races held over 37 years.
