Azzam
Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA)’s Volvo Ocean Race 2011/12 contesting crew, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, will make its public and competitive debuts at Cowes Week at the Isle of Wight next week, with its state-of-the-art Volvo Open 70 racing yacht Azzam, meaning ‘determination’.
Adorned with a flying falcon logo, the striking black Azzam and her 11-strong intercontinental crew will be unveiled to crowds at the UK’s Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week – one of the world’s most famous and longest running sailing regattas – and will feature in the event’s festivities, running eight days from 6 August.
Immediately following Cowes Week, the team will take its starting orders in the prestigious 608-mile Rolex Fastnet Race on 14 August, lining up against other Volvo Ocean Race 2011/2012 contenders – Team Sanya and Groupama – which are also fielding their newly-commissioned race yachts.
“It will be great to test ourselves against other teams and benchmark how far we’ve come, and equally importantly, how far we still have left to go. We’re rounding the final bend in our preparations and the Fastnet is going to play an important role in ensuring race-readiness,” said Ian Walker, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing skipper.
“We’ll all be looking to flex our muscles, while trying to gain competitive insights. It is very much a real-time warm up for when we line up in Alicante this October at the start of the Volvo Ocean Race.” full story – Isle Of Wight To Host Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing
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