Ocean Race postponed until 2022

The Ocean Race, the successor to the Volvo Race, has put back the next round of the world race by a year. It will start from Alicante in October 2022 and finish in Genova in Italy, in summer of 2023, allowing more time for teams and sponsors to muster. It will, as planned, be open to fully crewed entries in the V065 and IMOCA 60 class.

“The world has changed with COVID-19,” says Chris Nicholson, who co-founded the W-ocean Racing team and has raced in the VOR six times. “We have all lost significant time right at the crucial moment and this change is the right move. This will now allow us the time again to refocus our efforts.

“We’ve been looking at the future of The Ocean Race and taking in honest feedback from our stakeholders around the world for some time now,” says Johan Salén, race managing director. “Moving the start date allows our host cities, teams and partners the time they need to best prepare. But at the same time, we understood stakeholders were looking for confirmation of a longer term plan and enhancements to the race, which we are also developing.”

The organisers confirmed that the next three editions of The Ocean Race will take place in 2022-23, in 2026-27 and in 2030-31.

Among the teams planning to take part is 11th Hour Racing from the US, French sailor Paul Meilhat and Team Malizia from Germany, all with IMOCA 60s. W Ocean Racing from the Netherlands, New Zealand Ocean Race, the Mirpuri Foundation from Portugal and Team Mexico are all in VO65 one-designs. There is interest from 18 different teams but many are still at the stage of working towards campaign funding.