Volvo Ocean Race | Volvo
VOLVO OCEAN RACE 2011-12
Tough Volvo
While Volvo is recognized in Japan as a brand that prioritizes safety, it also sponsors this grueling yacht race that circles the globe for nine months, aiming to add a sporty image to its brand. Tatsuya Kushima reports on the event.
Text by KUSHIMA Tatsuya
A World-Class Adventure Race
"I've been sailing racing yachts since I was 15. My grandfather taught me. Above all, I enjoy being out on the water. Yes, the strategy for the next leg is..."
Iker Martínez, skipper of "Team Telefónica," responded to interviews with a smile. This was taken in a corner of the press conference venue the day before departing for Leg 5.
The location is a marina in Auckland, the capital of New Zealand. It was near the end of the race week, about a week long, after docking for Leg 4 from Sanya, China.
Although he is an Olympic medalist, his consistently positive attitude in carefully answering each question and his joyful way of talking about the race left a strong impression.
This race, competing for a circumnavigation of the globe, involves 10 stops and 9 legs. This means that at each stop, the results of the leg are announced and awards are given. There's a cycle of reveling in victory immediately after arriving at port and building tension as the departure date approaches. Celebrating is a strict tradition of the race. Sailors, staff, and fans all get into the excitement together. This might be one of the reasons the race has garnered so many fans.
Are you familiar with the "Volvo Ocean Race"? It's an endurance yacht race that circumnavigates the globe over approximately nine months. While sprint-style races like the America's Cup are more well-known in Japan, this race itself has a history and is quite well-known in Europe.
It was once sponsored by a British beer company and was called the "Whitbread Round the World Race." In the 1993-94 race, a Yamaha boat even participated under the Japanese flag.
Currently, the race is organized by a management company funded by Volvo Cars, the popular Swedish car manufacturer, and Volvo Penta, its truck division.
VOLVO OCEAN RACE 2011-12
Tough Volvo (2)
Formula 1 on the Sea
Let's take a moment to outline the race.
In the 2011-12 edition, six teams compete. In addition to "Team Telefónica" mentioned earlier, there are "Groupama sailing team," "Camper with Emirates Team NZ," "Puma Ocean Racing by BERG," "Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing," and "Team Sanya."
They set sail from Alicante, Portugal, in November of the previous year, heading for Galway, UK. Currently (late June), Leg 8 from Lisbon, Portugal, to Lorient, France, has just concluded. Groupama is in first place overall, followed by Puma in second.
While it is an offshore yacht race, there are also in-port races held within harbors. These take place the day before the next leg begins, and their appeal lies in being able to watch them up close.
Some watch from the dock with binoculars, while others charter boats to follow their favored team. The crew's movements as they rapidly adjust sail angles with a tremendous sound are captivating.
Speaking of the racing yachts, the more you learn about them, the more astonishing they become. The hull is an ultra-lightweight body made almost entirely of carbon fiber. It's a structure that utilizes cutting-edge technology.
The design is truly like "Formula 1 on the sea." Setting aside the engine for a moment, everything from the aerodynamic body structure to the parts supply system is high-tech. In fact, I was allowed to board a race yacht for about an hour in Auckland's harbor and was impressed by how meticulously engineered it was. Its stripped-down form was even beautiful.
VOLVO OCEAN RACE 2011-12
Tough Volvo (3)
From "Safety" to "Safe and Sporty"
So, why does Volvo organize this yacht race instead of a car competition?
Naturally, there's a corporate image strategy behind it. By having Volvo's name repeatedly mentioned in connection with this world-class adventure race, they aim to shift the brand image slightly in that direction. Specifically, words like "adventure," "challenge," and "toughness" come to mind. In Japan, the brand image often concludes with "safety" and "Scandinavian design," but this race impresses with words that are, in a sense, the opposite.
As a result, I hear that in Europe, the desired image has already taken hold for Volvo. This is particularly true for the model lineup from the XC60 onwards. If the impression of the yacht race, along with safety, is associated with sporty driving, then Volvo has achieved its objective.
The hull, made of carbon fiber, resembles a spaceship's base. Inside, multiple sails lie ready for deployment. The crew's sleeping quarters are in the remaining space. With four-hour shifts during navigation, the environment is harsh.
High-tech equipment is also a feature within the boat. A dedicated crew member uses a PC to plot the course, exploring all possibilities with the skipper to determine the route.
This race is truly incredible. Ten professional sailors board a 70-foot (approximately 21-meter) yacht, and one of them, the media representative, records the entire race process on video. It's remarkable how they manage this while competing in such a demanding race. This truly feels like a next-generation competition. The footage can be viewed on the Volvo Ocean Race official website (www.volvooceanrace.com).