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6.
April
2018.
50 days before the Volvo Ocean Race reaches Cardiff

50 days before the Volvo Ocean Race reaches Cardiff

 

April 7 marks 50 days to go before the Volvo Ocean Race, the world's toughest and most prestigious sailing event, is expected to arrive in Cardiff on Sunday May 27 for a two week stopover, further enhancing Cardiff's reputation as a leading waterside city.

The leading boats in the fleet are expected to reach Cardiff Bay sometime on Bank Holiday Monday after a 2,900 nautical mile voyage across the Atlantic from Newport, Rhode Island. This much sought after Atlantic stopover enhances Cardiff's reputation as a maritime city across the world as this is the first UK visit in 12 years for a race that started life in 1973. It will bring a significant financial boost to the Welsh economy in the Visit Wales designated ‘Year of the Sea'.

The danger of the challenge facing competitors in the Race was brought into sharp focus last week when crew member John Fisher was lost overboard in the treacherous Southern Ocean on the fleet's journey between New Zealand and Brazil. The tragedy received global attention, and universal condolences, but the Race goes on and in just seven weeks it will cross the Atlantic from Newport, Rhode Island to arrive in Cardiff where visitors from around the world will get a chance to get up close to the fleet, and to discover more about Cardiff.

The Volvo Ocean Race is the latest in a long line of major international sporting events to be hosted in Cardiff in recent years, including last week's World Heavyweight Title Boxing clash; the 2017 UEFA Champions League Final; key matches from the 2015 Rugby World Cup; and Olympic football in 2012.

Cardiff Bay was the largest waterfront redevelopment project in Europe when it was developed at the end of the 20th century, turning what was once the world's largest coal exporting port into a centre for sport and recreation, hosting the annual international Extreme Sailing Series, numerous Powerboat Grand Prix and international canoeing events.

 

Welsh Government Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, Lord Elis-Thomas said: "With 50 days to go, we're getting very excited about the arrival of the Volvo Ocean Race. We're thrilled to be playing our part in this event - especially during our celebration of our spectacular shores during this Year of the Sea. The Cardiff stopover will be a great boost to the Welsh economy, and provides another opportunity to further enhance Wales' positive international profile."

 

The 45,000 nautical mile Volvo Ocean Race set out from Alicante last October, journeying across the great oceans with stopovers in some of the most famous maritime destinations such as Hong Kong, Cape Town and Auckland. When it leaves Cardiff on June 10, it moves on to Gothenburg and The Hague for its finale at the end of June.

One of the boats, Turn The Tide On Plastic, is helping to spread the message about the damage caused by plastic in the oceans, and is actually collecting data on microplastics as it voyages around the world. Amongst its crew is WelshmanBleddyn Môn,who's looking forward to coming home in May. Bleddyn said: "The Volvo Ocean Race is a huge test of ability and resilience, and it's been one of the most amazing experience of my life. As a Welshman, it's terrific that Cardiff is the UK stopover, and I'm so looking forward to catching up with family and friends when we reach Cardiff Bay in May."

There will be a two week long free festival in the Volvo Ocean Race Village located near Cardiff Bay Barrage, where visitors will be able to see the boats, and find a variety of Race-themed attractions and entertainment on the waterfront, including live musicand performances of LEXICON, a contemporary take on circus heritage, created by Cardiff's own NoFit State and Firenza Guidi. The festival will have a Welsh flavour, with Welsh producers offering locally-sourced food and drink - from bars offering real ale to the most popular street food vendors.

 

Cllr. Peter Bradbury,Cardiff Council Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure said: "Excitement is really building as we begin the 50 day countdown tothe world's premier round-the-world sailing race coming to Wales for the first time.

"The Volvo Ocean Race will bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city and will have a significant economic impact, boosting the local tourism industry, both in Cardiff and the wider region.

"Hosting the racewill be yet another opportunity to demonstrate Cardiff's ability to deliver major international sporting events on the world stage.

"Cardiff has always been a maritime city so we're really looking forward to welcoming the crews and all the visitors to our city for what promises to be a real spectacle on the sea. It's going to be a fantastic fortnight in the city with so much for visitors to see and do."