Today The Ocean Race released a film of its first rendition. Formerly the Volvo Ocean Race, it began as the Whitbread Round the World Race. Its sponsor was a brewery. The first race saw seventeen conventional racer/cruisers - like one might race from Newport to Bermuda head out from Portsmouth, England. They returned (winner in 152 days) via Cape Town, Sydney, and Rio de Janeiro. The winner Sayula II, a Mexican yacht, was a Swan 65 designed by the City Island, NY based Sparkman & Stephens.
Things have evolved now to pure racing machines. In 1974 position was determined by compass and sextant, communication by short wave radio. Today it's by GPS, with cameras recording everything, and drones flying over the one design sixty five foot stripped down racers.
Things have evolved now to pure racing machines. In 1974 position was determined by compass and sextant, communication by short wave radio. Today it's by GPS, with cameras recording everything, and drones flying over the one design sixty five foot stripped down racers.
