Danish wind energy company Vestas has been announced as the title sponsor of the seventh and final entry for the 2014-15 edition of sailing’s Volvo Ocean Race.
Team Vestas Wind becomes the first ever Danish boat to enter the race and joins Team SCA, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, Dongfeng Race Team, Team Brunel, Team Alvimedica and a Spanish team whose title sponsor has yet to be announced.
Vestas began manufacturing wind turbines in 1979 and has become a market leader in the area. Anders Runevad, group president and chief executive of Vestas Wind Systems, said: “The Volvo Ocean Race is the ideal platform for us to engage with our customers, showcase our technology and strengthen our brand in some of our most important markets. This supports our new corporate strategy ‘Profitable Growth for Vestas.’”
Team Vestas Wind will face its first test on water in mid-August as the crew prepares to sail the 2,000 nautical miles qualifying distance, a pre-requisite of joining the Volvo Ocean Race which starts with the in-port race in Alicante, Spain on October 4.
The 38,739-nautical mile route will include stopovers in Cape Town (South Africa), Abu Dhabi (UAE), Sanya (China), Auckland (New Zealand), Itajaí (Brazil), Newport (Rhode Island, US), Lisbon (Portugal) and Lorient (France).
The 2014-15 Ocean Race will conclude with an in-port race on June 27, 2015 in Gothenburg, the home of event title sponsor, Swedish automotive company Volvo.